Page 40 of Last Call

Fallon gripped the wheel tightly, taking a few deep breaths before responding. She could relate to some of what Dave shared. Her father had traveled frequently during much of her youth. At first, she hated his absences. As she grew older, her time became filled with activities and friends. She sometimes resented the expectation that she should spend more time at home when he was. But her parents had always worked as a team, even when her father was away. Ida managed the family's day-to-day affairs, and he respected her, following her lead. It seemed Jake expected to lead, even if he didn’t understand how his actions affected the rest of his family.

“Your mom can handle herself, Dave,” Fallon said.

“Yeah, but she shouldn’t have to handle his bullshit. I told you. My dad can be cool. It’s not like he isn’tnice. He’s just—He’s selfish. I don’t want to be like him, Fallon. Sometimes I feel like he tries to compare me to him. It pisses me off.”

“I understand that feeling.”

“Really?”

“Sure. Not so much with my parents, but with Dean.”

“I don’t know,” Dave mused. “Mom took care of everything. She still does. Everybody wants to help. And it’s not that I don’t appreciate it. I do.”

“I know you do.”

“But it’s my responsibility,” Dave said. “I don’t want Billie and Mom paying my way, and Mom shouldn’t have to raise my kid while Becky and I go to school. That’s messed up.”

Fallon smiled. Most people immediately recognized the similarities between Jacob and Andi. Dave was driven—perhapsnot to pursue the same things as his father, but he always pushed himself to be the best at everything he attempted. From what Fallon knew about Jake Maguire, that was also his nature. Both Jacob and Dave loved Andi. Fallon thought many people failed to see how much Dave not only loved but alsorespectedhis mother. That was one reason why his short-lived rejection puzzled her.

“Can I ask you something?” Fallon asked.

“Yeah?”

“Why did you ignore your mom for so long?”

“I don’t know,” Dave said. “Some of it was Becky.”

“You mean her parents?”

“Yeah.”

“But?” Fallon pressed.

“I was kind of pissed.”

“That she asked your father for a divorce?”

“Yeah. Kind of. I mean, why did she do that after we’d left home?” Dave asked. “Like, we left for school, and then she decided it was time to be with you?”

“Dave.”

“No. You don’t get it.”

“I’m trying to understand,” Fallon said. “I know you blame me."

“What? Do you mean for their divorce?”

Fallon nodded.

“Nah. I never blamed you for that. It’s just, you were always there,” Dave said. “With us,” he clarified.

“I didn't mean to overstep.”

“No. It was cool. Mom was happy when you were around. We did things—all of us. You know? It just didn’t make sense. Why would she wait until we were away from home to leave him? I don’t know. I’m not saying it right. I didn’t want it to comebetween me and Becky, Mom being with a woman—that’s true. That made me feel like shit.”

Fallon nodded.

“Things always felt more like home when you were there,” Dave admitted.

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