“You must be Dade’s mom.” There was no doubt. She had the same eyes and hair color. “He just fell asleep.”
“Thank you for looking after him,” she said gently.
He let her inside, and she went to Dade, sitting on the edge of the sofa. She checked his forehead.
“His fever seems to be gone.”
“Yeah. He had a big week.” Cliff asked if she wanted anything to drink, then went to make some coffee and carried out two mugs.
“So I understand,” she started. “I heard all about the argument he had with his father. I don’t like it when they’re angry with each other.” She sat in one of the chairs.
“Dade is an adult, and his father seems to think that he gets to make his decisions for him.”
She sipped from the mug. “He just wants what’s best for Dade.”
Cliff met her gaze. “I don’t think so. He tried to get him a new job and even accepted it for him.”
She set down her mug. “That can’t be right.”
“It is, Mom. That’s what he did. And he’s been strong-arming me for years. He doesn’t get to run my life, and he needs to back off.” Dade slowly sat up.
“He just wants you to be happy,” she said. The usual copout. Cliff was about to interject, but Dade took a huge breath and then released it slowly.
“And what makes him think he knows what will make me happy? My father never gave a damn about what would make Maria, me, or for that matter, you, happy. His only concern is what he wants. And I’m done with it. He actually told the headmaster of a military school that I would take a job I had already turned down.” The way he met his mother’s eyes was striking. Cliff could tell she was confused and unsure of herself. “I am not under his command, and I won’t be any longer.”
She held her hands palm up. “What do you want me to do?”
“Tell him to back off.” Dade leaned forward and paled. Cliff helped him sit back again. “I’ve tried, but he just doesn’t get it. So, I’ll tell you this: I need your help. The next time he interferes in decisions that are mine to make, I will cut him off… and then embarrass him.” His expression was dead serious.
“How?”
“I’ve been around Dad for decades. I know everyone he’s worked with, every general and colonel. They will all get an email detailing his behavior… with proof, because I have it. I will crucify him, by name, on social media. Basically, I will make sure he’s a pariah at the Pentagon. None of his friends will have anything to do with him.”
Cliff went cold.
“Do you know what that will do to your father? It will kill him.”
“Yeah, like he’s been killing me for years. All I’m asking you to do is talk to him. Tell him that I mean business and that I have a right to my own life. Tell him that if he wants to have a son at all, he needs to step back.” Dade coughed, and Cliff left to get him a glass of water.
“Okay. I’ll do what I can,” Dade’s mom was saying. “I know things were hard growing up.”
“Mom, if it hadn’t been for you, it would have been unbearable. Maria and I both hated it. Why do you think she lives where she does? I teach, and I love it. It’s what I was born to do, and I love this town. I don’t want to leave. I’ve finally found a home.”
Dade’s mother didn’t say anything at first. “You do know that your boyfriend is an army major. What are you going to do when he’s transferred?”
That had been the burning question between them since they first met, and Cliff was curious what Dade’s answer would be. “I don’t know. But there is one thing I am sure of—it will be my decision to make when the time comes, not yours and not my father’s. That’s my point. I will not give him any more control of my life. I hope you can understand that. Because I am prepared to go nuclear to preserve what I feel is my right to make my own decisions. I will ruin my father’s reputation if I have to.”
She dabbed her eyes. “Do you really hate your father that much?” Cliff had to admit that she really seemed disturbed and worried about the conversation they were having.
“Honestly, I don’t know. He and I never saw things the same way. He was never much of a father.”
“His men loved him. They always did.” It was clear she was proud of her husband.
“Because he gave them everything, and at the end of the day, there was nothing left for Maria and me. Call her—ask her. She and I have talked about this on multiple occasions over the years.” Damn, Dade was being firm, and maybe a tad harsh, but it was possible that he needed to do that to get his point across.
“I don’t know what I can do, but I’ll try. You’re an adult now, and he needs to….” She paused. “I guess I just want everyone to get along.”
“I know you do, Mom. But the issue is that in this family, that means letting Dad dictate everything. And he can’t do that. I won’t let him.” He curled up on the sofa. “Love and family are two-way streets. You have to give as well as get, and I haven’t received anything but control and his heavy-handed decision-making in years. Any care and fun that I had growing up was because of you.” He smiled, and Cliff sat next to him. “Remember the time you took us to that elf park in Holland?”
