Page 34 of Lessons in Desire

“What’s goin’ on?” Terry sits up, the IV line clicking against the metal handlebars of the bed. “Who are you?”

“You’re in the hospital. Drug overdose.” I say simply. “I’m a friend of Evelyn’s.”

He eyes me then. “You’re too old for her.”

I raise a brow, unaffected. “Oh, and you care?”

“She’s my little girl.”

I sit up, my anger edging to something deadly as everything that I know about her sharpens into focus. Everything that this man has put on her shoulders sharpening that blade of anger.

“Your little girl is out there trying to distract herself from the pain you’re putting her through. You know, for a while I thought she was just stubborn, her sense of duty bound to her like glue, but now I get it. She doesn’t think she deserves a life beyond looking after you.” I shake my head as he opens his mouth to say something. “No. You do not speak; you do not say a word.” His mouth snaps shut. “I am going to give you two options because I love your daughter very much. Option A is rehab. I’ll get you into the fanciest one money can buy and you will get clean from it all. The drugs, the alcohol, all of it. Or option B is leaving and doing whatever you want but never seeing your daughter ever again.”

Terry’s eyes narrow. “Why would ya do that for me?”

“It’s not for you. It’s for her.” I shake my head. “And no one deserves to live like this, not even you.”

His eyes flicker down, and I know he’s thinking of the drugs, the booze, everything he’ll miss if he goes to rehab. “I never wanted to hurt her.”

I stay silent. I do feel for the man but my anger at him is far greater than my sympathy. He hurt her, emotionally, physically, and now he’s being handed a chance on a silver platter, if he doesn’t take it, he doesn’t deserve to be around her.

“It’s hard to stop.”

“It will be the hardest thing you’ve ever done.” I say, not mincing my words. “But it will mean that you’ll get to be in your daughter’s life. See all the great things she’ll go on to do. Be a grandad to our future children.” I will give her everything, but this is up to him. He has to fight for his daughter, and I can’t make him do that.

“Where’s this rehab?”

“Not far from her university. She’ll be able to visit and then when you’re clean, I can set you up in a house near us.”

“Rich boy, eh?” He coughs, the sound wet and violent.

I tilt my head. “Does it matter?”

“No. Suppose it doesn’t.” He swallows back another cough. “I want to be … better.”

“Then that’s that then.” I stand and hold out a hand. “I may be an asshole right now, but I’m just angry.” I say as way of an apology. After all, if everything goes as planned, this man will be my father-in-law.

Terry grasps my hand weakly. “Thank you.”

I nod, and a second later, Evelyn is there, tears spilling down her cheeks as she hugs her dad and I know that I’ve made the right choice.

Epilogue One

Evelyn

One year and a bit later

Asher’s new Art Gallery has opened its doors tonight and I’m an hour late. My final junior year exam started late, and I had no option but to just arrive an hour after opening. But now I’m regretting it. The place is filled with all kinds of people from those fancy art collectors in dresses and suits, to the art geeks wearing paint smudged dungarees and flowing skirts. All of them here to see what new artists Asher has discovered. Me being one of them. A whole wall has been dedicated to my work; a collection of paintings in my style available to bid on in an auction tonight.

Which is why I have yet to take a step inside the building.

I worry my lip, biting so hard I taste blood and then he’s there, looking much like he did the first time I saw him almost two years ago.

Only now he’s not my professor.

“Hi.” I whisper weakly.

He smiles, knowing amusement dancing in the green of his eyes. “What are you doing out here.”

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