I merely smile and wonder how much longer before he leaves.
“Of course you’ll be divorcing Shaw now that you don’t need him anymore, I hope.”
“That is my current plan,” I say carefully. I don’t owe my biological father answers about my personal life, and I’m not about to say anything that will provoke an argument. Not only is it pointless, but I give zero fucks what he thinks.
He claps his hands together, then devolves into a coughing fit. It’s deep and hacking, and I wonder if his two-pack-a-day habit has caught up with him.
Finally, he clears his throat, pounding on his chest. “Sorry about that.”
“Are you all right?” Even if I’m not interested in a father-daughter rapport, I don’t wish ill on him.
“I guess you don’t know.” He sighs. “I’m dying. Cancer sucks.”
The news isn’t a total surprise but still somehow a shocking blow.
I rise from behind my desk and approach him. “I’m truly sorry to hear that.”
He takes my hand. “Thank you. And I’m sorry, too. For everything.”
What can I do except nod and accept his apology? Holding a grudge serves no purpose. “I appreciate that, sir.”
“Sloan, I pushed Shane, then you, so hard lately because of it. Now it’s clear what I need to do, so I rewrote my will in the last week.”
My heart jumps to my throat. What is he saying? “Mr. Rawson?”
His expression turns sad. “Could you call me Dad, just this once?”
He hasn’t earned it, but refusing to forgive him does neither of us a lick of good.
I sigh. “Dad.”
A bittersweet smile creases his tired face as he takes my hand. “Thank you. I’m leaving the company to you. Of all my children, I trust you most to keep Reservoir successful.”
Suddenly, I’m choked up by a horrible mixture of pride, shock, and sorrow. Maybe it’s the fact I’ve barely slept or that I started the day in turmoil.
Whatever the reason, I burst into tears.
He surprises me all over again when he folds me in his arms and pulls me against his too-thin body. “Don’t cry, baby girl. You’ve earned this.”
Damn right I have. And I swore that his opinion didn’t mean anything to me anymore…but apparently it does.
“Thank you. How long do you have?”
He grimaces. “A week? A month? If I’m lucky, maybe a year. I just don’t know. None of the treatments seem to be working.”
I squeeze his hands. “I’ll pray for you.”
“I’d appreciate that. You could have told me to fuck off. But once again, you’ve proven that you’re a bigger, better person than me. I really am proud of you, and I’m sorry my shame for cheating on my wife kept me from building a relationship with you.”
Raw emotion twists my stomach. My heart aches. I hate that it’s taken something dangerously close to a corporate takeover and a terminal illness to bring us together, but at least I have some closure. And I have the approval I’ve wanted all my life…even if I don’t need it anymore. “I’ll take good care of Reservoir.”
“I know you will.” He kisses my forehead. “I can rest easy now.”
With that, he’s gone.
May 18
Maui