Page 63 of The Usual Family Mayhem

He wiggled his eyebrows, which was both cute and the least Jackson move ever. “We’re going to talk about that after Dad leaves.”

“I’m about talked out for one day. Gram and Celia were on fire.”

Banging this time. No more doorbell. It sounded like Harlan had switched to pounding his fist against the door. I could hear him calling out for Jackson.

“Let him in before he ticks off the neighbors. I’ll be in the coat closet, so make his visit short.” Not the most adult thing I’d ever said, but not the worst either. “You don’t want to disappoint him.”

Jackson’s smile fell. “But I always do.”

Chapter Thirty

The closet barely had room for coats let alone a grown woman. I crouched between a distressed-leather jacket and what looked like a proper black raincoat. I didn’t own that type of coat because that’s what umbrellas were for, but I’d bought one for Gram. It had a green background with huge yellow and pink daisies all over it. I got a headache just looking at it, which was how I knew she had to have it.

Standing there regretting most of my life choices lately, including the choice to hide, I waited to hear the welcome chat I assumed happened between parents and their kids when they saw each other. Hugs, pats on the back, that sort of thing.

Harlan jumped right to complaining. “I’m happy you finally made time to see me.”

“I work, Dad.”

Seemed obvious but probably not the real reason Jackson had put his dad off. Harlan should have been smart enough to know when his kid was avoiding him, but maybe not.

“I’m here now and ready to talk. Despite your waffling, your meeting went well. At least it did according to the team.”

The team. Harlan’s team. I’d never met the team but questioned every person handpicked by Harlan.

“As predicted, you haven’t offered up details. That’s why I’d planned to sit in at the restaurant. It was for your benefit. Toskip the step where you had to remember every word and relay it to me,” Harlan said. “Why did you lead me to believe the financing people were no longer interested? They were very impressed. Praised your presentation and speaking skills.”

Jackson sighed and was pretty loud about it, too. “This isn’t about what they thought. This is about me. My goals.”

I peeked through the thin crack at the edge of the door. Not the best angle but I could see two figures, standing in the kitchen. Their posture looked anything but relaxed and comfortable. I knew how they felt because the hanger poking into my back didn’t feel great either.

“Jackson, you can’t waste this golden opportunity. People would steal and kill to have the spotlight you’re getting. The meetings might not be your favorite thing, but they’re a road to a better position. To power.”

“I don’t care about any of that.”

Good for Jackson. He wasn’t backing down. He was handling the situation like he might handle a difficult client. Clear voice. On his feet and ready for battle.

“Son, come on. Don’t let her visit derail you,” Harlan said.

Oh... wait.

Every part of me clenched. The muscles across my upper back and shoulders tightened and strained to the point of cramping. I put a hand over my mouth because my breathing echoed and pinged in my head. So loud that I waited for Harlan to throw open the closet door and find me standing there.

“I know you...” Harlan visibly weighed his words before starting again. “Listen. She’s a lovely girl. She’s from here. Constituents love that, but the compatibility ends there. She’s not going to help you get the life you want.”

“Youwant. Not me.” The edge in Jackson’s voice grew more pronounced.

Where was a window ledge when you needed one? Hiding out there might have blocked the memory of Harlan calling melovelyin a tone that sounded anything but. Putting unnecessary pressure on his son. Dragging me into this politicking nightmare. The list of Harlan’s loving-father violations grew longer by the second.

This conversation could take a nasty turn but I couldn’t look or walk away. Literally. The small closet space didn’t allow for any maneuvering. Forfeiting all sense of self-preservation, I pressed my head tight against the door’s seam and waited for Harlan to say more shitty things disguised as compliments. Since I was stuck in there without an end in sight, I didn’t want to miss a syllable of the conversation.

“You were on board with the plan. The financial team put together a strategy. I lined up a series of informal get-togethers with some of the state’s more influential power brokers.”

Harlan didn’t come up for breath.

“All to ease you in before you have to make speeches and design a platform.” Harlan’s smooth voice was aimed at convincing and maybe a little shaming. “It was a lot of work, and I was happy to do it, but then she came to town and—”

“Stop.” Jackson’s voice shook with defiance.

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