“Hey there, Mason,” he said. “Having a good time all by yourself tonight?”
He reached his hand out, and Mason passed him the flask.
“What made you come all the way out here?” Mason asked.
“I wanted to make sure you’re okay.” Pa took a swig of whiskey.
“Better than ever.”
Pa handed the flask back to him, and he had another drink while Pa approached Mercy and pet her gently.
“Well, I guess you were right,” Mason said. “You were always right. Marrying him really was the stupidest thing I could have done.”
“Don’t say that.”
“Isn’t that what you’re thinking?”
Pa’s brow furrowed. He shook his head. “Remember when the vet said Mercy wasn’t going to make it? She was too weak, but you and Chase tended to her. You watched her like hawks and gave her everything she needed so that she could grow into the strong thing she is now.”
“Yup.”
“She didn’t have the easiest start, did she? Life wasn’t fair to her. Not fair at all. You didn’t lose your ma because life is fair.”
“What are you going on about?”
“Just saying life isn’t all that easy.”
“And you make a lot of mistakes… the same mistakes…”
“By loving someone? I don’t think so.”
“Chase is right, though. All these years of fucking pain. And then we got roped into those same emotions all over again when our lives are moving in the same directions they were before. I was just kidding myself thinking it could work out.”
“Shut your mouth, Mason. I don’t ever want to hear you talking like that.” Pa snatched the flask from him and had another sip before shaking his head. “Pisses me off when I hear you going on like that. You know, it’s hard watching your son get hung up on someone, but it was even harder when it was Chase. Would’ve been nice if it had just been some ass who wasn’t worthy, but Chase always has been. If there are two men who deserve each other, it’s you boys.”
“Is this supposed to be you helping me?”
“Just shut it and let me have my spiel. I haven’t had a goddamned say in any of this, so you can hear my two cents.”
Mason folded his lips together.
“Chase was a good boy, and he’s an even better man. You both had a lot on you when you were kids. I know you would have left to be with him, and he knows it, too. He knew the family needed you. And honestly, if it hadn’t been for him putting his foot down, this place may not even be what it is today. Don’t lie and try to tell me any different because I know it’s true. And now here we are again. Years later, and in the same position, where if you go, this place can’t make it. I know that. But I don’t want you to hurt because you feel like you have to keep this place going. I don’t want you to choose this over something so meaningful as what you guys have.”
“He doesn’t want me, Pa. He made that clear today.”
“That boy loves you, Mason. He may be messed up in the head about it, but you were kids when all this went wrong. He had this bright, promising opportunity, and he would have been slapping the universe in the face not to take it. And you had this place, and if you’d left to live another life, you would have only been lying to yourself. There were so many decisions to be made that were too big for either one of you to figure out at the time. And now you’re adults, and you can actually do the right thing.”
“What are you saying?”
“Do you know how much I loved your mother?”
“Yes.”
“I would have done anything to save her… to be with her. I fought. I fought so goddamned hard, it hurt because I knew that I was powerless, and that no matter how much I fought, it wouldn’t make a difference. The disease would have its way. And it did… in time. But I don’t regret fighting, even knowing how much it hurt. Even knowing that it didn’t do any damned good because I would rather know I did everything in my power to keep her than think there was something—anythingI could have done to keep her in my life.”
“Then what are you saying?” Mason asked.
“I once tried to fight you about all this, but do you remember what you told me? That when you find someone you care about—like I know you care about Chase—he’s worth fighting for. It may hurt sometimes, and it may end up being hopeless, but if you don’t put up the fight, what’s the point of living?”
