Page 99 of You Were Invited
Clive blinked and set his cup down. Hands then clasped under his chin, he stared at Julian and nodded. “Yes?”
Julian scratched the back of his head.Where to start…“I’ve got renters at the house.”
“I noticed.”
Julian hadn’t heard a peep from his tenants, so he assumed Clive had left them alone. “I’m not kicking them out. So stay away. I don’t know if they’re resigning this year. Once they want to leave, you can do what you want it since it’s technically still in your name. But they’re good people and don’t deserve to be kicked out onto the street.” Julian knew he had no legal standing at all, but the mortgage had been paid off with the rent money, and a free house was far more than his father deserved. At least for now.
“Fine.”
“And stop sending me mail.”
“I sent you dozens of letters. I didn’t think you read them.”
“Some I read,” Julian muttered.
Clive raised an eyebrow. “So, I’m sure you’ll be happy to know that I had a horrible time in prison.”
“It helps.” Julian glanced at the salty pasta.
His dad chuckled, like he was amused by a three-year-old’s streak of newfound independence. He then nodded for Julian to continue. “What else?”
“Pick a day when you’ll eat here and I’ll pick mine.”
Another nod. “Fine. It’s Tuesday, so Tuesdays. I’ll eat lunch.”
“Don’t come here on Fridays.” Julian leaned forward. “Are you gonna stick around Northgold?”
“If we’re divvying up days to eat here, I guess I am.”
Julian’s jaw ticked. He leveled his gaze. “Stay away from me and my girlfriend. If you see us around, don’t say hello, don’t wave. Just walk the other way.”
Clive blinked for a moment. “The girl you’re here with? That her?”
“Yes. Stay away from her.”
Clive rocked his jaw back and forth for a minute as if chewing on Julian’s demand. “Fine,” he said. “I hope she makes you happy.”
Julian steadied himself. This was really it. Laying down the law. So far, his dad had been cooperative, much to his relief. Perhaps Clive had changed in prison. “We want our space. After today. Leave us be.”
“You don’t have to tell me twice. I’ll stay out of your way,” his dad said.
Boundaries set, Julian felt a weight lift from his shoulders. Whether or not Clive kept his word was one thing, but the man seemed to have gotten the message.
“Kiddo, I can’t turn back the clock. I would. If I could,” Clive went on before Julian could make his escape. “In the eyesof the law, I’ve paid for what I done. I’m just learning to forgive myself. And between me and God himself, that’s all that matters. But in your eyes, I know I’ll never be forgiven. I’m sorry I’m just your rotten father and that I’ve made you hate my guts so much.”
If Clive was fishing for forgiveness, he wasn’t going to get it today.How dare he try to drag me into his pity party.Dry-mouthed and with sweaty palms, Julian muttered under his breath, “You’re a bastard.”
“That’s my truth. I was a bastard.” Clive took a sip of his juice. “Do you truly have a good life, Son?”
Julian grimaced, then nodded once.
Clive’s eyes narrowed, but the look in them shifted. They went glassy, and he wiped them quickly. “I’m glad.” He nodded approvingly, and his voice broke when he added, “Good. Keep things that way.”
Even though Julian felt jaded that this man was crying for him, and didn’t want Clive to feel anything for him, Julian could tell Clive was genuinely a miserable wreck.
At least at that moment.
“Honest,” Clive went on. “I really want you to know just how sorry I am, Julian. I can’t make excuses for the dirtbag I was…”
