I smiled. “I know where to find him, or rather, I know how to find him, but it’s going to take a lot of finesse and probably a great deal of begging to get the information. I’ll call you later.”
I rushed out of the bar, hoping I could make it before he left. I drove straight to the college, knowing my dad was teaching a summer class. Hopefully, he would be in his office. If not, I was going to have to beg him to return.
I practically ran down the hall to his office. I slapped my open hand against the door and pushed it open without waiting for him to invite me in. “Dad!”
He jumped up from where he was sitting behind his desk. “What’s wrong? What is it? Are you okay?” He rushed toward me, his hands grabbing my shoulders as he studied my face.
“No, I’m fine. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
He sighed. “Thank god. What are you doing here?”
“I need a favor. A huge favor.”
“Anything you need, I’m here to help.”
I smiled and closed the office door. “I was hoping you would say that.”
Chapter 49
Xander
I parked the rental car on the opposite side of the street from the funeral home. I got out and leaned against the driver’s side door. A steady stream of mourners made their way inside. I had spotted my dad’s car when I drove by the first time. He was one of the first to arrive. Technically, I was first but I never stopped the car. I had been circling the funeral home for an hour.
I couldn’t bring myself to go inside. It wasn’t like I would be viewing his body. There would be a big picture of him smiling.
No, that wasn’t right. My father would have chosen a photo of him in his uniform. His celebration of life would be more of a celebration of his military career, something I was not a part of. I didn’t understand a lot of it. I certainly didn’t share in the joy of being a military man.
A young woman wearing a very small black dress openly sobbed. I didn’t recognize her. Hell, I didn’t recognize most of the people making their way into the home. I didn’t feel like I belonged. I felt like I was an intruder at my brother’s funeral.
There was no point in waiting any longer. I owed it to Kade to make an appearance. I had wrestled with going and not going for days. I was going. I needed to say goodbye, and doing it at the funeral seemed like the only way I could do that.
Preparing to walk across the street, I cleared my throat and threw my shoulders back, but that was as far as I got. I stood frozen in the middle of the sidewalk. The funeral would make it real. Part of me had been hovering in denial, not denying he was dead but refusing to cope with it. If I didn’t admit it, I wouldn’t have to think about it. I wouldn’t hurt if I didn’t acknowledge it.
A hand rested on my lower back. I immediately spun around to find out who dared to touch me.
“Evie?” I said with shock and disbelief.
“Hi,” she said with a small smile.
“What are you doing here?”
“I came to be with you,” she answered.
“But how? How did you find me?”
“That’s not important. I’m here for you.”
I didn’t know what to think of her presence exactly, but I was glad she was there. “Thank you.”
“Do you want to go in?” she asked.
“I have to,” I said.
“You don’t have to do anything, but I think you will be glad you did.”
“This isn’t going to be pretty,” I warned her. “You should know I was uninvited to this.”
Her eyes widened. “Oh no. I’m so sorry. He’s your brother. No one can tell you not to show up.”
I smirked. “My dad certainly didn’t mind saying it.”
“I’m here for you. I’m your ally.”
“Thanks. You are probably the only one.”
“I don’t mind,” she assured me.
“I still want to know how you found me,” I said. Yes, I was stalling.
She winked. “We can talk about that later. I think there is something more important than that right now.”
“I have a lot of questions and we are absolutely going to talk about it.”
She reached for my hand. “Ready?”
“Can I apologize for what is about to happen now?” I muttered. “This is not going to be a happy family reunion. My dad has no filter. He says what he feels, and I can assure you, he isn’t feeling good about me being in the same state with him right now.”
“I’m fine. I can handle a crotchety old man. He’s grieving. I’ll give him a free pass.”
I gripped her hand and began to walk toward the entrance. “He is a crotchety old man every damn day.”
“I’ll hang out in back,” she said. “I will be there as an unseen safety net for you and you alone. I’m here for you.”
Her words hit me hard. I had never felt so cared for. My mother had been a wonderful woman, but her allegiance was to my father. Evie was loyal to me, which made me feel worthy. My dad didn’t give two shits about me and the pain I was suffering, but she did. We got in line with the other mourners. I didn’t recognize anyone.
The number of uniforms inside the main lobby area was staggering. Seeing all of them looking somber and yet proud hit me hard. I actually stumbled backward. Evie was right there for me. She held my hand a little tighter. I took a deep breath and pulled myself together.
My father was standing between the two double doors that opened into the chapel area. He looked old. He didn’t immediately see me, giving me the chance to study him. He was putting on a good show, but I could see the pain in his eyes.
He shook hands, offered smiles, and greeted old friends with a slap on the shoulder. Then he saw me.
“I thought we talked about this,” he growled in a low voice.
I stood in front of him with Evie by my side. “You talked.”
His eyes slid to Evie, giving her one of those hard stares he’d perfected during his days of training young Navy men and women. “You brought your latest flavor of the month to your brother’s funeral?” he spat.
I felt Evie flinch. “She is here for me.”
He didn’t look pleased. “I always knew you were selfish, but this is a step up for you. It’s disrespectful and I will not tolerate it.”
“Evie is my girlfriend. She and I will be going in and you will give her the respect she deserves. You have no beef with her.”
He sneered, showing his true colors. “She obviously doesn’t know you.”
“I know him quite well,” she said calmly.
“Don’t,” I warned when he opened his mouth. “You can hate me. You can say what you want about me, but she does not deserve your hatred.”
He shot me one last glare but didn’t get a chance to say anything nasty. Someone approached him to offer their condolences, freeing me from being trapped in a back and forth with him. Evie led me away.
The moment I stepped through the doors into the packed chapel area, I saw his picture on a massive screen above a platform that was littered with flower arrangements. I didn’t move. I stared at the picture of him smiling and wearing his BDUs.