Page 60 of Inside Silence
“Didn’t know you’d be here, honey. I was hoping to have a word with Nate.”
“Now you want a word?” she returns.
I squeeze her shoulder in warning. I know it’s her dad, but she doesn’t have to fight my battles for me. Besides, I don’t get the impression the man is here to try and chase me off again, and I’d like a chance to hear what he has to say. He’s an integral part of Savvy’s life, even of this town, and if I really want us to move forward—as I expressed to his daughter—I should put my money where my mouth is.
I didn’t expect it to be easy to produce a polite smile for the man I’ve spent so many years despising, but it actually feels surprisingly good.
“Why don’t you come inside, sir. I’ve got fresh coffee in the kitchen,” I tell him, stepping out of the way and keeping Savvy to my side. “I’ll be right with you.”
“Hey,” she objects when I prevent her from following her father into my house.
“I’ve got this, and you’ve got work waiting,” I remind her, lowering my head to look her in the eye. “I can handle your father. I’ll be in touch later, okay?”
She seems to struggle for a moment, but then concedes.
“Fine, but don’t let him?—”
I cut her off with a short, hard kiss.
“Go. It’ll be fine.”
Colter is standing by the fireplace when I walk in, looking at the few photos we put up on the mantel. Most of them are of Tatum.
“Your daughter?” he asks.
“Tatum. She’s fourteen,” I inform him. “She’s the reason I came back to Silence. Her mom overdosed earlier this year and Tate found her. I needed to get her away from those memories.”
The look he sends me is one of unexpected compassion.
“I’m sorry for your loss.”
“It wasn’t really my loss,” I clarify. “Her mom and I were never together for any length of time, and we didn’t see eye to eye on much of anything, but we did produce an amazing daughter and she feels the loss.”
“I see.”
“You take your coffee black?” I guess, pushing through the awkward moment.
“Please.”
I move to the kitchen and busy myself pouring him a cup and topping up mine. When I turn around, I see he’s taken a seat at the island, staring at his hands in front of him. I slide his cup toward him across the counter and lean my hip against the kitchen sink, taking a sip of coffee, waiting for him to speak.
“She was heartbroken…Savvy,” he clarifies. “For a long time. Her mother was furious with me when she found out I’d had a hand in driving you away. She never believed you had anything to do with those thefts.”
I’m stunned. I remember Savvy’s mom as a sweet lady who, unlike her husband, had made me feel welcome in their house. Imagining her furious over anything is a stretch for my imagination, let alone being angry on my behalf. It feels oddly validating, even after all these years, to hear I had someone other than Savvy in my corner.
“I was sorry to hear she passed away,” I mumble, not sure what else to say.
“Thank you. She was sick for a while before she died and that was tough on my girl as well. Then she met Matt, and things were good for her for a while. She was excited about her future and then he died as well, and she was grieving again.”
When he lifts his eyes to me, they’re swimming with emotion.
“I’m not telling you all this as an excuse, but as an explanation. I did you wrong, and I’m ashamed to admit I’ve known it for a while. There is no defense for that. But the only reason I never set the record straight was because I knew how much it would hurt Savannah, and she’s lived through enough pain to last her a lifetime.”
His emotions get the better of him and I turn my back to give him a chance to collect himself.
I’m a little overwhelmed myself, feelings of anger, hurt, and empathy all warring for dominance. That last one is the kicker, because I do understand.
Behind me the older man clears his throat, and I turn around as he gets to his feet.
