Page 104 of Forever

“He can’t be dead.” My voice cracked. “He…he can’t.

Matt pulled me into a hug.

A sob escaped my throat. I knew Matt said I was loved. That I had family. But my father was my only living relative other than Jacob. He was my family. My only family. And I hadn’t gotten a chance to tell him that I loved him.

“What’s wrong?” Donnelley asked calmly.

Of course he wasn’t upset. He was finally free from my father. Miller had said there was no out. But there was…once my dad was dead.

I pulled back from Matt and wiped the tears off my cheeks. “I know you didn’t like him,” I said to Donnelley. “Over the years, I hated him enough for both of us, trust me. But I…I needed to talk to him.” One more time at least.

I gripped the letter in my hand. I’d wasted time with him. Why did I never learn my lesson? Why did I always waste so much fucking time?

“Well, do you want me to call him?” Donnelley asked.

“What?” Matt said.

“I mean, I don’t know if he has service, but we can see if he picks up.”

I shook my head. “Wait. He’s not dead?”

Donnelley laughed. “No. Why would you think that?”

“Because you said that!”

“No I didn’t. I said he was gone. He left a couple days ago.” He laughed again.

“That’s not funny,” I said. “All his stuff is being packed up and you told me he was gone! What was I supposed to think?”

“It’s a little funny,” he said. “We both know Mr. Pruitt is invincible.”

Yeah, now that he had my kidney.“Where did he go?”

“He didn’t really say. He just said he needed a break from the city. I think he wants a fresh start.” Donnelley shrugged. “He’s selling the apartment. That’s why everything is being packed up. Let me give him a call.” He pulled out his phone.

I turned back to Matt. “I thought…”

“Me too,” he said. “This was where I found out about you. On that Friday after Thanksgiving.”

Yeah, I could see it in his eyes. The pain. We were both moving forward, trying out best to leave the past in the past. But the scars would never truly go away. It was a good thing we were going to give Black Friday a new memory in a few weeks. “I’m sorry, Matt.” I wanted to tell him I wish we could rewind time. That the past 16 years hadn’t happened. But he knew I couldn’t say that.

He pulled me back into a hug. “I’m so glad you’re alive. And that your father is too.”

“He didn’t answer,” Donnelley said. “His connection is spotty. It might be a while before we can get ahold of him.”

I kept my arms around Matt. “You have no idea where he is?”

“Oh no, I know where he is. I just don’t know where he’s going yet. I don’t think he even knows. He’s on his yacht.”

I didn’t realize my father had a yacht. “And you don’t know how long he’ll be gone?”

“No idea,” Donnelley said. “He just…I don’t know. I think he’s having a mid-life crisis or something.”

Or he was leaving the city because he’d given up his career for me. And then I told him I still didn’t want him in Jacob’s life. Or mine. He didn’t have anything left in New York.

“I need to reach him before our wedding. I want him to come. Actually, I’d love for you to come too, Donnelley.”

Donnelley looked back and forth between us. And for the first time his eyes settled on the ring on my finger.

---