“This could be real promising for your brother.”
“Opening the center?”
“Yeah. It could be a great career opportunity. You know, I’m real proud of how he’s pursuing his education. He’s got street smarts, but he’s always struggled in school. His grades aren’t real good. He’ll probably have a tough time landing a job when he graduates.”
“What Connor’s lacking is stability. It’s hard to get good grades when your dad’s never around and can’t keep a job and take care of his family. His grades will get better now he doesn’t need to worry about funding his education.”
“Well, he’d never ask you, but I hope you’ll consider him as a possible manager after he graduates, when you open the center.”
Hank rubbed a hand back and forth across his head to ease the ache behind his sinuses. “Sure,ifI open a fitness center, Connor’s welcome to be a part of it.” That would have to satisfy his father.
“I’m not surprised you’re staying on in Cleveland. You always did like that city. Remember the old house your mom’s folks used to live in?”
“You mean the one you sold out from under me?” He couldn’t keep the bitterness from his tone. “Of course I remember. All of my favorite childhood memories were spent in that house. I used to stay a month every summer.”
“Now don’t get all mad at me. I thought I was doing you a favor at the time. Never understood what you and your mother loved so much about the old place. Just a bunch of crumbling bricks if you ask me. We didn’t get much for it when it sold.”
Hank rubbed his burning eye sockets and flopped back on the bed. The house was a sore spot. It had been a legacy from his mother’s family. It never should have been sold,but somehow his dad had managed it while Hank was half out of his mind with grief.
He put his hands behind his head and studied the curves in the ceiling so he wouldn’t lose his temper. A chandelier hung in the middle of an oval medallion above his bed. “Is that all? ’Cause I’m beat. It’s been a long day.”
“Son, I wish you’d give me a chance. I’m proud of you, ya know. You’ve done well for yourself. You shouldn’t get mad because I’m asking you to send a few opportunities your brother’s way. Family first and all that. Speaking of which, I hesitate to ask but...I could use a little loan. Just enough to cover the rent and truck payment for the next couple of months. I promise this will be the last time.”
“What did you do with the money I gave you six months ago?”
“It’s gone.”
Gone?“That was ten thousand dollars. What did you do with it? You were supposed to use the money to get settled.” He couldn’t afford to keep giving money away. Especially now that his series was canceled.
“I did. But we had debts to pay—car loans, your sister’s braces. And then...”
His father’s voice trailed off. Hank leaned closer to the phone. “I can’t hear you.”
“I lost my job.”
Hank stifled a groan. “What was it this time? Fight with a coworker? Showing up late?”
“Guess they thought I called off one too many times.”
“I’m not always the most punctual, but even I know you need to show up for work and behave to hold down a job.”
“I was sick. Bad case of bronchitis. I’ve been having trouble keeping up. I can’t put your sisters and stepmom through moving again. We just got settled in this apartmentin Nashville. It’s expensive. Plus, we have to pay utilities. We barely have any money left over for food each month.”
A muscle twitched in Hank’s jaw. So they had landed in Nashville. “Will five thousand cover it?”
“Yes, yes it will. . .well. . .thanks, son. . .it’s getting late, so. . .”
“Goodbye.” Hank did not wait for a reply but ended the call. He got up in one fluid movement and prowled the room until he ended up in the bathroom, where he eyed his reflection with distaste. His eyes looked like they could burn a hole through the mirror.
Why had he answered his father’s call? He had known as soon as he’d seen the number that the old man wanted money. He always did. It shouldn’t have come as a surprise. Yet, somehow, he always took the call, hoping his father wanted something more. Something like a real relationship. Something like the warm affection he’d glimpsed in Bethany’s eyes when she’d talked about her family over lunch.
Would he ever know what it felt like to be loved for something other than his money?
CHAPTER TWELVE
Although he was forced to get up with the roosters to exercise during the week, Hank had never been a morning person on the weekends. Until now.
Somehow, he managed to show up at Grandma Lou’s, freshly showered and dressed, by nine the next day, which he considered a minor miracle. Bethany wasn’t present to notice and be impressed by his early arrival. Travis was behind the counter. The pleasant young man from the day before had morphed into an unhappy proprietor.
