“You’re not going.” The answer was swift and sharp. “I want you to stay here.”
“What do you mean?” Julian demanded. “I always go with you when you travel abroad.”
Jude resisted the urge to shift in his chair, sensing an argument between the two was brewing.
“You’re drinking far too much,” Duncan said. “I can’t take you with me when you have such a dependence on alcohol.”
“I’m not dependent on alcohol,” Julian scoffed.
“Then why are you drinking so much?”
Jude doubted anyone outside of the family but him would be allowed to witness this interaction between father and son. It wasn’t the first time he’d been party to one of their heated discussions. And it probably wouldn’t be the last.
“Because there’s nothing better to do here,” Julian responded.
“And yet you’re the only one drinking to excess.”
Jude wondered when Duncan would finally wise up and just get rid of all the alcohol at the estate. Although that didn’t necessarily mean that Julian wouldn’t drive into Serenity and get drunk at a bar.
Duncan probably figured it was better that Julian got drunk on the estate than at some random bar in Serenity.
“You’re drinking even more, recently,” Duncan said. “Is your mother still giving you hassles?”
Julian gave a derisive snort. “My mother isalwaysgiving me hassles.”
Duncan sighed. “Regardless. You’re staying here. You can keep an eye on things.”
“Not sure why,” Julian said with a huff of laughter. “It’s not like you trust me.”
“I trust you to stay here and watch over your sisters and Benji, since I’ll be taking Jude with me.”
That got another sharp laugh from Julian. “Like you think I could do Jude’s job. At least I’m competent at my own.”
“When you’re sober.”
Julian got to his feet. “Well, if I’m not going with you, I don’t need to be present for this meeting.”
Duncan didn’t say anything as Julian left the office, but his gaze followed his son until the door shut with a resoundingthud.
The silence that followed felt heavy and charged with the tension of unspoken words and long-standing frustrations.
Duncan rubbed his temples, suddenly looking every one of his nearly seventy years. "That went about as well as I expected. Julian's been spiraling for weeks now, and I can't seem to get through to him."
The admission hung between them, and Jude found himself in the uncomfortable position of witnessing a father's disappointment in his son. He'd seen Duncan handle billion-dollar negotiations with less visible strain than this conversation with Julian had caused.
"He’s been looking a bit more gaunt and tired than usual."
"I know." Duncan's expression grew more troubled. "I've been hoping he'd pull himself together, but I can't ignore it anymore. Not when business is involved. I want him with me for trips like this, but I don’t think it’s wise. Not for this one anyway."
“Do you have any idea what’s causing his spiraling?” Jude asked.
“I don’t, but there’s no denying that his drinking has increased since Angelica and Kiara arrived. I’m not sure why that’s the case, but I think we need to get him some help.”
“Do you want me to look into treatment programs?” While he and Julian had never been best friends and were different in a lot of ways, Jude still cared about the man beyond just being concerned for his safety.
“Yes. I think it’s time to consider something more drastic. I can’t let him slip even further away.”
The emotion in the man’s voice tugged at something inside Jude. Duncan wasn’t a man given to much emotion, but when it came to his family—his children—the man was as emotionally invested as Jude’s dad had been. It was one of the things Jude appreciated about Duncan.
