Page 120 of Sins of the Father

“Anna!” I call out, but she doesn’t come back. “Great.”

Steven pours a glass of cabernet for me and a glass of Scotch for himself. He removes his tux coat and bow tie, unbuttons a few buttons of his shirt, and sits on the couch.

“What is it with women wanting dickheads in their life?”

I shrug and wince. “Love?” I sit next to him.

His face reddens. “You call beating and cheating on a woman love?”

“No. Of course not. But she loves Mitch. Your mom loves Maximillion. I don’t know why, but they do. It’s the only thing that makes sense about why they would allow themselves to be treated so poorly.”

“So, love gives guys the go-ahead to do whatever they want?”

“No.”

“Sounds to me you’re saying that.” He takes a long drink.

“Then I’d still be married.”

“How long after you found out he cheated on you did you leave him?”

“Almost immediately. Once I knew it was true.”

“But you suspected for a while?”

I take a sip, and the flavor of black cherries and plum bursts on my tongue. “No. I was a clueless moron for our entire marriage. My girlfriend sent me a video of him in Hooters, getting handsy with the waitress. I hired a private investigator, and he gave me the proof. Then I confronted him and told him I wanted a divorce. The next day he cleaned out the accounts.”

“But you were still in love with him when you told him you wanted a divorce?”

“Yes.”

“Then it can’t be love. If love keeps my mom or Anna with those assholes, but it didn’t keep you with yours, then it’s not that.”

“Everyone’s heart is different. What we’re willing to put up with or not isn’t the same.”

“Maybe I just have higher standards than most people,” he mumbles and taps his glass.

I fling my shoes off and put my feet on his lap. “You are slumming it with me this week,” I tease.

“Ha ha.” He kneads the arch of my foot. His phone rings.

He groans and looks at it. His shoulders tense, and he hits a button on his phone and puts it next to his ear. “That was the lowest move you’ve made.”

I sit up and move closer to him.

“Listen to me closely. Whatever you have my mother involved in, I’m going to find out. And I will never work on your campaign.”

He scrunches his face and shuts his eyes.

“Stop talking to Dudmeyer. You’re both stepping over the line.” He rises and walks to the window with his hand in his hair.

“Enough. I’m not reporting anywhere. Don’t call me again.” He hangs up and puts a palm on his forehead.

I reach up and rub his shoulders. “Take your shirt off so I can de-stress you.”

He sighs. “Nothing you do is going to make any of this better.”

I dig into a knot. “No. But I think you forgot something.”

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