page31 (1/2)

The two of us took our seats in the blood-red plush chairs, Dad turning on the fireplace with a click of a resteen, Dad’s favorite, poured through the room

We said nothing for a while, the two of us si the fire But I had to speak up

“Dad How are you?”

He grunted “Be better without everyone asking me that every five seconds”

“I’, but I’ after a damn heart attack”

“I’m fine—exactly like how I said I was at the hospital It didn’t even hurt Thing waselse”

“Might’ve been worse if we didn’t have doctors in the building”

“Might’ve been But it wasn’t” He turned to me “I’m fine, and that’s the end of it What I want to know is if you’ve had a chance to think over e talked about”

Yes, I ht was still fresh inthere with Dad, the h anyone,What the hell else could I do, though?

And then there was the e of the co him in that hospital bed, tubes stuck in his ar to me I wanted to take over so Dad didn’t have the stress of running Taylor leading hirave

It was only a little white lie, right? And sure, I’d get ht then

“I have And I’ht girl”

He nodded “That’s what I want And I know it ht sound a little absurd, but when you’re a about And, of course, you’ll thankwhat I did”

“Sam didn’t seem too happy about ent down”

“I expected it No secret he’s had his eye on ht him his first suit But he had to know in the back of his hed “Part of being inhard calls, and that was one of them Whether he knows it or not”

I considered the matter as the doors opened to the study, Sa the air He approached Dad and handed him his drink

“Thanks, kid”

The sight of the tulobe bar andSa comfortable

“So I wanted to let you two know,” said Dad “The holiday party’s still going to be on this year”