Page 48 of Unbroken

I’d save the interrogation for my father.

I glanced at my watch, then at Patrick’s sleeping little face. His cheeks were pink against the racecar pillowcase.

“The end,” I said softly, shutting the book. I got out of the bed slowly, untangling myself from Patrick so that he wouldn’t wake up.

“Daddy,” Patrick said, his eyes fluttering open. “You only read me two books!”

“Nope, I read three—but you slept through the last one, buddy. Fair is fair, and the rule is three books, right? That’s what we agreed on. Lights out after the third one.”

Patrick started a whiny, half-asleep protest.

“Nuh-uh, bud. Remember, every time you argue about it, I subtract a book from the next night.”

His little face went from defiant to a full-on sulk but he didn’t push it further.

“Good man,” I said, leaning down to kiss him on the forehead. “Love you.”

“Love you too, Daddy,” Patrick murmured, already drifting back to sleep again.

I headed for the porch on our tiny rental cottage. It was nothing compared to the sprawling one that ran the length of the Cafferty house, but it was enough for me to get a taste of the great outdoors when I needed it. Plus, it was far enough away from Patrick’s room that he wouldn’t hear shouting if things got tense during the phone call to come.

I dialed my dad’s number and tried to remain calm even though I could feel my protective instincts kicking up inside. The man had no right to try to parent Patrick, and I was going to make damn sure he knew that.

“Hello, son,” my dad answered the phone, his voice cool as ever.

It was enough to push me past any fake pleasantries and right into battle.

“What have you been saying to Patrick?” It was a struggle for me to keep my voice neutral.

“What do you mean?”

I took a steadying breath before beginning.

“Patrick said you’ve been saying all sorts of crap about him having to be the best and come in first place at everything once he starts school. Why the hell would you do that?” Okay, so maybe the deep breath hadn’t done all that much to steady me, but I was talking to someone who’d been bullying my kid. I had a right to feel unsteady. I had every right to be angry.

“Watch your tone and language, young man.”

He said it in a quiet voice, the one that used to scare me into submission when I was a boy. The thought of him using it on Patrick filled me with a burning rage.

“That doesn’t work on me anymore and you know it,” I spat back at him. “And you better not have used that tone onmyson. If you want me to respect you, then give me a reason to. Expectation doesn’t mean shit if you don’t deserve it.”

“How dare you speak to me that way. What has gotten into you?—”

I cut him off. “Fatherhood, that’s what! I’m protecting my son from your bullshit. Did you know that the stomachaches he’s been having are because of you? The pressure you’ve been putting on him?”

“What are you talking about?” He asked. “That’s ridiculous. I’ve done no such thing.”

I could hear the tiniest bit of fluster in his voice.

“You can’t tell a five-year-old that he needs to be the best at everything! You got into his head, Dad, and it screwed him up to the point where he’s getting ill because of it.”

My dad sighed.

“Eli, I’m not acting any differently with my grandson than I did with you. The Carter reputation means something in this town, and I’m only doing what I have to do to ensure that we stay in good standing around here.”

“Good standing? Are you shitting me? The only person who thinks the Carter reputation meansanythingin this damn town is you.”

“Language, Elijah,” my father snapped at me and I barked out a harsh laugh.

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