“Oh, so you wanted to wait for me in the dark and hit me with a bat?Chop off my legs?Kill me and toss me into the street?”
“Can you give me two minutes?”
I open the door, and we both get in.I slide the key into the ignition, but he stops me.
“We can talk here.”
I let go of the keys and sink back into the seat.
“Have you come to call me an arsehole?To say I hurt your father, used him, and broke his heart?”
“I think you broke your own heart, Captain.”
This is going well already.
“You broke his, too, of course.But that’s not why I’m here.”
“Then what are you doing sitting in my car?”
“I’d like to talk to you man to man.”
“Evan…”
“Don’t start telling me I’m just a kid, that I don’t know what I’m talking about, or that it’s none of my business.I’m here to tell you about the man you’re leaving behind.”
“You think I don’t know that?”
“I’m not sure.You don’t seem like a very smart guy.”
“Probably so.”
“I don’t know what your problem is, and I don’t even want to know; it’s not for me to judge.”
“It’s not even up to you to fix your father’s life.”
“That is not my intention.”
“Do you think talking to me about him changes anything?”
“Maybe not, but I have to tell you: a man like that, you’ll never find again.”
Like I don’t already know that.
“And he fuckin’ screws it up.He messes up to no end.Look at me, for example.I shouldn’t even be here.”
I can’t help but smile.
“But he does one thing well, and he is the best.He knows how to take care of people.”
“It seems obvious to me.He is a doctor.”
“Don’t be an idiot.You know I’m not talking about that.”
I nod.
“He sees, he listens, he understands.He knows how to heal wounds, big or small.He doesn’t panic like Mum or lash out like Ryan.He thinks things through and finds answers.No matter what, he can’t hold a grudge or hate anyone.
“Why are you telling me all these things?”
