Chapter Fifteen
Savannah didn’t know why she went with her father. Habit, maybe, as much as anything. Could be she still had hopes that he’d be reasonable, but one look at his face told her that was a futile wish.
Randall opened the door to his office, let her in and closed it behind them. He strode around behind his desk and said, “Have a seat.”
“Thanks but I won’t be that long.”
“Suit yourself.” He sat, then steepled his fingers together and appeared lost in thought. Savannah waited him out, although he annoyed the crap out of her when he did this sort of thing. Finally, he said, “Do you want to know the real reason I took steps to see that Harlan Sullivan would be out of your life permanently?”
“Besides the fact you’re a snob and don’t think anyone from the Barrels is worth a damn?”
“If it were only that. But it was a hell of a lot more.” He gazed at her with a pitying expression. She grew more annoyed by the minute. “My poor, deluded girl. You have no idea what kind of man you’re involved with.”
“Spare me the theatrics. What terrible thing are you about to tell me?”
“I didn’t want to tell you.” He sighed heavily. “But I feel I must. Are you aware Harlan Sullivan fathered a son while he was in high school? At the same time he was involved with you?”
“Harlan doesn’t have a son. He’d have told me if he did.” She thought about their conversation earlier that evening. No, Harlan didn’t have any kids.
“Not only does he have a son but he also refused to marry the girl. I believe he did support his bastard, so at least he’s responsible to that extent.”
“Who is the mother of his supposed son?” She crossed her arms over her chest and said, “Let me guess, she doesn’t live here anymore and you conveniently have no idea where she is.”
“On the contrary. She lives here in Whiskey River and so does her son. Harlan Sullivan’s bastard. I believe you know her. Her maiden name is Braxton. Judy Braxton. She’s married to Jasper Lang now.” He snorted derisively. “How she managed that I’ll never know.”
Judy Lang? The scene at Baron’s Steakhouse flashed through her mind. Judy and Harlan’s obvious closeness. Harlan saying Judy’s son Alan was hisgodson. She shook off her uneasiness. “I don’t believe you.”
“Perhaps not, but you aren’t sure, are you? I saw your face just now. You doubt him, and you should. Ask him. See if he denies it or if he comes clean.”
“I don’t believe Harlan would do that to me. And if he had, especially if it was as serious as having a son, he’d have told me by now.”
“You don’twantto believe it. But a part of you knows it’s the truth. Now you can see why I couldn’t let you continue to see him. I had to get rid of him permanently, before he ruined your life as he did that poor girl’s.”
“Don’t give me this sanctimonious bullshit. You did it because you wanted to control my life and you’re too much of a snob to be okay with your daughter dating someone from the Barrels. Even if what you say is true, and I don’t for a minute believe it, that wasn’t your reason for interfering in my life back then. Not then and not now. You can’t stand not being in charge.” She slapped her palms down on his desk and looked him in the eyes. “It’s past time you realized you can’t run my life. You can’t choose my job or my friends or my lovers. I’m perfectly capable of running my own life.”
“Lovers? Are you saying—Oh, my God, you’re sleeping with the bastard!”
“Not that it’s any of your business, but yes, I am. I was really going to try to let this go. To try to let go of the past, like Harlan keeps telling me.”
“Of course he’d say that. He’s trying to excuse the inexcusable.”
Savannah laughed. “He is. But he’s been telling me to forgiveyou. Which is more than you deserve.”
She left without another word.
Savannah was obviouslypissed and didn’t want to talk about her conversation with her father so Harlan didn’t bring it up until they began to walk back to his apartment. They’d been spending a lot of time at his apartment, partly because the Christmas activities were in walking distance. Also because his apartment was much bigger than hers.
