“I will.” Joseph didn’t say anything until Adele had skipped out of the room. “I’ve been in the garage oiling a table I made from birch. It’ll be stunning once I’ve finished.” Taking a glass out of the cupboard, he filled it with water, then sat at the kitchen table. “You’re welcome to have a seat.”
Reluctantly, Nate sat down. “Mom was upset when she found out about your trust. She said she’s okay now, but not telling her the truth wasn’t right. Just because you’ve got lots of money, it doesn’t mean you can treat her like that.”
Joseph cradled his glass in his hands. For a nineteen-year-old to have this conversation with him was more courageous than he would have been at the same age. “I don’t want your mom to be upset, either. I should have told her the truth from the beginning. Did she tell you why I didn’t tell her?”
“She said she would’ve missed out on leasing the cottage if she’d tried to find funding from somewhere else.”
“That’s part of it. The other part was important, too. I didn’t want her to treat me any differently because of the money.”
Nate frowned. “You can’t change who you are or what you’ve got.”
“That’s true. But I don’t want people to judge me on those things, either.”
“Mom’s notpeople. She’s the person you’re dating.”
With the grilling he was getting, Joseph wondered if Nate had ever considered being a barrister. He should be in a courtroom. “I wasn’t talking about your mom when I said that. She’s special to me. I don’t want to hurt her and I’ll try my best not to do it again.”
Nate crossed his arms in front of his chest. His earnest brown eyes were as piercing as Shona’s. “What are your intentions?”
Joseph blinked. “My intentions?”
“Toward Mom. She likes you, but I want to know if you’re stringing her along.”
Joseph wiped his hands on his jeans. Nate was hitting some touchy subjects that didn’t sit well with him. “You and I don’t know each other very well. That’s something I’d like to change. But, for now, you’ll have to believe I’d never string your mom or anyone else along.”
Nate nodded before unfolding his arms. “Just so you know, I called Pastor John and asked him about you.”
Joseph’s eyes widened. “What did he say?”
“That Mom and I can trust you.”
To say Joseph was relieved was an understatement. John knew him better than anyone else. He’d seen him at his worst and still saw the potential of the person he could become.
Nate cleared his throat. “I didn’t tell Mom I was coming. She gets stressed when I’m driving because of what happened to Dad.”
“I can understand that. I’d be the same if Adele was older and driving to see me.” Joseph leaned forward. “Your mom’s special to me, Nate. Whatever happens between us will always involve you and Adele. I’m not your dad and I’d never expect to take his place, but I’d like to be your friend. What do you think?”
Adele stuck her head around the doorframe. “Say yes.”
Joseph looked at his daughter and raised his eyebrows.
“I was bored and listening to you was better than my TV show.” She skipped across to Nate. “Do you want to be Dad’s friend?”
“I guess so.”
Adele grinned. “Yeah! Do you want to watch TV with me?”
“Not tonight. I’d better go home and see Mom.”
“Okay. If you’re still at your mom’s house tomorrow, you should come here for dinner. Shona likes it when Dad cooks on the barbecue.”
Nate looked at Joseph.
“That’s fine. It’ll be great to have dinner together.”
“Okay. I’ll let you know what Mom says.”
As far as enthusiastic responses went, it barely registered, but Joseph didn’t mind. It was a start and that’s all they needed.
