Page 74 of His Virgin Vessel

The next snappy response was on the tip of my tongue to shout back at him, but I managed to curb it. "Dad, I'm not here to argue."

"But you're not here to accept my point of view either?" Dad guessed, cagily.

"No."

"I'm not convinced that there's a third way."

"There is. We talk."

"We are talking."

I shook my head. "We're arguing."

"That's a type of talking."

"And one we're very good at. But it solves nothing, and it always ends the same way."

Dad acknowledged this. "Okay, let's talk."

"I want to see Asa."

"I don't think that's a good idea, nor does he," said Dad.

"He only thinks that because you convinced him of it," I pointed out. "If you asked him to meet me, then he would."

Dad shook his head. "He's a man who goes his own way. He wouldn't do as I said, just because I said it. He wants what's best for you, and he and I agree that seeing you isn't that."

"I want the three of us to sit down together and talk." I kept pressing - not raising my voice, but just pressing.

"About what?"

I managed a half-smile. "About the future."

Dad still looked unsure. I wasn't sure what he thought might happen if Asa and I were in a room together, but, clearly, it was something that he wanted to avoid. I decided to bite the bullet.

"I'll make you a deal."

"What sort of a deal?"

"If the three of us can sit down together and talk, then I will listen to what you - both of you - have to say about me moving out." I took a deep breath. "If Asa, without any coercion from you, thinks that I should move back home, then I'll do it."

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