“I will never forgive you for this,” Simon spat out. “Worrying about you almost destroyed me. You scared the hell out of Dover’s staff. The police showed up at the hotel. Do you have any clue the amount of resources this farce of yours wasted? Heather was worried sick. I actually wondered if I’d see you alive again. I thought that you might end up being killed.”
His father swallowed hard. “I know you’re angry, Simon.”
He balled up his fists, his control on his temper quickly unraveling. Rage was making it impossible for him to even think clearly. “Angry doesn’t even begin to cover what I feel. You betrayed me. Again. You betrayed my trust.”
“What are you going to do?” his father asked desperately. “You can’t let Andy go to jail for what I did.”
“Oh, so you’re offering to go to jail in his place?” Simon asked bitterly.
“No, I’m not offering that.”
“Of course you aren’t,” Simon said. “Because that would mean facing conse
quences for your actions and you’d never do that.”
“I can’t go to jail. I’m ill,” his father said. “I understand if you won’t pay for my surgery, but I’m begging you, Simon. Don’t send me to jail. Don’t let the police take me away.”
“The state pays for your surgery then.” His temples throbbed and his thoughts clouded as the beginning of a migraine started. “If I pay for your surgery, do you swear to stay the hell out of my life?”
“Simon, don’t.” Heather placed her small hand on his, her voice laced with the utmost tenderness. “Don’t make any rash decisions while you’re this angry.”
He heaved out a breath. Underneath his rage was a raw pain that he had fought hard to numb since the last time he had seen his father. That old childhood hurt that had plagued him, simply because he wanted his father to be proud of him. To accept him. And as angry as he was at his father’s deceit, a part of him still wanted that pride and acceptance. Admitting that to himself made him feel like a damn fool.
“You’ll get the money for your surgery,” Simon muttered.
“Thank you. Thank you. Please know, I do want a relationship with you,” his father said. “When I saw how hard you fought to protect me in the park, it was like I suddenly realized you aren’t obsessed with money. Or prestige. You were willing to do anything for me. I won’t forget that, son.”
“If you had taken the time to listen to me, you’d know that,” Simon forced out. “You’d know that I invested that money in something I thought was worthwhile. I wasn’t trying to act like I was better than you. I wasn’t trying to denigrate your hard work or the life you had built for yourself. All I wanted was for you to see that I could make my own path the same way you did. But that wasn’t good enough for you. You wanted control and nothing else.”
“Does this mean that tonight is the last time I’ll see you?” his father asked.
He swallowed hard. Heather was right. Giving in to his anger without taking the time to think things over wasn’t good for any of them. “I don’t know if this will be the last time.” He paused, a terrible thought sending a pang of agony through him. “Dad... are you dying?”
“I’m not in great shape,” his father replied. “But the doctors said that if I have the surgery, I’ll be back in good health as long as I eat right and exercise.”
“I’ll visit you in the hospital then, but you have to get help,” Simon said. “After your surgery you need to get a psychological evaluation. You have to get therapy. That’s the only way I’ll even consider having a relationship with you.”
“Therapy? That’s how rich people deal with their problems,” his father grumbled.
“You will get therapy.” Heather gave Simon’s father a hard stare that actually made him shrink back. “If you don’t, I’ll remind Simon that jail is always an option for you.”
His father scowled without saying another word.
Simon wanted more contrition out of his dad, but he knew that was asking too much. Regret probably wasn’t an emotion his father experienced all that often. And, frankly, he was too drained to keep the argument going. This was it. The end of him ever believing that a genuine, honest relationship with his father was possible. There were things that couldn’t be repaired, and this level of dishonesty was one of them. Maybe, with enough therapy, his father would at least be able to stop lying all the time.
They drove the rest of the way to his apartment in uneasy silence. When the van pulled in to the parking lot, Simon turned to look at Jake. “I don’t want my father coming back into the building. Escort him to the hospital and make sure he gets a private room.”
“What about me?” Andy asked.
“Jake can drop you into the ocean for all I care.” Simon narrowed his eyes and reached for Heather’s hand. They exited the van together and headed upstairs.
When they stopped at Heather’s apartment, she opened the door and motioned for him to come inside. “Why don’t you stay here for the rest of the night? Finn is asleep, but my parents are here and they won’t mind if we wake them up to talk. If anything, they’ll want us to fill them in as soon as possible.”
He stepped inside, and the minute she closed the door he swept her into his tight embrace. Holding her felt so good. His anger and confusion were already dissipating. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, momentarily pressing her soft lips to his.
“I’m so sorry,” she said in a mournful tone.
“I don’t know what’s worse.” He sighed. “Believing my father had actually been kidnapped or discovering how much of a liar he is.”