“But if it is, I’m sorry. I never thought they’d get like that?”
“Did you send them?” I asked.
He shook his head. “No. Mia I’d never.” Now he looked a bit desperate. “I just ran into Lyle and a few of his cronies at the bar the other night. They were talking about Ms. Mason’s death and … well, you know how I feel about Nick. But I never intended for them to attack you. I never even considered that they would.”
“Words have consequences, son,” my father said.
Eli’s eyes hardened. “Yes, well, I guess that’s another area where Nick is better than me.”
“Stop,” I said sharply, then regretted it when a piercing stab shocked my brain. I put my hand on it.
“You rest now, Mia—”
“No, Dad.” I looked at Eli. “I know things haven’t always gone your way, but you can’t blame Nick for that.”
Eli turned away.
“Did you know before she died, mom asked Nick to do three things for her?”
Eli slowly turned his attention back to me.
“One of them was to fix things with you. He said he tried, but you—”
“He’s a menace in our lives.” Eli nearly growled his disdain.
I shook my head. “No. He’s not. He loves us. We’re his family.”
Eli frowned. “So, you and him are together.”
“This isn’t about me and Nick. This is about how he was your best friend since preschool. How he loved me when I was in law school. How he stayed with mom during her darkest moments. How he loves Dad. He deserves better from everyone in this town, but especially from us.”
“She’s right,” my father said.
“He betrayed me with you too,” Eli said to our father, although with less anger as usual.
“What do you mean?” my father asked.
“When he was with Mia, it was a secret. Now it turns out he’s been your afternoon buddy for years, and that was a big secret.”
My heart went out to him as I realized he wasn’t totally unreasonable in his anger.
“You’re right.” My father made his way to Eli. “I should have told you. I was thinking that it would be easier since I knew you didn’t like him, but it was wrong. I’m sorry about that, Eli. I really am. I can see where that would make you think I cared for him more. You’re my son, and I love you. I’m proud of the work you’ve done with the store—”
Eli looked down. “Now you’re patronizing me.”
“No. You’ve rallied with stiff competition. I know you’re working on a variety of new ideas to take the customers back.”
“You want me to sell it.”
“Only because the store was my dream, not yours. I was a therapist for many years, but it turned out it wasn’t my calling. The store was. You took it over to help me when I got ill, but it’s not your calling.”
Eli scoffed. “I don’t have a calling.”
“You do. You just don’t know it yet.” My father put his hand on Eli’s shoulder. “As far as Nick goes, I won’t deny that I care about that boy. But I have enough love to go around, and nothing will change that you’re my son.”
Eli leaned back against the wall and ran his hands over his face. “I’m an asshole.”
“No—”