One #2
I lifted my chin as I took in those words. “Right. Well, I’m not sure I can help you out or give you what it is you need right now. I’m going to the hospital to see her.”
Turning, I moved back in the direction I came from.
“It’s yours.” My feet ground to a halt, and I slowly twisted my neck to look back at him. “I’m stepping back, stepping down, from the retreat.”
My stomach clenched, my gaze becoming unfocused. I turned fully to face him. “What did you just say?”
A half-hearted shrug.
For the first time in a very long time, I saw something in him that I hadn’t seen. There was no fight left in him. He was giving up.
And he proved I wasn’t seeing things when he said, “If there’s one thing I’ve learned this week, it’s that life is short.
I could have lost your mom. That’s enough for me to take a step back and realize that I haven’t been the husband she deserves.
I haven’t been the father you deserve, either.
But while I’m wise enough to know I’ve screwed up beyond measure with you, I still have the opportunity to give your mom better than I have.
What she’s facing now with recovery isn’t going to be easy, and I need to be here with her.
So, it’s yours, Reid. If you want it, it’s yours. ”
Even as the surprise of what he’d just said struck a chord inside, I stood my ground. “I don’t want it.”
“Not even if I tell you that you can do whatever you want with it?”
My brows shot up, and I crossed my arms over my chest. “You’re going to allow that to happen?”
Barrett Erickson looked like he wanted to be anywhere else right now. “I won’t have a choice when it’s no longer mine, will I?”
My father had never been the kind of guy who joked around with me, so I didn’t suspect he’d taken that up now, especially when things were as tense between us as they were. But this felt so out of character, I wondered if he was purposely trying a new approach in hopes it might work.
“What’s the catch?”
Like I’d caught him off guard, his head jerked back. “Catch?”
“Yeah. What is it you’re not telling me about this? Because I don’t trust that you’d ever just give this up, regardless of whatever revelations you’ve had far too late about the decisions you’ve made in your life.”
I wondered if I’d spent too much time away from my parents, because for a brief moment, I could’ve sworn he hadn’t considered doing any such thing. He’d been well and truly defeated. He’d fully surrendered.
“You know what? You’re right.” A bit of resolve filtered into his expression as he thrust his chest out. “Six months.”
“What?”
“Six months. Give or take. It’s the beginning of November now.
If you’re serious about wanting the retreat only so that you can demolish it and build whatever you deem appropriate, you need to understand what you’re destroying.
So, move here for the next six months and run the operation as it is and with the same effort that you put into the work you do in Pittsburgh.
At the end of that time, I’ll sign it over to you.
And at that point, it’ll be up to you to decide if the place is worthless. ”
I didn’t have six months to waste on some frivolous project. I couldn’t play games. “And when you decide to back out of the deal in six months, I’ll have just wasted my time, right?”
“No. When I said I’m making changes, Reid, I meant it. So, while you go visit your mother at the hospital, I’ll call my attorney. I’ll have him draft the agreement, and we’ll sign it before you even step one foot back on that property.”
My eyes narrowed. I had little faith in my father to keep his word, but perhaps if we had a contract drawn up, I could trust I wouldn’t get screwed over by him.
“Take some time. Think about it. I’ll let you know when I’ve got the paperwork together, and you can decide then.”
This really wasn’t what I needed right now. But it was an opportunity for me to finally end this constant battle with him over the retreat.
Six months.
I could do anything for six months, even run his stupid wilderness and wellness retreat.
And the team I had back in Pittsburgh was entirely capable of continuing with the projects we’d been working on before I left. In a worst-case scenario, I could take a weekend or an evening to make the two-and-a-half-hour drive back there to sort out any issues that might pop up.
With a curt nod, I ordered, “Call your lawyer, and get me the contract. If it’s reasonable, I’ll sign it.”
Tension I hadn’t realized he was holding on to eased from his frame, his shoulders falling slightly. “You’ve got it, Son.”
There was far too much pride in his voice. I hated the sound of it. So, I ignored that satisfied look on his face and said, “I’m going to see Mom.”
Without another word, I was gone.
But I couldn’t get that look on his face or the sound of his voice out of my head. I got the hunch he knew something I didn’t. And I couldn’t shake off the feeling that he believed he’d just gotten what he’d wanted all along.