Page 15 of Golden Atonement

“Tell me about it.”

I sighed.

Stepping away from the window, I walked over to the comfortable couch in her living room and sat. All we did was talk about him. I didn’t want to anymore. I wanted to forget about him.

She leaned forward in her chair, reaching for her cup of tea. She always drank tea. I never liked tea. Too bitter for my tastes. I could never find the right combination I liked. I preferred a cold beer.

I wish I had one right now.

“What was the dream about?”

I knew she wouldn’t let this go. She would keep asking until I answered.

Instead, I said, “Jesse asked about him yesterday.”

“He’s almost three years old, Remi. It’s understandable he would ask about his father. What did you tell him?”

I shrugged my shoulders as I looked towards the window again.

I didn’t want to be here today.

“What I always say. That he is away.”

“Children are resilient and smarter than we give them credit for. We’ve never talked about how Reaper was with the children. Was he a good father?”

“Better than mine,” I whispered as my adoptive father’s face flashed in my head. Shaking off the image, I took a deep breath and added, “He was there. Is that what you want to know?”

“Tell me about Reaper’s relationship with the kids.”

“He doted on Jesse when he was born. Carried him everywhere. He hated being away from him.”

“And Emma?”

“She’s not saying much, but I know she misses him. He moved heaven and hell to find her.”

“That’s understandable. Would you say Reaper was a good father?”

Looking at my fingers, I nodded. “I guess.”

“Then why don’t you talk to Jesse about him?”

“Because I don’t want my son tainted with his memory.”

“Better to learn of his father from you than someone else. When a parent doesn’t talk about the other, children form their own impressions. Their curious natures will implore them to seek the truth. Does Emma ask about her dad?”

I nodded.

“She’s older. She remembers.”

“She’s also a girl who recently found her father, only to be taken away from him again. I imagine that must be very confusing for her. What is your relationship like with Emma?”

“It’s okay.”

“Just okay?”

“She wants to go back to Tennessee. She hates it here. She misses her friends.”

“That’s not what I asked, Remi. How is your relationship with Emma?”

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