“How can I help you?” Nick’s voice was all business and detached. He wasn’t giving me an inch.
“I’m sorry, Nick.”
Nick raised his head, his brow crinkled as he leaned forward on his desk. “What exactly are you sorry for? Sorry my daughter won’t come out of her room unless it’s to leave the house? That she won’t speak to me? That, because of you, she lied to us for most of the summer?”
“I’m sorry you found out the way that you did. I’m sorry we didn’t tell you when it started. Which, I give you my word, was her eighteenth birthday. But I’ll be honest, I loved her before that and did my best to stay away from her.”
“Am I supposed to commend you for that?” He crossed his arms and drew back, his eyes probing my face.
“No. I’m sorry I disrespected you and Ellie by sleeping in her room. You’ve been like family to me, and the last thing I wanted was to upset either of you.”
I took in a deep breath before I continued.
“I love PJ. I know the age difference bothers you. Bothers Jack, too. But … I need this break to be over. I can’t let her go. And I won’t.”
Nick blinked before he leaned forward. “Youwon’t?”
I replied with a slow shake of my head. “I won’t. No one understands it, but she’s it for me. No one compares to her or ever will. I’ll play by your rules. But I won’t give her up. Not even because of you. But I don’t want it to come to that.”
“I think it’s already come to that, don’t you think?”
“She’s upset because she disappointed you. Because the last thing she ever wanted to do was be less than what you thought she was.”
“Less?” He laughed before cupping his forehead. “She’ll be my baby until the day I die. But finding both of you, together … I still don’t know what to do with that.”
He fell back in the chair with a loud sigh. “She needs to finish school.”
I squinted as my head jerked back. “I agree, she’s brilliant and talented. The sketches she makes, even just on a napkin? I’m in awe—”
“I’m not stupid enough to think I can stop anything, although pretending all these years was nice.” He exhaled before dragging a hand down his face. “I’m going to be blunt. Wrap it up. Understand?”
I swallowed before nodding. It wasn’t the first time Nick had told me to “wrap it up.” A few summers ago, Jack and I had gone to the shore with some friends for a weekend, and he’d said it with a wink and glint in his eye. This time, it wasn’t friendly advice.
“And if you hurt her—”
“I love her too much to hurt her. I just want things to be good with all of us. I want to hang out in your yard for the Labor Day barbecue like I do every year and have a beer with you and Jack. None of that has to change, does it? I’m the same guy.”
Nick let out a long sigh. “Same guy? Not quite.” The corners of his mouth lifted in a small smile, surprising me. “For the record, I wasn’t going to get you into trouble. Even if I knew for a fact it started before she was eighteen, I wouldn’t have done that to either of you.”
“Scare tactic?” I smiled at his defeated shrug.
“I suppose. But instead of scaring you, I only incensed my daughter and pissed off my wife.”
I laughed. “I had that impression, too.”
His smile faded before he let out a long sigh. “I still don’t like this, but I know you love her. You’d have to. You’ve been around this family long enough to figure out how we’d all react, and you took it on anyway. And if I don’t at least try to become okay with it, I’ll lose her. If I haven’t already.”
“You haven’t. She’s just stubborn.”
“Really? Hadn’t noticed.” Nick snickered. “She gets that from me. The talent? No clue.”
“She’s teaching again tonight.” I motioned behind him. “Need another painting?”
His eyes rolled. “Because that one is so fucking awesome.” Nick dropped his gaze to the desk. “Maybe I do.”
I rose from the chair and approached his desk. “I’ll let you get back to your day. Thanks, Nick.” I extended my hand.
“You’ve got guts.” He grabbed my hand and shook it. “My daughter could do worse.”
