He didn't know what to say to that.It was how he felt, too.But he was hardly going to start whining.
She shook her head sadly."So that's why Charles thinks of you as his other son."
He grinned."Who told you that?"
"He said so himself."
"Makes me feel good to hear that.He'll say things sometimes.Make it clear that he sees me as part of the family.But..."He turned to stare out at the ocean for a moment, the steady rhythm of the crashing waves calming his mind.
He turned back when Callie asked, "Is your dad a friend of Charles's?"
"Oh, hell no."He shook his head rapidly."No, that's why Dad didn't stick around in Napa — or at least part of the reason.He didn’t fit in with them.Charles and most of the wine families come from old money.And my dad, well, he's Hollywood money, and that's different.My dad thought he could buy people's affection with extravagant parties and — I don't know — all that kind of thing.He thought that buying a winery would make him fit in.But he didn't know the first thing about wine.And worse, he didn't even want to learn.So no, he never fit in, and when he tired of trying, he went back to LA.He kept the estate, but he left behind everything about the life he'd wanted to build there that didn’t work out for him."He shrugged."Including me."
"Oh, Ollie."She stopped walking and turned to face him, looping her arms up around his shoulders."I'm so sorry."
He curled his arms around her, crushing her to his chest."There's no need.I don't want you to go feeling sorry for the poor little rich boy."
She slapped his arm."That's not what I meant."
He chuckled."I know, but that's how it feels sometimes.People think I have it made, you know?I own the estate.I have more money than one person could spend in ten lifetimes.No one to tell me what I can and can't do."He shrugged."I can't really expect people to understand, but having all the money in the world doesn't make up for not having the things that money can't buy."
"I understand that.I really do.I mean, not the having money part, but the stuff money can't buy."She nodded vigorously."It's so much more important."
"I know."
He tugged on the end of her braid, and she tipped her chin to look up into his eyes.A shaft of sunlight broke through the clouds, feeling like a spotlight on the two of them, on this moment.
"What else do you want to know?"
She shrugged."Do you see much of your dad?"
He shook his head."I haven't seen him — or even talked to him — in at least six months.I've had a couple of texts in the last few days.He wants me to go visit."
She rolled her lips together as she nodded, and the reason she was asking dawned on him."If you're worried that I might want to drag you down there to go to parties and premieres when we start dating, then you're safe.That's not going to happen."
She nodded slowly."It did worry me a little.But — and I already told you I googled you, I don't mind admitting it — from everything I saw, there was no mention of you and your dad.Not since you were a little kid."
"That's because there's nothing to report on.We rarely see each other."
She frowned."But you said you own the estate now?"
"Yeah, he gave it to me.Called it a gift, but I think it was a tax write-off."
She let out a short laugh."Damn."
"Reaves says that I'm too hard on him.He thinks Dad wants to make it up to me, but..."He shook his head."I'm not convinced.And even if he does, it's not like there's anything to salvage.I'm a fully grown adult now.There's no bond between us as father and son, and if he weren't my father, then I'd have no interest in knowing him, so..."He shrugged.
The look she gave him surprised him."What?"
"I just think that's sad."
"I used to, but I've had a lifetime to get used to it.I'm over it."
She held his gaze for a moment, then nodded slowly.
He was grateful she didn't push.He had enough of that from Reaves.
He stopped walking and turned to face her again."I slipped something in there that you didn't catch."
