Simon raised his arm again. “None of this would have happened if you’d minded your damn business. What did you think you were doing?”
Darius wished Simon would stop pointing fingers at him, literally and figuratively. “I was thinking where there’s smoke, there’s fire. I was aware of the rumors. I’d heard the whispers for years, so I did some research.”
“You mean you went digging into my personal business.” Simon glowered at him. “I hope you’re happy. You destroyed our family.”
“No, Dad. You did, years ago.” Darius stood and walked to him. “We’ve never been a family. Just three people who didn’t have anyone else. But you destroyed even that with your lies.”
“I’m telling you, I never lied.” Simon’s agitation increased. He was almost spitting his words.
“Why didn’t you tell Mom about Noah?”
“It wasn’t any of her business.”
Darius’s eyebrows jumped up his forehead. “She’s your wife. You don’t think she had a right to know another woman was giving birth to your son?”
“It had nothing to do with her.” Simon spoke through his teeth.
“Apparently, she disagrees because she kicked you out.” Darius returned to his seat at the opposite end of the sofa. “Oh, I forgot. She didn’t kick you out. You left.”
And who knew whether June Cale was the only woman Simon had had an affair with? She was the only affair they could prove.
“You’d better watch how you speak to me, Darius. I’m still your father.”
“You’re Noah’s father, too.” And how many other children? “When are you going to get to know him?”
“I came here to spend time with you, but all you want to do is argue.” Simon crossed his arms over his chest.
“You came here because you’re lonely, but that’s your fault. You never got to know us—or Noah. You were just a boarder in the house with me and Mom.”
“I don’t have to stay here and listen to this shit.” Simon turned away from Darius. “You’re just like your mother.”
His father stomped across the living room. The threshold shook as he slammed the front door.
Accusing him of being like his mother didn’t upset Darius. He would have been more upset to be compared to his father.
CHAPTER 11
“I do love Doreen’s soups. Do you think she uses real dog meat?” Ms. Helen spooned up more chicken stew at the table she shared with Darius at B
ooks & Bakery Tuesday afternoon, the ninth day of December.
“Probably.” Darius stilled. His forehead creased in a frown. “Wait. What did you say?”
“What’s on your mind, Darius? And don’t bother to say nothing because I know it’s something.”
Of course Ms. Helen could tell something was troubling him. She knew him better than anyone. Wasn’t that the reason he’d asked her to lunch?
Stalling for time, Darius lowered his soupspoon and glanced around the café. It was full but not as crowded as it typically was around lunchtime. He and Ms. Helen had been lucky to get a table. They’d arrived just after 11:00 a.m. Fortunately, Ms. Helen had been available for an early lunch.
He turned back to his soup. “My parents are driving me crazy.”
“They’ve been doing that since you were old enough to realize they generally talked nonsense.” Ms. Helen was right about that.
“I thought their separation would make it better, but it’s gotten worse.”
“That was bound to happen.”
Darius was caught off guard. “Why?”