Page 43 of Blueberry Cake
“What doIdo? Should I reach out and apologise?”
“No!” Boyd didn’t mean to shout, but he couldn’t stress how much hedidn’twant that to happen.
“Then what, Dad? Cause you clearly like her and I just fucked it all up for you—again.” Luka slumped into the cushions.
He turned and cocked his brow. “Again?”
“Oh, please; whowantsto be a dad at fifteen.”
That was rather surprising. They’d never been ones to have deep conversations, but Boyd had always prided himself that Luka was the best thing to ever happen to him. And up until this second, he thought Luka knew that. “Luka, you are not a fuck-up.”
“Like you planned me,” Luka grumbled, hiding his face in his lap.
“I didn’t but the second you came into this world Iwanted you in my life. I knew I would move mountains to give you a better life than what I had. I’m standing here, because of you and the drive thatyougave me. You’ve never been anything less than a blessing and your grandmother thinks the same.”
“I guess my mother doesn’t then.”
“Your mother landed herself in juvie. I made it out of that shitty part of town, she didn’t. We got out because of you. You are the best thing that could’ve happened to me and I love you.”
“And now the second-best thing just walked out on you because of me.”
Boyd let out a long exhale, and he looked back down at the letter in his hands. He truly hoped Luka was wrong, and that all Queenie needed was time.
“I’m sorry. For the whole freaking your girlfriend out thing and this whole depressing conversation.”
“We all have bad days.”
“I know. Just feels like I’ve been having way too many.”
He set the note aside and joined his son on the couch. “Want to talk about it?”
With that, Luka broke, looking more like a kid than the young man he’d grown into. “I want to come home. But I just got this job, and I’ve already had so many. My lease isn’t up for another nine months, so I’m stuck.”
“My door is always open, Luka. I know we haven’t talked much, but me and your grandma are just a phone call away.”
“I know, but I didn’t want to disappoint you again.”
“I would rather you talk to me than hide things like this.”
Luka shrugged and looked towards the door. “I thinkwe may be the office gossip for the next few weeks.”
“Ah, yes: the boring boss finally brings in a beautiful woman only for her to bolt once she lays eyes on his son. I wonder what they think the reason is.”
Luka guffawed and relaxed even more into the leather. “I’m the best thing that happened to you, huh?”
“Yes, and I thought I always made sure you knew how much I love you. Apparently, I have to rethink my parenting styles.”
“A little late for that, don’t ya think?”
Luka rolled his eyes, and the two men fell silent. Boyd couldn’t shake the angst of not knowing if Queenie was alright, but he promised he’d let her initiate contact. After a while Boyd suggested that he and Luka get dinner, and he carefully stashed his lunch bag in the fridge for the next day.
Queenie didn’t contact him until later that night, when his phone rang as he was readying himself for bed.
“Queenie,” he hummed softly, relief easing his worried mind.
“I’m sorry.”
“There’s nothing to be sorry for.”
