Chapter 10 Father Finds Out #2
Richard arrived the following afternoon without calling ahead. Nathaniel had instructed security to allow him through, then waited in the private study while Evan remained upstairs.
He wanted to speak to Richard alone first.
Not because he intended to hide anything from Evan.
Because he believed Richard deserved the opportunity to say what he needed to say without feeling that his son was standing between them.
When Richard entered the study, he didn't offer a greeting.
Nathaniel stood.
"Richard."
Richard closed the door behind him.
"Sit down."
Nathaniel remained standing for another moment before taking his seat.
Richard stayed near the door.
For several seconds, neither man spoke.
Then Richard looked at him.
"How long?"
Nathaniel knew what he meant.
"Not long."
"That's not an answer."
Nathaniel looked down.
"We were attracted to each other before Evan became pregnant."
Richard's jaw tightened.
"So you admit it."
"I won't lie to you."
"You should have walked away."
Nathaniel accepted the accusation without defending himself.
"I tried."
"Not hard enough."
Nathaniel looked at him.
"You're right that I should have handled it differently."
Richard laughed bitterly.
"You knew his age."
"Yes."
"You knew he was my son."
"Yes."
"You knew I trusted you."
"Yes."
"And you still crossed that line."
Nathaniel felt the weight of every word.
"I did."
Richard stepped closer.
"Do you have any idea what that does to me?"
"I can imagine."
"No, you can't."
Richard's voice cracked.
"I trusted you around my family. I trusted you around Evan. I thought of you as someone who would protect him."
Nathaniel nodded.
"I understand."
"Don't say that."
Richard pointed toward him.
"You don't get to stand there and tell me you understand while you're living with my son and expecting his child."
Nathaniel remained calm.
"I won't tell you how to feel."
"Good."
"I won't ask you to accept this today."
Richard stared at him.
"But I need you to know that I never pressured Evan."
Richard's expression hardened.
"That's what you say."
"I didn't."
"You're forty-one."
"I know."
"He's twenty-three."
"I know."
"You have money, influence, experience, and a relationship with his father that goes back years."
"I know."
"How can you possibly tell me there isn't a power imbalance?"
"I can't tell you there isn't one."
Richard seemed surprised by the answer.
Nathaniel continued.
"There is a difference in our ages. There is a difference in our financial circumstances. There is a difference in our life experience. I've never denied that."
"Then how do you justify this?"
"I don't."
Richard stared at him.
Nathaniel spoke carefully.
"I don't believe love needs to be justified to you. But I do believe my behavior needs to be accountable."
Richard's eyes narrowed.
"What does that mean?"
"It means I know the responsibility I carry because of our history and because of the difference between Evan and me."
Richard's voice became colder.
"And yet you pursued him."
"I didn't."
Richard stepped closer.
"You expect me to believe my son pursued you?"
Nathaniel didn't answer immediately.
Then he said, "Yes."
Richard looked stunned.
"Evan wanted me."
"He's twenty-three."
"I know."
"He's young."
"He's an adult."
Richard shook his head.
"You've known him since he was a child."
"I never saw him that way."
"But you knew him."
"Yes."
"And now you're with him."
"Yes."
Richard looked away.
For a moment, Nathaniel saw something beyond anger.
Pain.
Betrayal.
The collapse of a friendship Richard had trusted for decades.
Nathaniel understood that no explanation could repair that in one conversation.
"I should have told you sooner," Nathaniel said.
"You should never have done it."
Nathaniel accepted the statement.
"I understand that's how you feel."
"That's not how I feel. That's what I believe."
Nathaniel looked at him.
"I won't argue with you about your right to feel that way."
Richard's expression remained hard.
"But I will not lie about Evan's choice."
Richard's jaw tightened.
"What choice?"
"He chose me."
Richard laughed bitterly.
"Because you're telling me he chose you."
"Because he told me."
"Before or after the pregnancy?"
"Before."
The room went silent.
Richard looked as though the answer had struck him harder than expected.
"You were together before he knew."
"Yes."
Richard paced once across the room.
"So the pregnancy didn't trap you together."
"No."
"You were already involved."
"Yes."
"And you continued after you found out."
"Yes."
Richard stopped.
"You should have ended it."
Nathaniel's voice was quiet.
"I considered it."
"And?"
"Evan refused to let me decide for him."
Richard stared at him.
Nathaniel continued.
"He told me that if I couldn't respect his ability to choose, he would walk away from me."
Richard's expression changed slightly.
"He's stubborn."
Nathaniel almost smiled.
"Very."
Richard looked at him.
"And you stayed."
"Yes."
"Why?"
Nathaniel didn't hesitate.
"Because I love him."
Richard closed his eyes.
Nathaniel knew the words wouldn't help.
Perhaps they made everything worse.
But he wouldn't lie.
Before Richard could respond, the study door opened.
Evan stood there.
Nathaniel looked at him.
"Your father and I were talking."
"I know."
Richard turned.
"I told you to stay upstairs."
Evan shook his head.
"You told me you'd talk to him. You didn't tell me I couldn't come down."
Richard's face tightened.
"Evan, this is between me and Nathaniel."
"No."
Evan walked into the room.
"It's about me too."
Richard looked frustrated.
"I'm trying to protect you."
"I know."
"Then let me handle this."
"No."
Evan's voice remained calm.