Page 29 of Mountain Pine
Dad’s unreadable. Unemotional. So typical.
“Dad!” I slam my hands on his desk. “When did he give you this?”
“The date’s on it.”
I’m too freaked out to be logical and look at things like dates. But there it is at the top. “Three daysago.”
He gave this to my father the day he turned his location off and left his house.
“And you didn’t think it was important to tell me?”
“No.”
All the air whooshes out of me. Dizziness has my head spinning. “Dad,” my voice cracks.
“No point in making a mountain out of a mole hill, honey. I didn’t accept his resignation. He ain’t going nowhere.”
That’s just like my father. If he says something, he just figures that’s the end of it. No one argues back with him except Conner. “Dad. If he wants to leave us, he can.”
“He doesn’t want to leave, honey. He’s just gotta get his head on straight. I told him that.”
No, he probably told him that he’ll see him on Monday and that he wasn’t taking no for an answer. My dad’s a bulldozer.
“He’s been gone three days.”
“I told him to take all the time he needs.” He strolls over to the mini coffee machine and makes a cup. “All paid leave. Not even making him use his PTO.”
So Dad just thinks if he gives Conner money and time that he’ll come around eventually and be alright? “He beat the shit out of Austin the other day.”
“Oh I know. Your mother and aunt were talking about it.”
“He’s not okay.”
“Austin’s a tough guy. I’m sure he’s fine.”
“No. Conner.Conneris not okay.”
“I know. That’s why I gave him paid time off.”
Why doesn’t my father ever take things seriously enough? “He needs therapy and a swift kick in the ass.”
Dad chuckles and takes a sip of his coffee. “Or a good woman.”
The suggestion makes my blood turn to ice. “Not funny.”
“I’m serious. It worked for me. I was a wild man before your mother came into my life. Now look at me. I’m perfect.”
He’s far from it.
Dad takes another sip of his coffee, and the sound irritates the shit out of me. “Maybe he should look into one of those dating sites,” he says. “Find himself a good woman in the next town over. You can help him make a profile online, can’t you? Or maybe Nick can help.”
I shove away from the desk and leave before I explode. The rage and jealousy and ache in my heart is taking over all my logic.
I’ve got to get out of here.
Chapter 10
Conner
