Chapter 22 #2
She squeezed his hand, fortified by his support.
“I won’t.” Despite his assurances, her stomach was a mess as she waited for her father to come up the stairs to the deck.
And then there he was—tall, stocky, gray-haired, slightly bloated.
Nothing at all like the pictures of the handsome, smiling young man her mother had kept around the house long after he left them.
“Nice place you have here,” Bobby said, casting a tentative glance at Big Mac, who remained seated and stone-faced.
“Thank you. We’re happy with it. I believe you know my father-in-law.”
Bobby nodded. “Mac. Good to see you again.”
Big Mac replied with a steely stare that was so far out of character for him that Maddie nearly laughed.
Realizing he wouldn’t get anywhere with Big Mac, Bobby returned his attention to Maddie. “I, um, thank you for seeing me. I know you didn’t want to.”
Since Maddie couldn’t deny that, she withheld comment. “Would you like something to drink?”
“That’d be nice.”
Maddie hated the slight tremble in her hands as she poured the three glasses. “Have a seat.”
The three of them sat at the table in uneasy and awkward silence for a long time. Maddie knew she could make this easier on her father, but why should she? This was his show, so she waited. And waited.
“Are your children here?”
“One of them. She’s sleeping.”
“Oh. I would’ve liked to have met them.”
Maddie would’ve like to have told him that he lost the right to know his grandchildren the day he left his family, but that wouldn’t do much to accomplish her goal of getting this meeting over with as quickly as possible.
“I understand you don’t like me very much.”
“I don’t know you. You’re no one to me.”
Bobby winced. “Ouch.”
“What did you expect me to say? Or I should ask, how did you expect me to feel?”
“I suppose I hoped you’d be a little more forgiving. I don’t deny I made some rather significant mistakes—”
“Is that how you see it? A mistake? You left your family and never looked back. In this day and age, you could be put in jail for abandoning your children with no means of support.”
“You remind me of your mother,” he said disdainfully.
“Be careful. If you say one word to disparage my mother, this meeting is over.”
“I only wanted the opportunity to talk to you, to tell you I’m sorry for what I did, that I regret it. I wish I could have my life to do over again. I would’ve done things differently.”
“That’s good to know.”
“Do you have anything you want to ask me?”
“I’d like to know why you left.”
Bobby looked away from her. “I wish I could give you an explanation that you’d find satisfying, but the truth of the matter is I never should’ve gotten married. I wasn’t cut out for family life, even though I loved your mom and you girls.”
Maddie raised an eyebrow in disbelief.
“I don’t blame you for not believing me, but it’s true. I did love you—very much. I always have. I just couldn’t live on this island, and your mother didn’t want to live anywhere else.”
“Don’t you dare blame her.”
“I’m not blaming her. The blame is all mine. Some men aren’t cut out to be family men. I was one of them.”
“Too bad you didn’t realize that before you brought two kids into the world,” Big Mac said, breaking his silence.
“I was hoping I’d feel differently once I had kids.”
“I think I’ve heard enough.” Maddie stood to let her father know she was done. “I’ve given you what you wanted. Now please give my mother what she deserves—the chance to finally be happy.”
“Is that the only reason you saw me? So I’d give your mother the divorce?”
“Yes.”
He didn’t seem pleased to hear that but nodded and got up to leave. “Thank you for seeing me. I’m sorry I let you down.”
“You let yourself down, too, Chester,” Big Mac said. “You’ll never know the two amazing women you fathered or their beautiful children. You missed the only thing that really matters in this life by being selfish. I feel sorry for you.”
“Stuff your pity. I don’t want it. I’m sure you consider yourself father of the year—”
“I wouldn’t go that far,” Big Mac said, “but I’ve been there for my kids every day of their lives, and I’m proud to say I’ve never missed anything important with any of them—or the extra ones I picked up along the way.”
“It’s time for you to go now,” Maddie said to her father, gesturing to the stairs.
Bobby started to say something else but thought better of it and headed down the stairs. They heard him drive off a minute later.
“You all right?” Big Mac asked.
“Surprisingly, yes. I didn’t expect to gain closure from seeing him again, but that’s what I got.”
“Let’s hope he holds up his end of the bargain,” Big Mac said as he stood to hug her. “Your mom and Ned have waited long enough.”
“I agree.” Maddie returned his embrace. “Thank you so much for being here and for what you said about Tiffany and me.”
“I only spoke the truth.” He kissed her on the forehead and released her. “There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you after you’ve made my boy so happy.”
Maddie smiled. “He’ll be very happy to hear I got through that unscathed.”
“Yes, he will. I’d better get back to the marina to give Luke a hand.”
“Thanks again for coming.”
“Any time.”