Page 28 of A Daddy of the Heart
Chapter Eleven
A loud rap on the front door startled Eli. It’d been almost a week since Willem had come home from the hospital, and thankfully the new dosage of a different insulin seemed to be working well. But the scare he’d gotten from seeing Willem sprawled out on the stable floor hadn’t gone away as easily. It’d been a miracle he’d allowed the kids to accompany Willem down to the stables this morning.But then again they were driving me crazy. Too much time inside and Daddy’s no better.
He sighed when another knock rang out from the front of the house. He rose from the table where he’d been working on an idea for a private Christmas party for a Daddy, Mommy and two Littles he’d met at the Ranch last year. Samantha and Devon had enjoyed the Jamboree with their parents Lisa and Rand to the point they’d requested he plan a private Christmas/birthday party for Devon. The family who at the time seemed a bit unsteady had stabilized, and now wanted to celebrate their Little boy’s thirtieth birthday.
“I’m coming. I’m coming. Keep your pants on.” He muttered shoving the pencil he’d been jotting down ideas with behind his ear. Tugging the seldom used front door, he stared in shock at the familiar figure of his father standing there. “Dad?”
Andrew Atheron shifted from one foot to the other before trying to look around Eli. “Aren’t you going to invite me in, Elias?”
“Ah, I guess.” Shock still had him firmly in its grasp. “I wasn’t expecting to see you.” He stepped back to allow the older Atheron into the house. Once his father passed, he shut the door behind him, then followed Andrew into the kitchen, where he’d been working. “What brings you out here? The kids?”
“No.” Andrew turned back around. “I’ll get right down to it. What will it take to have you back? It’s time for me to return to Texas. However, your brother’s death left the family in quite a predicament. And I cannot trust an outsider to run the branch the same way a true Atheron would.”
Cold seeped into Eli. “You came all the way out here to offer me my old job back?” He crossed his arms over his chest.
“Yes.” Andrew sighed. “This little spat you’ve got going on with your mother needs to stop. Your brother is gone. There is no changing that. And we need someone to run the branch up here. I’ve convinced her to drop her pursuit for custody of Raelynn and Jeremy if you come back to work.”
“Really?” Disbelief warred with anger. “You expect me to abandon all I’ve built to return and run the Montana branch as if nothing has happened?” he gritted out. When his dad gave a short nod, he barely held onto his temper. “Ask Charles or David. I’m sure they will jump at the chance to head up the office and get out from under Mom’s thumb, because hell will freeze over before I work for the family again.”
“Elias!” His dad frowned. “I don’t know what’s gotten into you, but whatever this rebellious streak is, it’s over. You’re a grown man with responsibilities. It’s time to grow up. You’ve tried your hand at your little party planning business but it’s time to come back home. You’re an Atheron and you belong with us…”
Mentally he started to count to ten, got to three, then decided fuck it. “Get out.”
“Excuse me?” His father seemed affronted. “You’re throwing me out?”
“No, but I will, if you decide to be difficult, Mr. Atheron.” Willem spoke from the backdoor.
Eli relaxed as his Daddy came up behind him, then wrapped an arm around his waist.
“Ah, the boyfriend.” Andrew sighed. “Maybe you can talk some sense into him. His talents and degree are being wasted on this little side business of his. He needs to come back where he belongs. Where he can make a lot more money. He’ll soon find out exactly how expensive children can be, and he will need the income he’ll make in his previous job.”
Eli flinched. It was as if every word that spilled from his father’s mouth was a poisoned dart. He was used to hearing his mother belittle his achievements, but his father? He’d held out for so long…hoping that his dad might actually see what he was doing was good.But obviously not.
“Grandpa!” Raelynn skidded into the kitchen, her red braids a mess, dirt on her cheek but a huge smile on her face.
“Raelynn?” His dad seemed taken aback at first. “Dear Lord, you’re filthy, child.”
The little girl paused. “Well, I was helping down in the stables and…”
Andrew stiffened then turned his attention to the adults. “You have my granddaughter doing chores?”
The knot in Eli’s stomach turned to stone. “She went down to help…”
Willem squeezed his waist, telling Eli without words to allow him to handle it. “Chores never hurt a child, Mr. Atheron. Just like dirt washes off, being out and about is good for children. I grew up in this home and did plenty of chores. It’s character building and teaches the value of an honest day’s work.”
“You’re turning my grandchildren into stable hands?” Andrew whispered, his eyes narrowing as Jeremy peeked around their legs at his grandfather. He was dirtier than his sister but didn’t approach his grandfather. Since the accident it wasn’t unusual for the boy to be shy – even with people he knew.
“No.” Willem stated firmly. “They went to the stables to help me feed and water Bessie. Along with our chickens.”
“I collected six eggs, Unca,” Jeremy whispered.
“That’s good.” He smiled down at his nephew. “We’ll have them tomorrow for breakfast.”
“Unbelievable!” Andrew shook his head before he focused on Eli. “I thought your mother was over-reacting. But now I see she was absolutely right. Reed’s children would be better off back home. You have until tomorrow to pack up their belongings. I will be back tomorrow at eight thirty for them.”
Eli jerked his attention away from Jeremy, his blood rushing through his veins in a fast, hard rhythm. How dare his father come into his home and dictate anything? His father was almost to the front door when Eli finally refuted his father’s order. “No, they will not. They are staying with me and Willem, Dad.” He gave Willem’s arm a pat, silently asking for his Daddy to release him. “Take the kids to their room, please, Will, while I walk my father out to his car.”
“You sure?” Willem gave him a look. “I can stay…”
