“She was,” I forced out.
“I liked her, Nathan.”
“Mom, you never met her. Just spoke to her on the phone a few times.”
“So? I spoke to you on the phone all the time those summers, and you sounded so happy. Anyone responsible for that is my new favorite person.”
I looked away, wincing as another bucket of reality killed the hope. Mom remembers happy summers and weekly photos of us cheesing to crack our faces in half. But she doesn’t remember the aftermath of our last summer together. Alzheimer’s was a sneaky, cruel fucker.
“Belle and I are long over,” I said. “We’ve both moved on. And even if I was still into her, she made it clear tonight that she’d sooner burn herself on the stake of independence than accept a marriage proposal from anyone—let alone me.”
Mom flapped a hand. “The chase is no fun without a few obstacles. What you two had was real, I heard it in your voice.”
“Real or not, it’s over, and I’m not up for another girl shredding my life and then kicking me in the teeth as a parting shot.” I kissed her forehead. “I’ve accepted my destiny as a momma’s boy. From now on, you’ll be the only woman I love.”
“Oh, you.”
Mom tried to swat me again, but I ducked her. Bobbing and weaving, I darted back and forth across the carpet.
“Ha ha,” I cried. “Too fast for ya, lady. Try and get me now.”
Giggling, Mom opened her arms, reeling me in more effectively than chasing me down. I dropped into her hug, stealing every second of it I could. Today was a good day. On a bad one—the days she looked her own son in the eyes and saw a stranger—those days she shoved me hard enough to put me on my ass for daring to touch her.
“Don’t build your life on empty arrangements and cold obligations,” she said into my shoulder. “It’s not what your father and I wanted for you.”
“I have to think about the life Dad wanted for you first,” I said. “The one far away from this place. After I get you out, I’ll worry about the rest.”
Mom hummed. “Where is Daddy? He said he was popping out for an hour or two. It’s getting late. He should be home by now.”
“Yes.” I dropped my arms. “He should be.”
I helped Mom to her feet. “Come on. You should get some sleep. What do you want to listen to tonight?”
“Chopin would be lovely.”
“Chopin it is.”
We went through her routine. Drawing the covers to her chin, reading a chapter from her favorite book, turning on her music, and finally shutting off every light but the bathroom’s. Margaret usually put her to bed and likely did two hours earlier. Mom got up to wait for me, holding on for as long as she could.
I shut the door softly behind, cutting off her soft snores. A figure emerged from the shadows.
“Nathaniel.”
Waiting in the dark, Satan? How unoriginal.
“Colonel. I thought you were asleep.”
“Of course you did.” It was too dim to fully make him out. The outline of a figure twice my size. The glowing white of its eyes, and the rippling shift of a dressing gown. I backed away, less than eager to see any more—to look at him at all.
“That’s why you’re sneaking around my home late at night. You should know I’ve set the security system to alert me when the door is opened. Your traipsing in and out after dark is over.”
“I didn’t sneak or traipse.” It was a struggle to keep my tone even. “Mom wanted to see me. I came straight here after the reception.”
“Ah, yes. I was told you made quite an entrance.” A hand reached for me. I smoothly slid to the side, ducking his grasp. “Is there no end to the embarrassment you’ll heap on this family, Nathaniel?”
“My name is Nathan.”
“It’s Nathaniel,” he snapped. “A name after my own father and you’ll wear it proudly.”
“Why should I?” I gritted. “I doubt Great-Grandpa would like me any better than you do.”
“Family has nothing to do with like.”
I scoffed. “You don’t even deny it.”
“Deny what? Your petty mewling of being unloved and mistreated? You who has been given every advantage, but continually throws them away. You’ve been honored to receive an invitation to the cove. You certainly have nothing to offer a wife or future children. Rosalie’s soft spot for you got you this far.”
The figure shifted and light flooded the hallway. My mother’s father moved from the switch, showing in clear focus. Pale green eyes, thinning hair, full beard with flecks of gray. I thanked the all-knowing chef in the sky every day that he only passed on to me the traits of Mom that she hadn’t gotten from him.
He closed the distance between us, crossing his arms behind his back. “I strongly suggest, Nathaniel, that you take advantage of it. It’s a long way to thirty.”
“An even shorter one to twenty-five. That’s when Grandmother’s shares revert to me, yes?”
His eyebrow twitched—his single display of anger. “I wouldn’t rely on that. Go to the cove, marry whoever will take you, and attempt to not embarrass this family in the process. Your days of treating my home as a frat house are swiftly coming to an end.”
“Like I want to be anywhere near this house,” I snapped. “I’m here for Mom. End of. Whether it’s six years, eleven, or fifty, I will get us both out of this place.”
The colonel lifted his chin, the ghost of a smile taunting me. “You don’t have the power, money, or right to take my daughter from me, and if you wish to continue visiting her, you’ll watch your tongue. You’re nineteen now, Nathaniel. No one would question or blame me if I tossed you out on your rear and changed the locks. I should do so anyway. Vanessa is upset for days following your visits.”
“You’re confusing that with Mom’s naturally agitated state whenever she’s around you. It’s you she can’t stand, Pops.”
He flashed out, clamping down on my collar and hauling me in. He snarled into my eyes, constricting his grip tighter still.
“G-go on.” I chuckled. “Do it. Hit me.”
The muscle in his jaw ticced out of control, telling the lengths of his willpower. The colonel had never hit me, but more than once I saw he wanted to. The trouble was giving in to his hatred would give me exactly what I wanted. I’d walk my bruises into the nearest police station and rip his reputation, spotless record, and daughter away from him. And he wouldn’t have a single ally on his side to stop me. The staff in this house had witnessed his treatment of me for years. Many of them were fired for getting in between us and standing up to him. If the truth came out, I’d have twenty-odd people behind me, confirming the great Colonel Orion Steele was nothing but a hateful bully.
Thankfully, or maybe unluckily for me, he wanted his good name more than finally putting me in my place.
He opened his grip, reclaiming the standard three feet of distance between us. “I am not one of the low-class brutes you’ve taken up with. I would never hit you, Nathaniel. We are years removed from that method of correction having an impact on you. As always, I will lead by example.”