Chapter 15 #3
“Mum!” Lucinda rushed to her side as misgiving filled his heart. Man, he didn’t want poor Christine having a heart attack.
“Should I call an ambulance?”
“No, I’m all right,” she said softly. She straightened, the disappointment in her eyes obvious. “I don’t know what to say. I’m so terribly sad about this.”
Don Steele’s eyes held a laser-like intensity. “Does your father know about this?”
Ethan’s chin jerked. “He knew I planned to speak to you.”
“The lying—”
Don went on a tirade that included various colourful descriptions of Ethan’s paternity, his integrity, his father’s lack of morals, and various other phrases that Ethan was fairly sure were anatomically impossible, as he defended his daughter, conveniently ignoring all the lies she’d told that had got them into this mess in the first place.
For a second, he could see what life with Lucinda would’ve been like. She, with her screaming childish tantrums; Ethan being forced to placate her, like her parents had always done.
This wasn’t healthy. This was toxic, and he was glad to get out. But first he needed to get some things straight.
“Can I remind you that the whole reason we’re in this mess is because your daughter lied to begin with. This is her fault. If she hadn’t lied, then none of this would be a problem.”
“I only said that because I love you,” Lucinda said, her voice ending on a sob.
“You know that love is more than a feeling, right? It’s about being patient, being kind, having self-control, not trying to get your own way. That’s what I want in the person I love someday.”
“How can you say this about my daughter?” Don thundered. “You have no idea. What you’re talking about is twisted.”
“Hmm, the fact that you’re blaming me for your daughter’s lies shows just how twisted you are.”
“How dare you?”
Don then went on to explain in very precise terms how Ethan was nothing like his father, was weak and spineless and every kind of disappointment.
He arched a brow at Don. “Are you finished?”
That seem to be the excuse Don needed to launch another tirade.
Ethan glanced at Christine, saw her weariness, like she’d been witness to thousands of other similar events over the years. Compassion twisted within, but again, he couldn’t let pity for a dying woman dictate the rest of his life.
He held up a hand. “Stop.”
Don reddened, like nobody had ever said that to him before. “What did you just say?”
Thought so. Ethan gestured to Christine. “You need to stop. Your wife is unwell, and she doesn’t need to hear you yell. To be honest, your yelling just makes me feel sorry for her. You can’t bully me into backing down. And if you could, would you really want that kind of person as your son-in-law?”
Don’s mouth sagged, then he closed it with a snap. “I certainly don’t want you as a son-in-law.”
“Then we’re agreed.” Ethan moved to Christine, crouched beside her, and kissed her cheek. “I’m sorry for this mess, and that this upsets you.”
She clasped his hand. “You might not be like your father, but you are like your mother.”
“Thanks, Christine. That’s one of the nicest things anyone ever said to me.
” He squeezed her hand, then straightened.
“To save embarrassment, I’m prepared not to say anything publicly just yet.
But I am telling my bosses and those who need to know.
And if I find out that you are wanting to persist in this scam, then I will be saying things publicly. ”
“But your father’s election campaign—”
“I’m not prepared to sacrifice my future for my father’s political goals. To be honest, he’s threatened me, which has basically removed any sense of loyalty I might have had towards him.”
“He threatened you?” Christine asked.
“He said he’d make sure I’d never make partner. Which, now that I think about it, is not as bad as it could be. Especially as I’ve been investigating going into full-time ministry.”
“You what?” Lucinda sounded horrified.
“You know it’s what I’ve said I’ve wanted to do for years. Dad simply could never see it. So if he does thwart my legal career, I know what I’ll do instead.”
“But you can’t,” Lucinda protested. “You’re too smart for that.”
“You’d be wasted on that,” Don agreed.
“He leaves me few options.”
“Nonsense. You’ve got plenty of options. You don’t need to stoop to something as foolish as youth ministry.”
“I don’t think it’s foolish. I like seeing how my efforts make a difference and keep young people off the streets. But unfortunately, my father is blinded by pride.”
Don scowled. “He wants to win.”
“At any cost. Even by sacrificing his own son’s happiness.”
“I could make you happy,” Lucinda begged.
“No, you can’t. And I know that I’d be the last man in the world who can make you happy. One day I hope we can be friends again, but right now, I think it’s best if we have nothing more to do with each other.”
“But—”
“Goodbye, Lucinda,” he said firmly. “Bye, Christine. I’ll be praying for you.”
Then he exited the door, walked down the steps, feeling like the noose around his neck had been snapped and a future could be his again.