My jaw drops. I’ve seen and heard some things in my day, but this might take the cake. “Are you shitting me?”
“Nope.” He pops his P, and shoves another spoonful into his mouth. His eyes dance with merriment.
I shake my head. “Only Stone would go legal with weed.”
“It brings in big bucks.”
“Oh, I just bet they do,” I say.
“So, you aren’t game?”
“No, I am. Make sure you doctor my name. I don’t want this being traced back to me when I work at a school with impressionable teens,” I say.
Pop laughs. “Yeah, might be a conflict of interest. It’s done. I have to clear it through him, but I know he wants someone he can trust without tying up the boys.”
“Makes sense. Who’s the muscle?”
“Prospects closest to getting patched and a few newer members. If you come into our shop looking for trouble, you have to be new to town or have a death wish.”
I can see the pride in his club shining in his eyes. “What’s the name of the place?”
“King Green,” Pop answers.
I throw my head back and laugh. Of course it is.
“First time I heard you laugh like that in a while,” Pop says.
“You never tried to be delicate before, Pop, just ask.”
“All right, what’s going on with you?”
“Just trying to acclimate. It’s a lot to take in. I left for a reason, and while I dealt with my own issues I never wrapped my head around the thought of being back here full time, and seeing Mouth on a nearly daily basis. It brings back bad memories.”
“And you’re okay with that?” he questions.
I can see the worry in his eyes, and a pang of guilt strikes me. I put him through hell in a lot of different ways. Still, I can admit he failed me as a father. It pains me, but ignorance and denial never helped anyone. I had to face many ugly truths during my journey to be a counselor. You can’t help others if you’re not whole. “Dad, I’m not that lost little girl anymore. I’m not going to hurt myself, you don’t have worry about that. It’s hard, but not impossible.”
“You being straight with me, Rosie? Seems like we spent a lot of our time before lying and denying ourselves and each other.”
“I understand, it was how we were taught to be. Now, it’s different. ’Cause I know better, and I think you’ve opened your eyes.”
“I know I was wrong, Rosie. I can acknowledge it now. Whether I knew the extent of what was going on or not, I should’ve done something long before things became so dire.”
I study the light brown liquid in my cup. It feels good to hear. Nevertheless, it’s awkward to see the regret in his eyes. “Things happened true enough, but I survived.”
“If this continues, I’m going to take Mouth to vote. You don’t treat family like this.”
“I love you, Dad, but it’s not your place anymore. The battle is between Echo and his father,” I say. Your time to fight this battle is long gone and we both know it.
“Humph. You’re always going to be my child.”
“And I’m his old lady. You know how this goes better than I do,” I say calmly.
“You really want me to think you’re okay with that? That you don’t resent me for not being a better father? I know I did wrong by you.”
I sigh. “Dad,” I shake my head, “I won’t sit here and lie. Yes, part of me wishes you’d done something more…that I’d never had to go through the whole ordeal. But the anger, bitterness, and sadness had to be let go for me to find happiness and be balanced. Now, it’s just an unpleasant memory. It didn’t change my entire experience with you as my parent. You sacrificed a lot, and I’ve seen many kids way worse off. I’m not complaining.”
He bows his head.