Page 100 of Kidnapping Their Third

“You know I don’t mean it like that,” Daniel blustered.

“Maybe,” Caleb responded. “The thing is, Dad, I love my kids so damn much. I want them to be happy and succeed in anything they find joyful. I’d never look at either of them and say the things you’ve repeated to me over and over again through the years. It would hurt me inside to do that to my children. How can you keep saying that to me? I’m with Cora. I’m not sure you love us.”

Daniel looked stunned. “I’m just giving you a hard time. You know I’m proud of what you’ve accomplished.”

“No, I don’t know that,” Caleb bit out. “You didn’t even come to my graduation from law school! Everyone else was there except you.”

With a determined frown, Tim stood up and sat next to Caleb. He didn’t meet Daniel’s eyes and spoke quietly but firmly. “I never wanted to be an electrician. I wanted to go to college and study history.”

“What were you going to do with a history degree? Teach?” Daniel scoffed.

Tim looked up, hurt clear on his face. “What’s wrong with teaching?”

Cora leaned forward to address Tim. “It’s not too late. I’ll help you pay for college. You can still be a teacher or historian or whatever the fuck you want. I promise.”

Caleb, Kimble, and Pike all echoed her sentiment. Their support helped Tim sit up a little straighter. “Thanks guys,” he said. “I’ll think about it.”

Cooper stood up and took the chair next to Kimble. “I still want to be an electrician, but I don’t want to be your slave anymore. I’m good, and you treat me like I’m still an apprentice who doesn’t know shit. I’m done with that, Dad. Consider this my resignation.”

It seemed Cora wasn’t the only one who felt mistreated by their father.

Daniel shook his head, incredulous at what was happening. “I raised you, clothed you, cared for you even after your mother died, and this is how you treat me?”

“There’s more to raising children than seeing to their physical needs,” Cora stated.

“Children need to be loved,” Caleb said with clear condemnation.

“We needed someone to build us up, not tear us down,” Cooper added. “I’m tired of being called a dipshit every time I make a mistake. You’re not perfect either, Dad. I’ve fixed plenty of things you’ve done wrong.”

Daniel made a disgusted sound and shoved away from the table. He stood so quickly his chair toppled over behind him.

“When did my boys turn into such pussies? I’d expect this emotional overanalyzing from Cora but not my boys. When you all come to your senses, you can call me.” He looked down at the brothers still seated at his end of the table. “Let’s go.”

Ted, Carson, and Trevor stood up, but they didn’t move to the door. Instead, they all silently shuffled over to Cora’s side ofthe table. A deep love for her siblings filled her at the same time she fought against the anger making her want to scream at her father. He was losing all of them due to his stubbornness.

He pointed a shaking finger at Cora. “This is all your fault. I knew you’d be trouble the moment you were born, and I was right!”

“I believe it’s time you leave now,” Kimble said. “I’ll have the terms emailed to you. If you ever want to interact with Cora again, you’ll have to sign the contract and abide by its rules.”

For the first time, Daniel raised his voice. “I’m in charge here! I’m the one who decides what’s what. It’s all of you that will have to come begging me.”

He turned to storm out, but Cora had one last thing to say. “Dad?”

When he looked at her, there was triumph on his face. He thought she was about to give in, but he was dead wrong.

“Yes?”

“If Mom was alive, what would she say about everything you’ve done since she died?”

The question hit Daniel like a blow. He staggered back, his expression going from triumph to disbelief. “I can’t believe you asked me something like that.”

“Think about it, Dad,” Cora urged. “I don’t remember her, but Aunt Maria always told me she was everything loving and kind. When she was alive, did she stay silent if you bullied us?”

Daniel’s mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. It struck Cora that he suddenly looked far older than his years. His shoulders were hunched a little, and he appeared worn and tired, as if he’d been so busy trying to control everything in his life that he’d aged himself prematurely. It struck her that he’d traumatized his children because his wife’s death had left him deeply wounded.

Cora’s next words came from a place of peace and acceptance as she realized Daniel was as fucked up as the rest of them.

“I think you lost your way, Dad. It’s up to you to find it again. We’ll be waiting.”

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