Page 73 of Almost Paradise

“I guess that’s my fault,” he says.

I don’t answer. I just stare at my phone and hope Nia will call or text, but just like always, there’s nothing.

“What, Langley?” I ask. “I’m busy.”

“How come you never introduced us to Nia when you two were together?”

I wasn’t expecting that. He hasn’t asked me a question about my personal life in about five years. He didn’t even question me about Scarlett. The only one who did was Hannah.

“I’d rather not talk about that with you.” I minimize the spreadsheets and pick up the coffee.

“That’s fair too,” he says. “But I’m asking anyway.” I answer a few emails, fully expecting him to barge out of my office, but all he does is lean against the wall and sip his coffee. After several minutes, he says, “I’m not going anywhere until you talk.”

I look up at him. Just like the other night at dinner, he looks sober. I don’t think he’s been sober since we got Dad’s diagnosis.

“Why do you care?” I ask, shrugging at him. “Since when do you give a shit about me or what goes on in my life?”

“I’ve always cared,” he says.

“Yeah, sure.” I stare at my screen, but I can’t think of a single thing to do. The truth is, I just want to be home with my son. I want to be home with my wife too, but I’m sure I’m the last person she wants to see.

“You can tell me all the ways I’ve failed you as a brother later. Right now, I’m wondering about you. Why didn’t you introduce her to us?”

“Why do you think?” I snap. When all he does is stare at me, I say, “The only rule Dad had about us working here is that we don’t dip our pen in the company ink, so I kept quiet about it. We met on my first day here. She worked in HR. I pursued her. I loved being with her, and I didn’t want to taint that with Paradise obligations and responsibilities. She was a part of my life that no one else knew about. Not because she was a sordid secret, but because I wanted our time together to be just ours.”

“It’s not because she’s black?”

“Of course not. You think I give a shit about something like that, Langley? Get the hell out of here. I don’t need this.” I’m so sick of everyone throwing that in my face. Nia’s entire family hates me because they think I’m a bigot who turned his back on his son when that can’t be further from the truth.

“No, I don’t think you’d care. I’m wondering if you thought Dad would care.”

I look away. “No,” I finally reply. “At least not back then.”

“What’s changed?”

“Since when do you give a damn about me? You’ve barely said a nice word to me in years and now you want to bond over my personal life?”

“Deflecting, huh?” He sits down across from my desk. “Look, I can understand things no one else can, and believe it or not, I know things about our dad that you don’t. You’ve always idolized him.”

“And you didn’t?” I counter.

“I did, but unlike you, I didn’t believe he was perfect.”

This time, it’s me who stands and looks out the window at the back of the building and the manmade lake. God, I loved watching her here. Those memories is the reason I refuse to give up this office. Everyone thinks it’s because I’m not ready to take my father’s place, but that’s not it. It’s because there are so many memories of her here. That’s always been the reason.

“I didn’t think he’d care, but he did. I didn’t know that about him until recently. Not until I found out about Carter’s existence.” He remains quiet, and I know he’s waiting for me to say more. Feeling the need to unburden myself, I tell my brother everything that’s transpired since I saw Nia and Carter at the arcade all those weeks ago.

For once, he listens and doesn’t judge or condemn me. I even tell him how I blackmailed Nia into marrying me.

“Wow,” he says once I’m done. “I certainly was not expecting to hear that. Sorry Dad did that to you. I’m sorry you had to learn that about him at all.” He stands from the chair and stands next to me. He puts a hand on my shoulder. “He really fucked you over.”

“Did you know that about him? It doesn’t make sense, Langley. He didn’t raise us that way.”

“I suspected,” he says. “He caught me flirting with a journalist who came to the house to interview him one day and gave me a lecture.”

“Was she black?” I ask him.

“Yeah. All he said was that it’s fine for everyone else but not a Paradise. We never talked about it again, but I never forgot it. After that, I never considered bringing anyone home to meet him. So, while I’m disgusted by what he did to you, I’m not shocked. Though I never thought he would go so far as to keep your son from you. That’s low.”

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