Page 472 of Seasons of Love
“Oh, son, you always could have called me Dad.”
I walked over to him.
“I think I was afraid that if I did, then you too would go away. I don’t think I could handle not having you around.”
His eyes were full of unshed tears as he took my hands in his.
“Maybe you needed to find your own home before you could learn or accept that you always had one here. This will always be your home, Jacob. Whatever happens. I don’t need to promise you that because, as a parent, that is just the way it is. Unconditional shelter.”
I nodded, letting a few tears finally fall down my cheek, and hugged my father fiercely.
“Now go see your guys and make sure you’re all back here for dinner.”
“I love you, Dad.”
“Love you too, son.”
23
GRIFF
I connected my phone to the speakers and scrolled down my playlists until I found the right one.
The kitchen cabinets needed a good clean, so I filled a container with water, added some soap, and started emptying the contents onto the countertop.
Then the music stopped.
“What the—”
“No,” Mal said. “This is not one of those moments.”
“I can’t just sit here, Mal. I need to move, to do something, and if I’m doing something, I need my music.”
He took the set of plates I was holding and placed them on the countertop before settling his hands on my shoulders.
I sighed.
“Baby, if you’re stressed, use me. I’m here. Talk to me.”
“What do you mean, use you?” I asked.
He stared at me, raising a brow.
“No! How can you even think about sex at a time like this?”
“I wasn’t thinking of sex, Griff. I was talking about us supporting each other and figuring out what to do together, but clearly, that doesn’t work for you anymore.”
I didn’t like his accusatory tone. “What do you mean?”
“Never mind.”
He turned the music back on and left me in the kitchen.
I turned it back off and followed him.
He was in the living room, sitting on the couch, leaning forward with his head in his hands.
I sat on the coffee table in front of him and waited, my heart breaking every time Mal took a breath that turned into a sob.
