Page 55 of Hearts at Seaside
His father shook his head, and when he looked up, his eyes had turned to liquid steel, but his tone was calm and even. “Son, I think you’d better leave.”
No way.The can of worms was open and Pete wasn’t about to stop there. “No, Pop, I’m not leaving. We need to talk about this, even if it’s difficult. I worry about you.”
“You have no idea what it’s like to lose the person you loved most in this world, and I pray that you never do. I know you worry about me, and you know I love you for it. But do yourself a favor, Peter. Go live your life, and stay out of mine.” His voice was as icy as his words, and when he walked away, Pete felt his heart split down the middle. Living his own life sounded easy, even doable. But he could no sooner turn his back on his father than he could walk away from Jenna.
“This isn’t the end, Pop.”
His father stilled.
“She was my mother, and she’d be ashamed of me if I didn’t try to help you. And whether you choose to remember it or not, you have kids who love you, and you owe us more than this.”
His father’s neck bowed, but he didn’t turn to face Pete. He stood still, staring at the floor, and Pete couldn’t imagine what was going through his head.
“I’m not giving up on you.” The promise sailed heated and honestly from Pete’s lips. “You have a lot of years left. Years to refit boats with me, years to meet your future grandchildren. Mom died, Pop. You didn’t.”
