Page 196 of Mountain Daddy
I’m happy here.
Even with the hurt. Even with the sad.
I’m happy here.
This is my home now.
And I’m going to find a way to be okay around Luther.
I can’t separate him fromhome.
I’m not willing to lose the relationship I’m building with my dad just to avoid him.
And… isn’t that the decision Luther made?
Even if he added in some other imaginary reasons, ultimately, he didn’t want to lose his friendship with Dad.
He chose my dad over me.
It still hurts.
Still makes me sad.
But if I look at it from a distance, I can’t blame him for his priorities.
I can’t blame him for not sharing my feelings.
And if it wasn’t going to work, then I’m glad it ended when it did.
I’m glad it ended before I handed him my entire heart.
I take another inhale of the fresh morning air.
Today, I’m letting go.
I exhale my breath.
Today, I’m letting the bad die.
I’mon my second cup of coffee when the back door slides open, and Dad’s footsteps thump across the wood surface of the deck.
“Morning.”
“Morning.” I stop reading and set my phone down.
“How’s Buddy?” Dad lowers himself into the chair beside mine, groaning as he does it.
“Sleeping.”
Dad grunts and takes a sip of his coffee. “Good stuff.”
“Yep.” I take a sip of my sweeter, creamier version. “Luther knows his beans.”
It’s the first time I’ve brought up his name since…
It feels a little forced, but it’s a normal thing to say.
It’s what someone would say if the coffee came from a friend.
