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Chapter Ten

Perry

"You owe me."

Jerica lets out a breath as she shifts on the bench seat of my truck and sinks her fingers into Bertie's fur rolls. "So you've said. Like five times."

"Well. Can't let you forget it."

She side-eyes me with a frown. "I really do appreciate you coming to Sunday dinner with me. Dad asks about you every week, you know."

Hearing that he asks, that he at least pretends to care, makes my chest ache. It shouldn't, though. Not when he chose his second family over his first—over me. That action alone said everything about how much he actually loves and cares for me.

"He knows where I live." Which is true. He could drive out to see me any time he wanted. But his current wife doesn't like me. Or Jerica, for that matter. "I don't get why you still come. It's not like Sloane wants us there."

Instead of taking offense, she laughs, loud and long. "Duh. Sloane doesn't want anyone there except for Aiden. I'm not even totally sure she wants Dad there, but you know…being married and all, he kinda has a right to live there."

I grunt a response because she's right. Our stepmother—if you could even call her that—has no lost love for any of us. We're pretty sure the only reason she stays married to Dad is because she enjoys the lifestyle he's able to give her. I doubt it even has anything to do with Aiden, my nine-year-old brother. Which is sad.

Aside from the nearly twenty years between us, Aiden is a good kid who doesn't deserve to be stuck between parents who have little time to invest in him. "It's too bad Sloane isn't more like Mom." She's so sacrificial, so down to earth…everything Sloane isn't.

"You're right about that. Do you think Dad regrets leaving your mom?"

I swallow. "Doubt it."

Jerica releases a long sigh and sits back in the seat. Bertie takes that as her cue to cuddle up on her lap. "I don't know, Perry. I think he's got a heart in that chest somewhere. I bet if he really considered all the ways he messed up in his life, doing your mom dirty with mine would've ranked right up there with marrying Sloane."

A smile tugs at my lips, but I don't let it fully form.

"I wish he had stayed with your mom." Jerica's low-spoken words tear a rip right through my heart. If anyone suffered from Dad's elicit affairs, it was her. Jerica's mom, a prescription drug addict, got caught up with my dad at one of his work events. They had a one-night stand, then nine months later, she showed up on Dad's doorstep with a baby—Jerica.

At least he didn't turn her away. He immediately took responsibility for Jerica, never to hear from his one-time fling again. From what I understand, she signed away all her rights, and Jerica has had no desire to ever meet her real mom.

When Jerica was little, Mom tried to be a stand-in mother for her, even after my parents' divorce, but Sloane put a stop to that when she and Dad got married. Jerica was in junior high at the time. Sloane refused to let Jerica have any contact with Mom, citing that she was more capable to parent Jerica since they lived together. Especially since my mom raised a "rebellious brat" like me.

The memory makes every muscle in my body tighten with apprehension.

"Hey," Jerica says, gaining my attention. "It's gonna be okay. We're just eating dinner there, playing a little with Aiden, and then we can head out. We don't even need to engage with Sloane."

I scoff. "Yeah, sure. Until she asks one of her very pointed, very personal questions to try and gauge whether or not we're ‘good influences' on Aiden."

Jerica shakes her head. "It doesn't matter what she thinks. Dad's told me before that we're always welcome there." Lowering her voice a little, she adds, "I think he's getting tired of her overbearing nature. Last week he told me she's going to visit her sister in a month, and he's looking forward to the peace and quiet."

A dark chuckle looses from my chest. "Of course he is. Not only is she pushy and rude, she's shrill as all get-out." I shake my head, wondering what he's ever seen in her. Besides the body built by plastic surgery and filler-laced lips.

I take the turnoff to Dad's estate and brush off the feeling of pretense that comes with arriving at such a lavish homestead. It's nothing like the farmhouse he and Mom shared outside of Willow Cove, where she grew up. I remember running around the house as a kid, trying to catch snakes. Those were simpler times. Sweet times. Before I realized what a creep Dad was and what an angel Mom had been to try and salvage what they shared.

I park my truck on the curved driveway, right in front of the sprawling, white-brick estate's large double doors. My rusty truck no doubt looks out of place against the pristine exterior with its immaculate and expensive landscaping.

Sloane hates when I park here. And I love getting under her skin, so I continue to do it.

I meet Jerica around the side of my truck, and we charge up the steps together. "Ready?" She gives me an encouraging smile. "Remember. In, eat, play with Aiden, then we're out. Nice and easy."

"All right." I run a hand through my thick hair and take a deep breath. "Let's do this." I push the doorbell, and not two seconds later, Sloane's housekeeper fills the doorway.

"Welcome to the Ford estate," Miss Jenny says with a wide, pasted-on smile. "Your mother and father have been expecting you." She waves us in, but I stand frozen on the step, choking back the words, She's not my mother.

Jerica grips my forearm and tugs me forward, murmuring under her breath. "Play nice, Per. Just for a bit."

I let my sister lead me into the dining room, where a table spread for royalty awaits. Alone in the room, Aiden turns in his seat, his eyes widening when he catches sight of me.

"Perry!" He leaps from the chair and jumps into my arms.

"Hey, man." I squeeze him tight and soak in the scent of fresh laundry mixed with Pop Tarts. "Did you get into the pantry before dinner?"

He slides out of my hold with a sheepish expression. "Don't tell my mom. Please?"

I laugh and ruffle his hair. "Your secret's safe with me."

He moves to Jerica and gives her a big hug just as Sloane appears in the doorway that leads to the kitchen. "Well. So nice to have you both here. Perry. It's been quite some time since you graced the Ford estate."

I grit my teeth at the way she says Ford estate like it's some sort of landmark. More like a mausoleum.

"I begged him to come with me today," Jerica says, wrapping an arm around Aiden's shoulders. "Told him this little guy's been missing him."

Sloane's dark eyes flit between the three of us. "Hm. Is that so, Aiden? Have you missed Perry's presence at our Sunday dinners?"

He turns to look up at me, his bright blue eyes—so much like Dad's—shining. "Of course I have. You should come every week. Mrs. Blotzke's roast is the best."

I give him a smile and a pat on the back. "I'll try to come more often." Meeting Sloane's eyes, I add, "Wouldn't want to miss a good roast."

Turning her nose up, she presses a hand to her midsection. "Well. I'll just go and find your father then." Her heels click against the marble floor, her pantsuit swishing with each step.

"Don't mind her," Aiden says. "She's just…"

"Pretentious?" I supply.

He blinks up at me. "What does that mean?"

Jerica squeezes his shoulders as she directs him to his seat. "It's nothing. Why don't we all have a seat, and you tell Perry all about how you're signing up for fall soccer this year." Jerica winks my way.

"Yeah, man. Tell me all about it."

Aiden launches into how his mom is finally letting him play a sport but insisted it be one that has less contact. He's excited because his best bud, Jace, also plays, and he's hoping he can teach him all he knows.

"That's very cool, Aiden," I say, taking a sip of the water Miss Jenny just poured me. "Proud of you for taking such a big step."

"What big step?" Dad's booming voice echoes throughout the room. We all turn in unison to see my spitting image—though gray at the temples and beard—standing next to Sloane under the archway that leads to the foyer.

"Hey, Dad," Jerica says brightly. He doesn't even acknowledge her, his gaze locked on mine as it is.

"Dad," I say with a dip of my chin. "Nice to see you again." Though I'm not sure it is. He hasn't changed since I last saw him at Christmas, but there does seem to be a lingering weariness around his eyes that wasn't there before.

"Perry?" He moves around the table to where I'm seated. "I didn't know you were coming today."

I send Jerica a knowing look. "Neither did I."

"I convinced him." Jerica beams from her seat next to Aiden, nudging him with her elbow.

"It is good to see you, son." Dad steps toward me with open arms. I reluctantly get to my feet and allow him to pull me in for a hug. "I wish you wouldn't stay away like you do," he whispers against my neck. "I…miss you."

I inhale and exhale, doing my best not to let his words affect me. "Yeah. Well, things have been busy with work."

He steps out of the hug and grips my shoulders. "I know you're an entrepreneur now. Just like your old dad." His crooked smile and glistening eyes force me to keep the words I want to stay locked in tight: I'm nothing like you.

"Well," he says, turning toward Sloane, his much younger, much snootier, wife. "The family's all here. Let's eat."

It doesn't take long for the nice family dinner Jerica promised to turn sour. But with Sloane involved, I expected nothing less. Especially when the first thing out of her mouth after the food was plated was, "So, Perry…still running that little fishing business of yours?"

Jerica piped up before I could respond, letting Sloane in on the fact that I make good money doing what I do. That catching fish and selling it to local restaurants and others who enjoy seafood is a legitimate business.

"He's an entrepreneur," Dad reiterated. "I admire that he works for himself and enjoys what he does." He sent me what I'm sure he thought was an encouraging smile, but all it did was put a bandage on the fracture between us.

Once upon a time, he used to talk about me following in his footsteps. Taking over his CPA business after working for him and learning all I could. Then Aiden was born, and things changed. Sloane began poisoning my dad against me, and it wasn't long until he shifted his focus to Aiden. Even as young as my little brother is, I have no doubt that Dad is already filling his head with all the hopes and dreams he has for his future.

Dad's only happy that I have my own business because that means I'm not asking to come and work for him, holding him to the promises he made me in high school.

Whatever. None of it matters anyway. Because now that I'm working for Lola, I'll have a nice little cushion for the new business I want to start. Though I doubt Dad will be as on board with that one as he has been with fishing once he finds out what it is.

"So, Dad," Jerica says, ending the long, stilted silence that settled over the table after Sloane tried and failed to make conversation about her new hoity toity, housewives-only book club. "You guys want to come to the fireworks next weekend in Willow Cove? Perry and I can save you a seat." She sends a wink at Aiden when he gasps.

"Yeah, Dad! Can we? I love fireworks!"

Dad smiles, giving Jerica his attention. "I don't see any reason why we couldn't."

"Oh, darling, don't forget we have that party at the Mastersons'," Sloane says, cutting one of the soft potatoes on her plate with a knife and fork. "We attend every year. They'd be devastated if we missed it."

Dad sets his silverware on the table and casts a look toward Sloane that confirms what Jerica told me on the way here— he's aggravated with her. Maybe even bored. I wouldn't be surprised if he's already got a mistress just waiting in the wings. It's a depressing thought, even though I hold zero love for my stepmom.

"Right," he says tersely. "Of course."

"I could pick Aiden up," Jerica offers. "And bring him home."

"Oh, please, Dad?" Aiden whines, nearly bouncing in his chair. "I never get to spend any time with Perry and Jerica. Please!"

Sloane not so subtly shoots my dad a warning with her eyes, but he completely ignores her. "I think that could work," Dad says, giving her a nod. "If it's all right with you, Perry."

"Yeah. I'd love to have Aiden come and hang out with us during the fireworks." Aiden's responding grin makes me feel like I won some sort of prize. And maybe I did. It's so rare that I get to spend time with him away from Dad and Sloane that I can't help but be thankful for the opportunity.

And for Dad's trust.

"We'll have him home by 11:45, if that's okay. Fireworks don't start until almost ten p.m., and they last for about an hour."

"Sounds reasonable," Dad says before meeting Sloane's eyes. "Right, darling?"

My stepmother forces a tight smile, but she doesn't argue. "I do hope you enjoy your time in Willow Cove, Aiden." She keeps from saying the sentence that feels like it should come naturally after her previous one, but I still imagine it in my head: Because it'll be the last time you visit.

And with that ominous undertone, we go back to eating, and I pretend like I'm totally fine with being the black sheep of this ramshackle family.

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