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I nod.
“After Mom died, I found his obituary among her things. His photograph looked so much like me. I was almost certain he was my father.”
“And you thought I had something to do with his death?”
“I thought you might know what happened.”
“That's not what I asked.”
I look away.
“At first, I wasn't sure what to believe.”
His jaw tightens.
“I damn near died in that fire, Madison. Lost my career trying to prove somebody set it.”
“I know.”
“Then why the hell didn't you tell me?”
“Why didn't you ask before taking my DNA?”
He exhales sharply.
“Fair point.”
I blink.
“That's it?”
“What do you want me to say? I crossed a line. Should've told you.”
“You shouldn't have done it at all.”
“Yeah,” he admits.
That takes some of the fight out of me.
Not nearly enough.
“And for the record,” I add, “I don't believe you were involved. Not anymore.”
Something shifts in his expression.
“Good to know.”
“But I'm still furious with you.”
“Noticed.”
“You're arrogant, controlling, and convinced you know what's best for everybody.”
“Anything else?”
“Yes. You're an insufferable ass.”
His jaw tightens.
