Page 77 of Freed By Fire
“Berrett.” London’s mother turns on him. “You can’t be serious.”
“He can’t be trusted, Pat,” Berrett hisses. “You don’t know the kind of man he is.”
“I’m a man of my word, Mr. Callahan. You’re free to ask anyone here.”
“Berrett.”
“Damn it, Pat. I don’t think he’s going to keep his word,” Berrett replies. “You’ve seen the kind of man he is.”
London’s mother shoves him, and he loses his footing and stumbles back. She pushes him again.
“What the hell are you doing?”
“This is your fault. I told you to let the diner go years ago, but even when you knew I was going to walk away, you wouldn’t doit. And now that we have a way to get our daughter back, you still won’t do the right thing.”
“You don’t understand—”
“You’re a selfish, miserable man, Berrett.” Pat continues advancing on him. “But I always thought you were a good father. I told myself that at least you loved London and would do right by her.”
“I did. I mean, I am. Pat,please—”
She holds a hand up to silence him. “This is your mess to clean up. The only reason London did any of this is for you. Yes, she got in over her head, and yes, she should’ve trusted that we would find a way to fix this together, but it doesn’t change why she did it.”
This is not how I pictured everything unfolding, but maybe London’s mother can talk some sense into her ex.
For London’s sake, I hope this turns out well.
“She’s our baby.” Pat’s voice drops to a whisper. “You’ve seen this place. Can you imagine what she’s had to do, what she’s had to put up with, to save you and the diner?”
“I didn’t ask her to.”
“You know perfectly well you didn’t need to,” Pat snaps. “We raised her better than that. You need to do the right thing. Give him the damn diner and move on with your life.”
“I…”
She places her hands on his arms. “For once in your life, know when it’s time to give up and walk away. You already lost me, so unless you’re willing to lose London too, you need to do the right thing.”
Berrett raises his head and looks his ex in the eye. A quiet look passes between them, full of pain and heartache, and I look away.
They’ve been here too long.
“Your display is touching, but you’ve wasted enough of my time,” I begin. “Since you’re willing to negotiate, why don’t we discuss this later, when you’re both on the same page?”
Preferably somewhere far, far away, where my enemies won’t get wind of any of this.
Pat turns to face me. “I want to see my daughter.”
“She’s indisposed.”
“For fuck’s sake, if we’re going to give up the diner, the least you can do is let us see her. Consider it a gesture of good faith.”
I am debating whether to have them thrown out the back door when there’s a commotion in the hallway. Without warning, the door to the office flies open to reveal London. Her hands are wrung together, and there are dark circles under her eyes.
She steps into the office and does a double-take when she sees her parents.
“Mom? Dad?”
“London.” Pat rushes over and crushes London to her. “Oh, thank God you’re okay.”
