Page 38 of Forbidden Kisses
His father nodded. “Good boy.” A minute later, the waitress laid his favorite specialty beer in front of him. “Thanks, darlin’ ” his father said. He took a drink, sighed deeply, then nodded. “Okay, now we can talk.”
“Do you want to start the conversation?” Jack asked.
His father sat back. “Yeah. I do.” He stared at Jack for a long second. “You’re fired.”
Jack straightened. “What?”
His father chuckled, the sound turning into a dry cough. “I’ve always wanted to fire someone. You boys are so good at hiring on folks, though, that I’ve never needed to…You’re fired,” he said again.
A frown tightened Jack’s lips. “I heard you the first time, Dad. But I’m not sure I understand.”
“You were planning on breaking the news to me tonight that you’re officially done with the company. You don’t want to fish on the boats anymore, right?”
Jack blew out a breath. “How did you know?”
“I’m your father. I know.”
Jack shook his head and pulled his own beer toward him. “You gonna tell me you have eyes in the back of your head, too?”
His dad laughed dryly. “I’ve been hoping you’d come around, change your mind. I know you’ve struggled with what happened to Chris.”
Jack stared down into his amber-colored beer. “Yeah.”
“It’s okay. But we do need a good cocaptain for Noah. Those temporaries won’t do.”
“I agree, and I’m already looking.” Jack picked at the label on his bottle. “Aren’t you going to ask me what I’ll do with my life now?”
“I suspect you’ll do what you’ve always done. Give whatever it is your all, be a success. That’s the Sawyer way. Nothing less.”
“And you’re not mad?” Jack asked, breathing a little easier now.
“Oh, I’m angry all right.” Another deep chuckle rose from his father. “The company could’ve had a record year with the catch if we’d replaced you with a proper fisherman already instead of a couple high schoolers on their summer break.”
Jack pointed a finger. “That’s your fault. I told you I was done months ago. You didn’t believe me.”
“You needed time to figure things out. Now you have.” His father nodded.
Jack leaned forward on the table. “Building this kayak launch and pier with Dewy’s kid has got me thinking. Chris and I dreamed about starting our own building company. Coastal based. Docks, piers, small boats.”
The waitress reappeared at their table. “You guys eating tonight?” she asked.
“Two of the specials, darlin’,” his father said. He waited for the waitress to walk away before responding to Jack’s confession. “My grandfather started the Sawyer Seafood Company. It started with a fishing boat and grew from there. He was the one who added the restaurants. My brother, your Uncle Gene, added the recreational section that Gabe runs. Could be good to add on to that. Maybe this next venture of yours wouldn’t be leaving the family business as much as adding to it.”
Jack hadn’t considered that. When he and Chris had made their plans, they’d intended for it to be equal ownership. “It won’t be just Sawyer. I want to call it Watson and Sawyer Coastal Builders.”
His father didn’t blink. “As it should be. Chris was family.”
Jack swallowed. He’d expected an argument, not full acceptance. His father had never given him anything else, though.
“So, you taking on clients yet?” his father asked.
“Well, I—”
“Your answer is always yes. A new business demands yes to every opportunity, even the small ones. You don’t turn down work until you have more business than you can handle. And not even then, if you’re smart.”
Jack nodded. “All right. I guess my answer is yes.”
“Good.”
