“Thanks, Ben. You want one, too, Dad?” Vick evoked the moniker with ease, which made it all the more meaningful, as if he’d called him Dad for years.
Rhett cleared his throat, expelling a sudden surge of emotion. “Yeah, please. That’d be great.”
They thanked Ben then walked to the water’s edge in companionable silence. Dusk fell across the lake, casting shades of indigo and violet on the mirrored surface, while tall pines dotting the shoreline, interspersed by beautiful custom-built homes, created a rugged frame.
They strolled to the end of the dock and sat, dangling their feet over the side. A cool breeze kicked up across the still surface, stirring gentle waves that lapped against the wooden beams.
“This is quite the place.” Rhett kept his tone even and nonchalant despite the tenuous topic waiting on the tip of his tongue.
“It is. They got a good deal, too, since it needed some work when they bought it.”
“That was a smart move. That’s a great way to build equity.”
Vick nodded in agreement, and the comfortable silence returned. Only this time, Rhett racked his brain for a way to keep the conversation going without being too obvious. “So,” he said, stealing a sideways glance. “You ever think about buying your own place?”
“Sure. I’ve been keeping an eye out. Might be a while before I can afford something like this, though.”
Rhett reached into the side pocket of his cargo shorts—the supposedly outdated pair his son had razzed him about earlier. His fingertips met the creased edge of a blank envelope, and he hesitated, unsure how his son would react. He fidgeted with the unsealed flap, debating his next move, then, with a deep breath, he withdrew the envelope. Before he could chicken out, he handed it to Vick.
“What’s this?” Vick stared at the object in his hand as if he’d never seen anything like it before.
“Well, son, it’s called an envelope. It’s used to contain other items like documents and letters.” He hoped his teasing tone would lighten some of the tension that was sure to follow.
“I know what it is. But what’s in it?”
“You’ll have to open it and find out.”
Casting him a curious glance, Vick flipped up the flap.
Rhett’s pulse pounded in time with the lapping waves, loud and punctuated, spaced evenly with his measured breaths.Stay cool. It’s going to be fine.
“I don’t understand.” Vick gawked at the check, his gaze glued to the hefty sum. “What is this?”
“It’s a form of currency us old-timers use.”
His son shot him a look that said it was time to cut the jokes. “It’s a check,” Rhett told him in a more serious tone. “And I want you to have it.”
“Where’d you get this kind of money?”
“Don’t worry, it’s not loot from a bank heist.” He couldn’t resist one last wisecrack. All his nervous energy needed somewhere to go.
“I know that. That’s not what I was implying.” Vick met his gaze, searching for an explanation.
“It’s money my dad left me in his will. I’ve been sitting on it for about a year now.”
“Your dad? But I thought he left when you were a kid.”
“He did.” Rhett’s gaze wandered to the hazy sky, spotting dark clouds converging above the mountaintops. “My suspicion is that including me in his will eased some of his guilt. Like maybe leaving me money meant I was still his kid.” Rhett knew from experience how easily a person could rationalize horrible decisions. “It’s not a lot,” he said, glancing back at his son. “But it can help toward a down payment. Or a ring.”
Was it his imagination, or did Vick’s eyes look misty all of a sudden? His son closed the envelope and held it out to him. “Dad, I can’t accept this. This money is yours. Use it toward your own down payment.”
For a moment, Rhett merely stared back at him. He still wasn’t used to Vick calling him Dad, and it gave him a thrill every time. “Honestly, I like my current setup. It suits me.” His thoughts flew to Donna. Someday, he’d need a new arrangement, but for now, this was his priority. He nudged the envelope in Vick’s direction. “I want you to have this. Think of it as back pay for all the allowance I never gave you. With interest.”
This earned him a grin, but Vick still didn’t look convinced.
“Listen. It would mean a lot to me if you’d let me do this for you. Not as a way to buy your affection, but simply because I’m your dad. And it would make me happy to help out.”
Vick considered this for a moment then dipped his head in a conceding nod. “Thanks.” His voice sounded hoarse, and he cleared his throat.
