Page 13 of Dare to Fall

She always told me that the time in a college student’s life was the most valuable. It was when their outlook on the world solidified, and if she could help people understand there was some goodness out there, then she had done her part.

“Is Mom in her office?” I asked.

“Yes, she is. She should be off the conference call by now. You can head on in.” Cecilia shot me a wink before she sat back at her desk.

“Garth.”

I turned back toward her. “Hmm?”

“Remember that time goes by quickly, and it’s important to see past the bullshit.”

I tilted my head at her, raising an eyebrow, but she was already fixated on her computer screen again.

My mom was still on the phone when I walked into her office. She gave me the one-minute finger, so I busied myself by her floor-to-ceiling windows on the opposite side of the room from her desk. The courtyard surrounding the campus fountain was littered with students. Sorority girls lay on blankets in their tiny bikinis. A few literary types were nestled under the giant oak trees, reading books. The day was perfect for lounging outside, the sun casting rays through a thin layer of cloud coverage.

My mother’s voice droned on in the background. Something about a science professor. I’d never been the leader type. I tended to do my own thing and preferred to be alone while I did it. That was one of the main reasons why I had no interest in taking over my father’s company. It would require me to be something I just…wasn’t. My mother, however, always had a knack for persuading people to do things. Most followed her without question because she had sound morals and wanted the best for those around her.

On the far edge of the fountain, a beautiful woman caught my eye. As I squinted harder, I noticed it was the same woman from my brother’s class. Her long auburn hair shined in the sunlight, and her skin was radiant. The perfect golden tan. I observed her as she sat along the fountain steps and took a bulky black object from her bag. As she brought it up to her face, I realized it was a camera. She angled it toward the fountain in front of her then up toward the sky. Her beautiful face pulled back as she shielded the top of the camera to look at the screen before she started snapping photos again.

An enigma desperate to be solved. She was peculiar, yet I found myself unable to look away. She clearly enjoyed some aspect of the arts, but was sitting in my brother’s biochemistry class not two hours ago. Usually, I found that those with more analytical brains turned their noses up at artistic endeavors—Lucas being one of them. He always supported my work and often came to the exhibits where my work was displayed, but art was not something we could talk about. He hardly even looked at my canvases. He preferred chatting with the women who attended the events. My brother was the same. In fact, no one in my family understood my art and how it drove me to be better in all aspects of life.

As I looked down at the young woman with so much time ahead of her, I wondered if she truly enjoyed both sides of the coin. Or maybe she felt pressure from some area in her life to pursue science, to establish herself firmly in this chaotic world.

“I am so sorry, Garth.” My mother’s voice broke me away from my thoughts.

I peeled my eyes away from the girl and turned to see my mother now sitting behind her desk. She had always been a pacer while talking on the phone. She told us it helped her manage the stress that came along with dealing with incompetent people, while my brother and I just thought it helped her from yelling into the phone when things didn’t go her way.

I slid into the plush leather chair opposite her, letting my body sink deep into the cushion.

“It’s okay, Mother. You don’t have to apologize for doing your job.” I smiled at her, and the tension in her shoulders immediately dropped.

“Well, I’m glad you were able to stop by. Garrett told me you two are having lunch today.” She leaned back into her chair. “I’m really glad you two are getting closer again. I know things have been difficult over the past few years.”

I stilled, never knowing what to say when she remarked on the difficult parts of our family’s past. It had been hard on all of us. My father insisted that I take over the family company, and when I left for Parsons, there was a major rift in my wake. He started putting a lot of pressure on Garrett, but he was already in line to be highly successful in biological research. So, our mother stepped in, creating a third divide between her and my father. When I came back into town last year, Garrett and I slowly started filling in the gaping hole between us. But it wasourbusiness. Not theirs.

Her lips formed into a tight line at my lack of response.

“What am I here for, Mother?” I finally asked.

She bristled at my tone, and I immediately regretted it. It wasn’t her fault. It had never been her fault. It was just that my capacity for dealing with family drama was seriously lacking, and it often put me in a creative slump for days, which at this point, with the exhibit being so close, I simply couldn’t afford any time off.

A look of exhaustion washed over her face. Something must really have been wrong for my mother to look this weary and worn down.

Seconds ticked by until she finally spoke. “It’s your father, Garth. His health is failing…quickly.”

My heart stopped. I gripped the sides of the chair, the leather waning under the pressure of my palms. “What do you mean, ‘quickly’? Is he alright?” It took every ounce of concentration to get the words out.

“Well, yes and no.” She sighed as she stood up and started pacing behind her desk. “You know your father. He’s always been terrible at eating healthy, especially when he travels. And with the stress of the company…he has finally pushed his body to the breaking point.”

“What the hell is going on, Mom?” I couldn’t take it anymore. Her evasion was killing me.

She stopped mid-stride and turned toward me. “It’s his heart, Garth. They found several blockages, and one of his valves is leaking…a lot.” She sighed. “He won’t stop working. No matter what the doctors or I say. He refuses to give in, and Lord knows he’s probably skipping his medications when I’m not there to force him to take them.”

A knot formed deep in my stomach. I swallowed against the bile rising in my throat. He couldn’t have been this sick. He was my father—my indestructible, tougher-than-nails father.

“Why doesn’t he just sell the damn business? It’s worth over a billion. He could retire early and start taking better care of himself. There’s no need for him to go on like this,” I croaked out. The sound of my voice was foreign to my ears.

“You know he won’t do that. This company is his legacy. It’s what he wanted to leave to you two boys.”

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