Page 129 of Sapphire Spring

“Where?”

“You know…at the place where he went.”

Naser nodded. “How is he?”

“Pretty good. Wish I could say the same for myself.” When hesaw Naser’s baffled expression, Pete gave a nervous glance in both directions.“We did a…family thing. Like, I don’t know, a workshop or something. It was fora few days and…it was nuts. But you know, the kind of nuts that’s supposedlyhealthy, I guess. Anyway, you wereactually hisfirstchoice, so...”

“For what?”

Pete studied Naser like he thought he was baiting him, thenhe swallowed—hard. “He didn’t want me to come, but he made a deal with thecounselors that he’d ask me first, and if I said no, then he could ask you. ButI got sopissedwhen he told me that, I said yes.Serves me right, I guess.”

“You feel punished by spending time with your son?”

“Look, I don’t know what he’s told you about me—”

“He didn’t have to. I’ve seen text messages on his phone.From you. They spoke for themselves, Mr.Worther.”

Pete blew out a long breath between pursed lips, nodded atthe gleaming marble floor, then he went still.

Suddenly it was like they were both dock piles in theroiling waters of the lobby’s midday crowd. “Mason and I are going to be doinga lot of work on our relationship,” Pete finally said.

It sounded like he’d been uttering these words constantlyunder his breathin an attempt toturn them into acomfortable mantra.

He had awaysto go in that regard.

“But I’m going to be doing a lot ofthealot,if that makes sense.SoI’m starting bybringing you this.” He tugged the spiral notebook from his armpit and handed itto Naser. “That’s something he wrote for you. We kind of smuggled it out. He’snot supposed to send letters or anything, so you know, keep it to yourself, Iguess. He’s got another week before he’s home.”

Naser turned the notebook over in his hands, his best methodto avoid giving in to temptation and popping it open in the middle of thecrowded lobby. “He wrote this forme?While he wasthere?”

“Yeah. And he told me about what he was trying to do withyou. Making things right, I mean.Soit gave me anidea. What could I do to start making things right with him? He said I couldbring you this. Makes sense, right? Making up for the kind of dad I’ve been byshowing respect for the man he’s fallen in love with.”

“What?”The word ripped from Naser in a startledwhisper before he could stop it.

“What? I’m not doing this right. I thought I was doing this right.Was I supposed to wear a rainbow shirt or something?”

“Hesaid that? That he…”

“That he’s fallen in love with you? Oh, yeah. Like tentimes.”

“Oh.”

Pete cleared his throat and stared at the floor. “I guess hehasn’t told you yet.”

Naser shook his head, blinking madly to hold his tears atbay.

“Well, I guess that’skindaweirdI told you first, but weird is on the menu lately so…”

“Thank you. For bringing this to me.”

“Maybe you should read it before you thank me. I mean, Idon’t know what kind of writer my son is. Some of his proposals these past fewmonths have been for shit, but I think that’s’causehe was so wasted that he—”

“Okay, you know what, Mr.Worther—”

“Sorry. I know. Like I said, I’m working on stuff, but Ijust started two days ago, so give me a minute here.” Pete raised a hand andstarted backing up in the direction of the lobby doors. “And call me Pete. Iprefer it toasshole.”

“I didn’t call you an asshole.”

“Your eyes did.”

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