“And you never bothered to even ask? At least I got a trial with the law. With you I got condemned and sentenced without saying one damned word.” Maybe Lucky should leave and pretend this conversation never happened.
Daddy stared out the window. “I drove down to Durham for your trial.”
“I didn’t see you.” Lucky leaned against the wall and folded his arms over his chest.
“I stayed in the truck. Couldn’t bring myself to go in. I was mad. And yes, at the time, I thought you were where you belonged.”
Ouch. “It wasn’t only you. Mama, Grandma and Grandpa, my brothers. The only one in this whole family who stood by me was Charlotte.”
If Lucky hadn’t known the man so well, he might have missed the wince. “I told them about you, how you made your living, you being more than Victor’s employee. I didn’t tell anybody but your mama about you sending drugs to Daytona, just said to leave you alone.”
The man might never know the amount of pain he’d handed down. He’d forfeited any right to make Lucky watch his mouth. “They could have told you to fuck off.”
Daddy nodded. “I made sure they didn’t.”
Anger and pain ripped at Lucky’s insides. “Then I’m not sure we have anything left to say to each other.” He turned and reached for the doorknob.
So quietly Lucky barely heard, his father said, “Please don’t go. I’m sorry, I’m screwing this up. Sit. I need to talk to you.” He gestured toward the bed. Lucky stayed put.
Daddy sighed. “Your mama did what I told her, even though she didn’t want to. I warned her not to see you, call you, or answer your calls.” He met Lucky’s eyes. “Do you remember how we used to be? Me and your mother? When my friends told me stories about their wives cheating, spending too much, or drinking, I remembered how blessed I was. We loved each other dearly.”
His parents’ affection gave Lucky a model to work toward with Bo. But, “Loved?”
“Ever since I put my foot down, things have been tense, her resentment growing every day. Then… Then we got word you died. She came to me, said, ‘You cost me my son. You don’t get to tell me anything anymore.” Daddy wiped at his eyes with his fingers. “She moved upstairs to Bristol’s old room, hung that picture of you on the wall right outside the door, and dared me to say anything. I believe if I hadn’t gotten so sick, she would’ve left me outright.”
Holy hell. “Charlotte didn’t know?”
Daddy shook his head. “No, we didn’t talk about our personal problems to our kids, but we didn’t talk to each other anymore either. Daytona found out when he moved back home, as Charlotte did when she came to stay.”
Of all of Lucky’s feared homecoming scenarios, he’d never imagined anything like this. “I don’t know what you want me to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything yet. But my stubbornness is coming home to roost. My parents took your Mama’s side, now they’re not speaking to me either. And all because I judged my son.”
Hard to feel sorry for the man, under the circumstances. “I know I’ve done my share of terrible things, but you never gave me a chance.”
“And I’m paying the price. I just found out my living son is dead, and my dead son’s still living. And is the reason I’m still breathing. Thank you for that, by the way. ‘Specially under the circumstances.” Dad drew in a harsh breath. “That had to be a hard decision.”
“Not at all.” Lucky parked his ass on the edge of his father’s bed, much as he’d done years ago during heart-to-heart talks with this man. “How much did Charlotte tell you?”
“That it wasn’t you sent Daytona drugs. Most likely Bristol done it.” Daddy stared out the window. If he didn’t already know about the life insurance policies, Lucky wasn’t telling. Not the time or the place.
Broken. He’d expected pride, stubbornness, anything but his idol fallen from a pedestal and smashed in pieces on the ground. Must be Bo’s influence, the sudden bout of compassion. “I… I missed you, old man.”
“Wasn’t a day gone by I didn’t miss you.” The man Lucky still wanted to admire lifted his head, gave a sniff, and blinked hard. “I hear you’re some kind of cop now.”
“I’m a senior agent with the Southeastern Narcotics Bureau. I put away guys like me.” Oh crap? Had Lucky actually straightened and held his head higher?
“Guys like you used to be. Charlotte also said you done bought a house and built a nice life for yourself.”
“Yeah, Daddy, I did.”
“You’ve turned into one hell of a man. A better man than me.” Again with the staring out the window.
Silence lasted long enough to make Lucky worry if he should leave.
“Are you a good enough man to forgive me for being a stiff-necked fool who turned his back on his own son?”
Wait! What? “What did you say?”
