“Then I forgive you too.”
“And don’t be mad at Father. I know the truth hurts, but he loves you.”
Zacharie paused. “I know. I just need time.”
He went in, and Aleric stared at his knees. Things might be stiff for a while, and he was sure they’d never be close like some brothers. Still, they could try for a better relationship now that the main source of their problems was gone.
He’d said the rift might never close. Perhaps he was wrong. They didn’t need to be like best friends to be good brothers. Zacharie owed him nothing, yet he’d done a lot in secret.
The baby in his stomach would have an Uncle.
***
“I’m sorry, son. If I could go back-”
“Father, you’re drunk.”
“I know what I’m saying, and I mean it.”
“I know you are.” Aleric didn’t even have the energy to feel the old, occasional anger or sadness. It was deflated and empty. Father had never intended to hurt him. He’d always tried to be agood Father even when Aleric hadn’t been a very good son as an adult.
“I called you a liar, and I believed Zacharie over you. I shouldn’t have. I need to stop drinking.” Father pushed away the sherry bottle even though it was already practically empty. “I was a shit Father who left you alone to deal with things you shouldn’t have dealt with. I noticed you changed over the years, but I didn’t think it was because Alex had done anything to you. I thought he was my friend…I thought I was being a good friend when he came here and told me what happened in Moria. I thought King Alton was a fool and his cousin was a liar. I never should have let him step foot in our home.”
It was unsettling to see Father rattled. In the weeks ahead, he’d probably be going over every little interaction with Gautier and questioning himself.
“Father, you did what you thought was best. I was angry before because I thought you were blind and…”
“Stupid?”
“Well…yes…all I had was Jaime, and I wasn’t very nice to him for a while either.”
“I wish I’d believed you.” Father sighed. “I never suspected he was going behind my back and seeing you. And the night I thought you were drunk. If I hadn’t come downstairs, and you’d been left alone with him…”
Aleric wouldn’t be there. “Father, let’s not dwell entirely on the past. I haven’t been able to truly move forward from that event for years. I want to now. I know we can’t forget it, but we can live. I don’t hate you.”
“I’m sure Zacharie does now. I admitted the truth, and if he had to know, that’s not how I would want anyone to find out such a thing.”
“Zacharie doesn’t hate you. He thinks you didn’t want him, and I told him otherwise.”
“I did want him. It wasn’t his fault. It was mine. I was lonely later after Pearl’s death, and the twins…I just wanted…” Father cut off.
Aleric understood. It hadn’t even been about sex. He’d sought the touch and companionship of another. No wonder Father hadn’t tried with anyone again in the years since. A wife, a companion, and two children dead had left scars.
“Listen to me,” said Aleric. “You know how he doesn’t deal with sickness and death too well, and he just lost the man he thought loved him for a time. Let Zacharie get some sleep, and you can talk tomorrow. Bit by bit, we can all move forward.”
Jaime had gone to take a piss, and since he hadn’t come back, he might be in their rooms. He’d probably need a few minutes alone to absorb things. Aleric might need his help to get Father upstairs.
“You need to go to bed. You shouldn’t have tried to match William at drinking.”
“That old man can’t beat me.”
“Uh, he has. He walked out of here as upright as a soldier marching into battle.”
“Pfft. Are you still marrying Jaime?”
“Yes.”
“He’s a good fighter. You’ll be safe with him. I never knew Lord Scaliger, so I can’t speak for his character, but he must have been a good man considering who he raised.”