Page 68 of No One But You

I nodded.

“I’m Kai’s father. We sort of met once.” He wiped his hands with the rag he was holding repeatedly like he was nervous.

I nodded. “I remember.” As I looked at the man in front of me, heat grew in my gut. I don’t know why. Maybe it was because he was the reason Kai walked away from me. I didn’t know if I could say anything without being rude.

Luckily, I didn’t have to say a word. “Look. I surprised Kai by showing up here, and I sure haven’t made it easy on him. Getting arrested, buying beer and getting drunk at his property. I’m sure he told you all about me and nothing was good.”

I wasn’t going to lie or make things easy for him, so I just shrugged.

“I want you to know that Nico took me to an AA meeting with him. I know I have a drinking problem. I’ve always had a drinking problem, and I’m going to try harder than ever to fix it and get sober for good. I’ve told Kai, but he doesn’t believe me. I didn't expect him to. But he’s being Kai, as always—nice to a fault—and is willing to let me stay with him as long as I stay sober.”

Terry chuckled and relaxed a little. “He’s always been a caring person. Sometimes a little too caring. When he was young, I teased him relentlessly and called him a wuss. He has so much of his mother in him. That was her downside. She cared too much. I’d tell him that heart of his would get him in trouble one day, and eventually it did. His need to care for his siblings at all costs got him three years behind bars. I laughed at the time. I was glad that my goody-goody of a son was more like his old man than he wanted to admit. I can see him now, though, for what he really was. A strong man who cared so much about others he was willing to do whatever was necessary to take care of the ones he loved.”

Hold on. I reeled back a bit and cocked my head to the side. I was trying to register what Terry just said, but it was hard because he didn’t stop talking.

“The truth is, what I thought made him like me really made him so much better than me. I spent my time in jail when I was young but didn’t care at all, and it made me harsher. It didn’t do that to Kai.”

“Stop. Just stop.” I held my palm up and shook my head. I had to have time to register what I’d just heard.

I turned and took a few steps away. Kai spent time in jail? Why? What did he do? Why did he not say anything to me? My head was spinning. I rubbed my temples to relax the pressure that was building.

“I guess he never mentioned anything about that.” Terry’s voice was kind.

I turned toward him, my emotions everywhere. “No. He didn’t. He told me he left Georgia as soon as his sister graduated, and his brother got stationed in Alaska.”

Terry’s shoulders lifted. “Technically not wrong.”

My mouth dropped. “Technically not wrong?” My voice went up a bit.

Terry shook his head. “Look, I shouldn’t have said anything. I just thought he had.” He hesitated. “No, that’s wrong. I didn’t think he did, and if I really thought about it, I should have known he hadn’t mentioned a thing. He . . .” Again, he stopped and put his hands out. “Look, this isn’t my story to tell. But it’s true. He did what he did for his brother and sister, and he didn’t leave until they were both gone and settled.”

I was speechless. “I don’t know how to react to this. The Kai I know is an amazing person. He wants everyone to be happy. It’s too bad he’s not willing to see that he deserves to be happy also.” Terry pissed me off, and anger churned deep in my gut. What if what he said was true? Had Terry treated Kai and his brother and sister so badly that Kai had to break the law to keep food on the table? It was possible, and I totally believed Kai would put himself in harm’s way for those he loved. That, I knew.

“Look, I don’t know what happened between you two. He doesn’t talk to me,” Terry said.

I raised my brow and stood straighter.

“I know. Surprising, isn’t it?” Terry laughed again, but it was uneasy. “But he hasn’t been happy lately, not that I’ve seen him happy much in his life, but he’s been doing work like crazy around the property. It’s like when he was a teenager, and he would get lost in deep cleaning when I was drunk.” He leaned on the counter.

My gaze met his, and I hoped he could feel how irritated I was. “Do you realize how you affect him?" I asked. "He was different before you arrived. You being here throws the weight of the world back on his shoulders. He’s stressed and irritated.” I gazed at the ceiling and took a deep breath. “Now you tell me all this.”

“I know. You’re right. That’s why I’m going to try hard this time. I’m going to AA and will see the program through. I’ve already stopped drinking.” A smile filled his face, but when I didn’t give a congratulatory smile in return, it melted. “I’m going to my court date tomorrow and will do whatever I’m told. I hope to be able to stay here and continue working. It’s not a great job, but Nico’s a good man to work for, and I’m busy and being busy is good.”

Nico called for him.

“Right there.” Terry looked back at me. “Look. I’m sorry I spilled Kai’s secret. I’m sure he was going to tell you, then with me showing up . . . just try and give him some time. I know he cares for you. He’s worth the trouble. Not that I’m one to listen to. He’s my son, and I barely know anything about him. That’s no one’s fault but my own. But what I know about him, I can tell you, it’s worth knowing.” Terry nodded and went back to the kitchen.

I plopped onto a stool. That was unexpected. Shocking. I rubbed my forehead and sighed. “Trev, send a couple margaritas to Darlene, please.”

“Thought you weren’t staying.”

I shot him a hard death glare.

He gave me a thumbs-up, and I walked back to the bar and fell heavily onto the stool by Darlene.

“That looked like an intense conversation,” Darlene said. She was eating chips and queso.

“Yeah, you could say that.”

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