Chapter 3
Chapter Three
Drew
“ T hat’s rough, Kai,” I say, handing my brother-in-law an iced coffee. “Let’s talk outside.” I lift one shoulder for him to follow me, walking out of our large kitchen-slash-dining area through the double glass doors and onto our patio.
We take seats on the comfy couch in the shade, overlooking the pool and colorful garden in the background. My wife has become quite a keen gardener. Thena’s interest has been actively encouraged by Emery Anderson, the expert horticulturist in our family. Kai’s sister-in-law still teaches piano lessons to kids on the side, but landscape gardening is her main passion now.
“I don’t know what to do.” Placing his drink on the coffee table, Kai scrubs his hands down his face.
“I’ve been in your shoes. It’s no fun.”
“Do you think Arlo would talk with him? Oli hero-worships your son. Maybe he’ll open up to him?”
I take a quick sip of my drink. “I’m sure Arlo would speak to him, but he’s family. If Oli is keeping secrets, he won’t confide in his cousin for fear he’ll tell you. But a conversation can’t harm. Arlo should be here shortly. You can ask him then.”
“We feel so helpless,” he admits. “This is killing Abby. She’s always had a special bond with Oli, and the fact he’s pulling away from her is a double whammy. She’s upset and terrified.”
“The teen years are hard.” I stretch out my legs, crossing my ankles. “I came into Arlo’s life in the thick of it, and he had so much shit to deal with. It wasn’t easy.”
Kai sits forward a little, reaching for his coffee as he eyeballs me. “How did you do it? How did you get him through it? Arlo is so grounded now. You obviously did something right.”
“Keep this between us, but Arlo is still in monthly therapy. His trauma was significant, but I guess we were lucky because he agreed to let us help. Eventually,” I add, thinking back to that time. “He was all over the place at first and struggling to deal with everything. He refused therapy at first, but Thena got through to him. He went for her.” My tongue darts out, wetting my lips. “Maybe you should fall back and let Abby drive this. I know you haven’t wanted to make this about you. You’re focusing on what he needs, but maybe it’s time to manipulate the situation.” I drill Kai with a look. “Abby should play up how this is making her feel. Oli is a good kid. Still the same person inside. He adores his mom. He’ll go for her.”
Kai’s brow puckers. “I hate the thought of guilt-tripping him into going or emotionally blackmailing him.”
“This is emotional warfare, Anderson, and you need to use every sneaky tactic possible.”
He rubs his temples and emits a resigned sigh. “I know.”
“There is another option.” My pointed look conveys my meaning.
A light breeze wafts in the air, scenting it with a mix of floral notes I’ve grown accustomed to. Sitting out here on balmy summer nights with a glass of wine, talking over our day, has become the norm for Thena and me, and it’s something I look forward to every day. Getting to share my life with my soulmate never gets old. It’s the normal mundane things I get a kick out of most. I never thought I’d have this, and I never let myself forget how lucky I am to have found my person, to have my son, and to just enjoy life.
“I’m not spying on my son, Drew. For fuck’s sake. That’d be a massive invasion of his privacy.” He shakes his head, and I feel for him, I do, but if he wanted to be mollycoddled, he should’ve gone elsewhere. He’s still in denial, but it might come to this, and I already know they won’t hesitate if it’s the best way to protect Oli.
“If you’re concerned for his safety, concerned he’s doing drugs, then I don’t see what the issue is. It’s your job as a parent to protect him. You have to play every angle. And it’s not like he’d ever know. We have the resources and expertise to make it happen without a trace.”
“It seems there’s no taking the elite out of some people.”
I shrug, not taking that as the insult he expects it to be. “I am who I am. I’m not saying anything I didn’t consider doing with my own son. Arlo agreed to therapy before I had to go there, but I was willing to do anything and everything. Nothing was off-limits.”
He’s quietly contemplative for a few beats. His shoulders fold in as he slumps back on the couch. “You’re right, but I want to think about it before I broach the subject with Abby. She won’t like it.”
Not at first, but Abby will fight tooth and nail to protect her son. If the time comes, she won’t have any reservations. “We can keep this between us for now.”
Kai nods. “Has Huss put a timeline on it yet?” he adds, changing the subject.
“Not an exact one. It’ll happen in two years.”
“I don’t like it.” He finishes his drink and puts the empty glass down. “I know everything is legit now, but it feels like we’re getting sucked back in again.”
I get where Kai is coming from. The Elite of old is long gone, and it’s more like a business networking collaboration or a gentlemen’s club these days. Most of the old-timers who revered the traditional ways are gone now. Either retired, sick, or dead. Their offspring mostly grew up like us, resenting the Elite and the things we were forced to do.
But there are always a few bad eggs. I know there are elements within the current Elite who want to return to the glory days, which is why Ares and the other Luminaries are so insistent on keeping the Elite board of management structure intact and keeping a close eye on proceedings.
Huss earmarked me as his replacement a long time ago, and it was made clear that the new board will be made up of me as president and my friends as senior leadership members. Charlie is the only one who isn’t pissed at the idea. Rick and Kai hate the Elite, and it’s challenging for Lauder to fly in from New York for monthly meetings as it is. He retired from racing a year ago and took over as CEO from his dad, so he’s crazy busy with little downtime.
“We don’t have a choice,” I remind him.
“I know. I wish the entire organization had burned.”
“Hey.”
We whip our heads around, and my smile is instant when I see Arlo walking toward us. “Hey, son.” I get up and hug my only child. Although we both work at Manning Motors, I rarely see him at the office, and I’ve missed having him around since he moved out three years ago to live with Vera in the Ford family home. It’s not far from here, and we all have a regular movie and pizza night once a week, but I still miss him. I think I’ll always be greedy when it comes to my son’s time because I missed out on so much of his life.
Arlo chuckles as he shucks out of my embrace. “You always hug me like it’s the last hug you’ll ever give me.”
“Nothing in this life is guaranteed. We know that better than anyone.”
Somber eyes meet mine. “True.”
I clamp a hand on his shoulders. “Love you.” I know it’s supposedly not manly to say it, but I couldn’t give a flying fuck. I tell my son as often as I can. My prick of a father must be rolling in his grave. He thought emotions made a man weak, and he seriously fucked with my head for a long time. Athena and Arlo saved me, changed me. I’m not the same man, and I’m embracing my emotional side, especially when it comes to my son. I never want him to forget how much he is loved and wanted.
“Love you too, Dad.”
My heart bursts, like always, when he calls me Dad. I’m so proud of the man my son has become and so happy to have him in my life.
Kai’s smile is tinged with sadness, and I’m guessing he’s melancholy comparing our relationship to the strained one he currently has with his eldest son. But it’ll come full circle. Oli has a good heart, and he’ll pull through whatever mess he’s in.
I tidy up the kitchen while Kai and Arlo chat on the terrace. After Kai leaves, I message my wife to tell her I’m going out for a run with Arlo and reminding her dinner will be ready at eight.
After changing into our running gear, we set off on our usual route. Sometimes Thena joins us, but she’s been incredibly busy with a new client and pulling crazy hours these past couple of months. We run in companionable silence, and I can tell Arlo is deep in his thoughts.
We take a break on the way back, sitting on a bench overlooking the ocean, rehydrating while admiring the stunning view. “What’s on your mind?” I ask after a while.
He knocks back the last of his water before shaking his head. “How do you do that?”
I grin. “Do what?”
“You always know when I’m preoccupied.” He pushes damp strands of his blond hair out of his brown eyes. His hair is the exact same shade as Jane’s, as his aunt Vera’s, but it’s darkening a little lately.
“I know all your little tells. It’s a particular talent of mine, and you’re my son.” I stare into eyes that mirror my own. “I’m always gonna be all up in your business, and I’m not apologizing for it.”
“You’re legit insane.”
“That’s one word for it,” I drawl. “And you’re deflecting.”
“I learned from the best.”
“That you did.” We grin at one another.
“Thank you, Dad,” he says in a much quieter tone.
I arch a brow. “For what?”
“For being there for me. For always caring. For your patience when I wasn’t always the son you deserved.”
“Arlo.” I grab the back of his neck, pulling his brow to mine. “Don’t thank me for loving you. I was put on this earth to love you and Thena. And you have never disappointed me. I’m always proud to call you my son.”
We ease apart. “I feel so bad for Uncle Kai and Aunt Abby. They’re really worried about Oli. It just got me thinking. About that time when all the shit went down. I put you and Thena through hell. I said some horrible things to you back then.”
“I knew you didn’t mean it. You were going through a lot, and you handled it the best way you could. You took responsibility for your actions, and you worked hard to process your emotions. No parent could ask for more. If you’re harboring any guilt over that time, don’t.”
“I’m not. I’ve worked it all out with Elijah. I guess what’s going on with Oli just brought some things to the surface. I’m going to talk to him though I told Kai if Oli tells me and asks me to keep it between us I won’t betray his confidence. I’ll do my best to guide and support him, but I won’t blab to his parents.”
“That’s your right, and I’m guessing Kai was okay with that.”
“He was.”
“Then don’t stress it.” I squeeze his shoulder before standing.
Arlo frowns and chews on his lip.
“Out with the rest of it,” I say, shoving my water bottle into my backpack.
“There you go again.” He slowly gets to his feet, packing up his bag. “There is something else. Something important I need to say, but I’d rather wait and talk to you and Thena together.”
“We can talk over dinner,” I suggest as we set out running in the direction of my house.
“Sounds like a plan.”