I see the tension in Cam’s body release, but he doesn’t say a word. None of us does. This is raw despair we’re witnessing, and no one here is quite sure what to do about it. Physical ailments, that we can handle. Emotional, not so much.
If there was a moment where we could offer comfort, it’s lost. Jackson’s shoulders slump, and with visible effort, he pulls himself upright again.
“I’ve overstayed my welcome,” says Jackson. “Thank you for dinner, Mrs Durant. Dan, thanks, but I’ll make my own way now.”
And he walks out of the room.
“Jackson, wait!” Danny starts to get up, but Cam beats him to it. Lays his hand on Danny’s shoulder, eases him back into his chair.
“I’m the one he needs to speak to,” Cam says.
He catches my eye, and I nod. He’s right.
Cam heads out the door. Now there are only six of us at the table.
“That young man needs a purpose,” says Dad.
His tone is softened and kind, which is so unusual we all turn to stare at him.
“Not everyone is lucky enough to have clear direction early on in life,” he continues. “Shelby, I hope your brother can use this low moment as a springboard to better things. He has potential.”
I exchange a look with Danny that says: okay, who are you, and what have you done with the real Mitchell Durant?
“Thank you.” Poor Shelby is almost in tears. “Why didn’t hetellme that things were so bad?”
“Because he didn’t want to ruin our wedding,” says Nate. “Plus, he was ashamed and embarrassed.” He makes a face. “And we all knowthatfeeling, don’t we?”
I automatically expect Dad to disagree, but he sits quietly with the rest of us. And suddenly, all the barriers I’ve built between us – yes,I’vebuilt – come crashing down. I get out of my chair, round the table to where he sits and hug my dad hard from behind.
“Love you, Dad,” I tell him and kiss his cheek. “You’re a great guy.”
Dad swivels in his chair, so he can face me. I see a small frown and a small smile.
“I love you, too, Ava,” he says. “I don’t say it enough, I know.”
He turns to look at Nate and Danny. “I love allmy children. You boys, Izzy and Max. And I’m soproud of you. You’ve become better people than I will ever be, and for that, I’m thankful every single day.”
The tears I was holding back are busy dampening my cheeks and I’m not ashamed. Even Nate is a little moist-eyed, and Danny’s mouth is opening and shutting like a stranded fish.
“Love you, too, Dad,” Danny manages. “And you, Mom.”
“We couldn’t have better parents,” says Nate. “Thank you both for everything.”
Now we’re alldabbing our faces with napkins, and fair enough. The Durant family has expressed more heartfelt emotion in the last two minutes than we have in the last two decades. Let’s hope it won’t be another two decades before we find the nerve to do it again.
Finally, Mom speaks, and her voice is a little shaky.
“Nate, honey,” she says, “I think this would be the perfect time to top up everyone’s wine.”
“Including mine,” I add quickly. “Red wine prevents heart attacks, Dad,” I tell him before he can object.
I retrieve my glass and hold it out to Nate. “Consider this medicinal.”
ChapterThirty
CAM
Damn, this house is big. I remember Shelby telling me that Nate and Ava’s dad made all his money from venture capital, but that the house had been in their mom’s family since it was built in the late 1800s. Right now, I’m thankful the place has some age because the creak of Jackson’s tread on wooden floors is the only way I can tell where he’s heading. I follow the sound upstairs and along a hallway, peering into bedrooms until I spot him. He’s pulled a shabby sports bag onto the bed and is about to shove in a handful of clothes.