“Listen, I didn’t come in here to cause an argument. I want you to reconsider the decision you made with regards to Eli. He’s your son, for goodness’ sake!”
Teeth gritting, Gregory bangs his fist against the bookshelf causing a book to land on the floor with a thump. “Don’t you dare!” He flits his eyes to the door before closing the distance between us, his voice lowering to a deep, angry whisper. “You didn’t give a damn about Eli every time you entered my bed all those weeks ago. You have never had a moral compass, so don’t you dare pretend you have one now.”
Momentarily stunned by what he’s just said, I take a step back to try and come to terms with it all. Kendra and Eli’s dad? How could she?! Then something even worse crosses my mind. Her baby… could it be? Oh, no! What has Kendra got herself mixed up in? She has the world at her feet, and yet she still chooses to take more.
She really does have no shame.
How can I possibly argue with him now? I don’t have a right to. Despite this, I still need to get the words out. I still need to make him see sense.
“That was a really… big mistake, and one I regret now. It still doesn’t take away from the fact that you’re dying, and Eli wants to be with you. Why won’t you let him? It’s not too late to call him back and tell him that you love him.”
A sarcastic chuckle leaves his lips before he eventually turns and walks back to the bookcase. His steps are cautious, his wince telling me he’s in pain. Stupid, stubborn fool.
“Eli made his choice,” he simply states. “So, I have made mine.”
Frustrated with his nonchalance, I snap back, “Are you really going to let your pride get in the way of the pivotal relationship with your son? You’re really going to take your stubbornness to the grave with you?”
Without looking at me, he simply leans his elbow against the bookcase, one finger to his lip. “If it makes him realize what he’s done to his family, then yes.”
Having had enough of this conversation, I turn to leave. “Well, I’m sorry that you won’t live long enough to realize that will never happen.” At the door, I hesitate a moment. “Despite what you think, Eli has grown up to be a man any father would be proud of. He never gave into pressure, and stuck to what he believed in. He made his own success and never once counted on you to ride on your back. I think you need to think about that, Gregory. A boy—no matter what age—deserves to have his father.” I sigh and then say, “I wish you all the best, Mr. Prescott.”
I turn to move out of the door, but I’m halted by his words. “Kendra… or whoever you are.”
Stunned by what he’s just said, I snap my head to look up at him, my guilty gaze meeting his. His eyes are suspicious, but it’s almost like he’s seeing the real me. He can’t, though… can he? Has he, in his last days, been given the gift of insight? Or am I so paranoid lately that I’m reading way too much into this? Maybe it’s simply that he can’t believe it’s really Kendra talking.
“Look after him for me.”
The sincerity in his eyes has mine welling with tears. I want to grab him, shake some sense into him, but I feel in my bones that it won’t achieve anything. Maybe he’s always been headstrong and won’t change now even though he’s dying. Whatever reason, I feel sorry for the man. It must be an awfully lonely existence in his head.
Thinking about it all now, I wonder if Gregory simply slept with Kendra all those times because he was secretly getting back at his son for what he did. Either way, it was the most horrendous decision any person could ever make behind their son’s back. The ultimate betrayal.
Rounding my shoulders, I take in a deep breath, determination in my voice. “I fully intend to.”
I turn on my heels and head for the front door. It’s there, I hear muffled voices coming from what I believe is a reception room.
“I have to go, Mom, but just know that I love you. I’ll call you soon, okay?”
As if sensing I’m there, they appear in the doorway, a relieved smile greeting me from Eli, and the usual scowl from Sophie. It’s so hard taking those hateful looks from people knowing full well that I don’t deserve them.
A warm embrace between mother and son ensues before we say our goodbyes and head for the car, both of us silently contemplating our conversations with his father. I reach out, grabbing Eli’s hand, and Eli responds by kissing mine. I’m still reeling from the information about Kendra and Gregory, but I’m also trying to be there for Eli’s sake.
“He loves you, you know,” I say, squeezing his hand.
He lets out a sarcastic laugh. “If that’s true then he has a funny way of showing it.”
“He’s too headstrong to admit it, but I saw it in his eyes when I spoke with him.”
“When?” Eli probes, intrigue in his eyes.
“After you left the library, I went in there to confront him about his decision, and despite him outright refusing to admit defeat, I got the gist that he loves you regardless of his pig-ignorant and old-fashioned views about his company. He’s just simply that… stubborn as a mule.”
Eli glances down a moment before letting out a sigh. “I highly doubt that, but I appreciate the sentiment, nonetheless. My father will never forgive me for not carrying on his legacy. In a sense, I understand how important it is for him, but he knows damn well I would never have been happy.”
I squeeze his hand again. “And you have every right to be. It’s not selfish to want what’s best for you. He doesn’t rule your life. He should be proud of your achievements. Proud that you took another path where you could have ultimately failed… where a lot of people fail. You still took that path, regardless, and I think it’s immensely brave. I told your father as much.”
He reaches his hand up to stroke my cheek, and I close my eyes at the warmth of his touch.
“You didn’t have to say all that for me, but I appreciate you being in my corner.”