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That was my father. I twisted, heart lurching. “Dad? I thought you only came to Griddle on Sundays.”
“Shows how well you know me. I drink coffee by the gallon.”
Despite answering me, he was looking at Joey, eyes narrowed and intent. My mouth went dry. If my dad said the wrong thing to Joey, I wasn’t sure how he’d take it. He’d left me once—if briefly—because he didn’t want to hurt my father any more than he already had. A big part of that had been that he didn’t know—or believe—that I loved him.
But if my father openly denounced him? I wasn’t sure we could survive that.
My hand tightened on Joey’s.
“You must be Mr. Willis,” Joey said. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“I wish I could say the same.”
“Dad—”
He extended a hand to Joey. “My son didn’t see fit to introduce you to me, though, did he?”
Joey clasped his palm, looking as surprised as me. “I’m Joey, and I’m so very sorry—”
“Don’t bother,” Dad said, giving his hand a squeeze and releasing it. “I can’t imagine you’d say anything your letter didn’t cover. You wanted to make amends to my daughter, and you have. She’s forgiven you. My son loves you.” He glanced at me. “Like Kit said, no one else really matters.”
“I didn’t mean you,” I said awkwardly, though I kind of had.
I wasn’t going to let my father keep me from the man who’d captured my heart. If my anger and guilt and confusion hadn’t held me back, his wasn’t going to do it.
He chuckled. “Sure you did, and that’s all right. If you love someone, you have to stand up for them. You’ve done that.” He gave my shoulder a brief squeeze. “It’s what I raised you to do. Can’t be mad about that.”
“Do you want to join us?” Joey asked tentatively.
Dad glanced over his shoulder, toward a table of old men all watching us. “Nah. I’ve got my group of old coots over there waiting for all the tea. That’s what you kids say now, isn’t it?”
Joey gave a little laugh. “Yeah. I guess so.”
He nodded. “Have a good breakfast. I didn’t want to interrupt. Just thought I’d say hello.” His gaze landed on me. “Tell Dakota to set an extra place on Thursday, will you?”
“I will,” I said with a smile.
He patted my shoulder and walked away.
“Well, that could have gone worse,” I said.
“Worse?” Joey stared at me in amazement, eyes wide and shiny. “Your dad didn’t tell me to fuck off. That’s, like, the best outcome possible.”
I laughed. “Would you have fucked off if he did?”
He winced. “No, but…”
“It’s easier that you don’t have to make that choice,” I guessed.
He nodded once. “I’ve got to live with the pain I caused. Every time I see Dakota, it’s there in front of me. I know your dad will always see that. I don’t blame him. I don’t know how you manage to see anything else.”
“Joey—”
“Let me finish,” he said thickly. “I don’t know how you see anything else, but I know that you do. I see the love you have for me, and it’s a fucking miracle, Kit. I want you to know that I don’t take it for granted. I’ll never take you for granted. This chance I’m being given… I’m going to appreciate it and do everything I can to be the kind of man you can be proud to love.”
“You already are.”
He faced hate and anger and condemnation, and he did it with grace and humbleness. He’d confronted his demons to bring Dakota peace, and he’d given me his love—even after I’d let anger and resentment cloud my judgment.
