“That’s a big ask, August.”
“Is it?” He was curious. “What did Porter tell you?”
“Not much.” Ford got to his feet. “He told us who you were. Said something about the past coming back to haunt him. He talked about his brother and our mother.” Ford glanced at him. “Looking at you, I can guess the rest.” He sighed. “Then he suffered a series of strokes. They were small and he should be okay, but now he’s heavily medicated while his brain tries to heal itself.”
Gus clamped his mouth shut. “When did that happen?”
“Monday night.”
“I’d like to see him.”
“That’s going to be a hard no.” Ford reached for a large envelope on the desk. “The crew’s last pay was deposited into their accounts this morning. This is yours. Cash as usual. I guess now it makes sense why Ronald agreed to that when you were hired.” He paused, eyes direct. “I’d like you off the estate and out of Fire Lake as soon as possible.”
Gus bristled at his brother’s tone — he wasn’t the kind of man who took orders — but he didn’t want to get into a pissing contest with him either. This mess was his fault.
Ford gazed out at the lake beyond. “I’m a good judge of character, and I think you’ll do the right thing.” He turned and nailed Gus with a look. “And the right thing is to leave us alone. The right thing is to let Sunday be. She’s fragile. This has already set her back. You don’t know what she went through back then — what our parents’ choices did to her. She grew up in a houseof unhappy men. She didn’t have a mother to talk about all the shit young girls need their mothers for. Hell, I took her to buy her first box of tampons. I took her to get birth control. She had friends, but they can’t replace a mother. And while I’m willing to acknowledge our father’s part in all of this, there is no getting around the fact that Clarice abandoned us. That was her choice. I learned to live with it but Sunday took it harder. It’s unforgivable. You don’t have a kid, so you don’t know. I would do anything for my son.
“There is a pain inside our sister that will never go away. And if you truly care, you’ll back off and tell our mother to stay in California, where she belongs. As for our brothers and Iris, I’m glad they’re well, but I’ve no need to get to know them. Not now. It’s been too long.”
Gus knew when the battle was lost. He reached for the door but paused as he tried to quell the feelings that had been let loose inside him. He came to Fire Lake with zero expectations. It was more than curiosity, but it’s not as if he pictured all the Boone kids celebrating Thanksgiving together. So why did he feel as if he’d failed?
He spoke quietly. “I’m glad I got to know you. Glad I got to see what a great father you are to your boy. That goodness had to come from somewhere so maybe it wasn’t all bad. Maybe we won’t be as fucked up as our parents.”
A heartbeat passed. Ford said nothing, and Gus left.
He walked through the foyer and out into the sunshine. Ten minutes later, he drove past The Dock. He knew that Faith had the day off, but before he saw her, Gus needed to see someone else. He drove south through town and then took a right onto Crooked Lane. The little yellow cottage beckoned from the end of the street.
Misha answered on the first knock. She invited him inside and brewed a fresh pot of tea while he sat at the small table inher kitchen. She offered him a cookie from the fresh batch on the counter, but he couldn’t eat.
“I’m leaving town.”
“When?” she sipped her cup and then set it down carefully.
“As soon as I leave here.”
Misha’s eyes softened, and he saw the worry on her face.
“It didn’t go well.”
“I wasn’t sure it would but I’m glad you made the attempt.” She grabbed his hand and squeezed it. “I don’t want this to be our end. Promise me you’ll come back from time to time and that you’ll stay in touch. I want to know Oliver, Harrison, and Iris.”
“I don’t know if that will happen. The wounds are too deep.” He glanced up. “Porter had a series of strokes. Apparently, he’ll be okay, but I thought you should know.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Ford and Sunday have been through a lot and out of respect I’m going to step back. The ball’s in their court and they control the play.”
“You’re okay with that?”
He nodded. “They’ve been through a lot. I don’t want to add to that.”
“Do you regret coming home to Fire Lake?”
“No.” Gus thought of Faith.
Misha walked him to the door and then gave Gus the biggest hug her small body would allow. “Promise me something?”
“Anything,” he replied with a smile.
