Page 25 of Midnight Clear

He took a drink of the hot tea he’d made as he passed through the kitchen, and winced when he found it cold. He had no idea how long he’d been standing at the window, thinking of Sophie, wondering what she was doing or how she was. She hadn’t been answering his calls or texts.

“You can’t hide in here forever, you know,” his father said.

Hank turned from the window to see his father grinning at him from behind his massive walnut desk. His feet were propped on the edge as he leaned back in his chair, very much lord of the castle.

Mick O’Hara was a man’s man and had managed to raise five rambunctious—and sometimes mischievous—sons to adulthood, with only a handful of trips to the ER over the years. A success in Hank’s opinion.

“You’re doing a pretty good job of it,” Hank said, tipping his cup to his father. “In fact, if I recall, you usually disappear around this time every year.”

“Well, can you blame me?” Mick asked. “I built this house with my own hands. And then I added on more rooms as each of you boys came into the world. AndthenI added more rooms as your brothers started marrying and adding to the family. I’ve grown out of my own house. Where else am I supposed to go? Even the animals are tired of me sneaking out to the barn.”

Hank chuckled.

“I’ve got all I need right here.” Mick opened the bottom drawer of his desk and pulled out a bottle of expensive Irish whiskey and a box of cigars. “What do you say, my boy? Can I pour you two fingers?”

“I wouldn’t say no,” Hank said, accepting the short crystal glass. “But if Mom smells that cigar smoke I’m not taking the rap for you.”

“Traitor,” his father said. But Mick just grinned as he took out a portable fan from his desk and flipped it on before lighting his cigar.

Hank took a seat in the burgundy leather chair across from the desk and stretched out his long legs.

“You’ve got a woman on the mind,” Mick said.

“How do you know?” Hank asked.

“Because I know that look. Nothing can put misery on a man’s face like a woman you love.” Mick waggled his eyebrows as he took another puff from the cigar. “I’ve learned a thing or two in my sixty years.”

Hank’s mouth quirked in a half smile, identical to his father’s. “I promised Mom I’d be here with the family.”

“A noble thing, family,” Mick said. “Nothing fills your heart with pride and makes you want to take up the bottle at the same time. Next time just tell your mother no.”

Hank scoffed. “You try telling Mom no.”

“Did that once,” Mick said, remembering fondly. “Still have the scar to prove it. Quite a woman your mother.”

“There you go,” Hank said, nodding. “It’s not that I don’t want to be here. It’s nice that everyone is under one roof. It’s been too long.”

“And…”

“And business is good,” he said. “Better than good. I’ve got the new city hall project ready to go, and residential building has increased, even in the off-season. It’s a double-edged sword. On the one hand, I really like the money. But on the other…”

“You don’t want a population boom in Laurel Valley,” his dad finished.

“Yeah,” Hank said.

“It was bound to happen sooner or later,” Mick said. “People like to build their ski chalets and bunny bungalows. Fortunately, it’s short lived. Take their money, son. You know they’ll only use their fancy houses a few weeks out of the year. That thin blood does no good up here.”

“Good advice,” Hank said. “All I’m saying is that I’ve got everything I could ever want or need. I’d be a good provider, a good husband and father.”

“I’ve got no doubt about that,” Mick said. “Let me ask you something since you melded everything going on with the business into talk about marriage and family.”

Hank just grunted and looked down at his drink.

“Are the two the same to you?” Mick asked. “Do you approach one the same as the other? Because if you do, I don’t think that’s going to work for a woman like Sophie.”

“I didn’t say anything about Sophie,” Hank said.

“You don’t have to. It’s plain as day you’re head over heels in love with her. But I’m guessing since she’s not here with the family that you messed something up.”

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