Page 163 of Finding Us

“Someone from the clinic?”

“Yes.”

“You can’t do that. It’s not allowed. I lost all privileges.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll take care of it.”

“They’ll find out. They’ll punish you.”

“Garret, how many times do I need to tell you that I don’t care what they do to me? You’re my son and you come first. When you become a father someday, you’ll understand.”

“What exactly are you going to do?”

“I’ll send Cunningham out here. He’s familiar with your injury and how you got it and he owes me some favors. He paid back most of them by taking care of Frank last year but he owes me a couple more.”

That explains it. I could never figure out how Pearce was able to get Cunningham to help Frank.

Why do all these people owe Pearce favors? I can’t ask but I still wonder. And doesheowe people favors, too? He must. It can’t be all one-sided.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Garret asks his dad.

“Garret. This is what we’re doing. Call that doctor right now and cancel your appointment.”

Garret gets his phone out and steps out of the booth. He goes outside to make the call.

“Thank you,” I say to Pearce.

“You don’t need to thank me, Jade. I’m taking care of my son, like any father would do. I just wish he’d told me this sooner.”

“He didn’t tell me either until just the other day. He didn’t tell anyone.”

“He keeps things like this to himself. He always has. And knowing that, I should’ve kept a closer eye on him during his recovery. I should’ve noticed what was going on with him.”

“It’s not your fault. I see him every day and I didn’t notice.”

“It’s always your fault when you’re a parent. You always think you could’ve done a better job taking care of your child. And believe me, I know I could’ve done a better job with Garret.”

He’s not just talking about Garret’s shoulder. He’s talking about all the years before this when he sucked at being a dad.

There’s such sincerity in the way he says it, and so much regret for the past, that I realize that the new Pearce isn’t just temporary. He isn’t going to return to the way he used to be. He’s truly committed to being a better father.

I like Pearce even more now.

CHAPTERFORTY-TWO

GARRET

I shouldn’t have told my dad about my shoulder. Now he’s going to send Cunningham out here and someone at the organization will find out and my dad will get in trouble. This is why I don’t tell him shit like this. He always takes over the situation and makes a bigger deal out of it than it needs to be.

Except in this case he might be right. I can’t tell this new doctor what really happened to me. And he can’t see my medical records. So I guess Cunningham is my only option. Maybe I should’ve tried calling him myself without getting my dad involved. But it’s too late now.

After I cancel my doctor’s appointment, I go back in the restaurant. We finish lunch, then return to campus.

My dad arranged to have a meeting with the president of the college. It’s so embarrassing. My dad’s sudden interest in my life is a good thing, but this is going too far. Unfortunately, I couldn’t talk him out of it. He does what he wants. The meeting started at 2 and Jade and I are hanging out on campus until he’s done.

“Your dad’s been in there an hour,” Jade says, as we sit on a bench in front of the bookstore. “What do you think he’s talking to him about?”

“Who knows? He’s probably quizzing him about the business school. Seeing if it’s good enough. And now that he’s got you as his daughter, he’ll be asking about their science program, too.”

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