Page 47 of Sins of the Father

I open my eyes and spin. “Mom, we need to talk.”

“What did I do wrong now?”

“You really have to ask me?”

She sighs. “Harper, would you mind giving us a minute?”

“Sure.” Harper leaves.

My mom crosses her arms.

“Is there a reason you look pissed right now?” I accuse.

I’m the one with reasonable cause to be upset, not you.

“Well, after yesterday’s temper tantrum where you had your sister throw her gift out of a moving vehicle—”

“I didn’t tell her to do that. She was smart enough to do it of her own free will.”

“Funny. And is it someone else’s fault Mitch got punched at your sister’s wedding?”

“Let’s skip the guilt trip and talk about your bad habit.”

She glares. “Why can’t you ever let things be? I understand it’s not a perfect scenario—”

“A perfect scenario? That’s an understatement,” I scold.

“I’m not doing this here.” She turns to leave.

“He was in my condo last night,” I blurt out.

She freezes.

“What’s he up to, Mom?”

She shakes her head. “Why do you always think everything is bad surrounding him?”

Here we go.

“I don’t have time or patience to listen to you defend him. Tell me why he is insisting on having me be part of his campaign.”

Her head moves back in surprise. “Steven, what are you talking about?”

“Oh, he didn’t tell you?”

She doesn’t move.

“You really didn’t know?”

“No. But I don’t want you to have anything to do with his business affairs.”

It’s the first time my mother has ever alluded to anything that is not perfect with his professional dealings.

“What has he done, Mom?”

“Nothing.”

“Mom—”

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