Page 75 of Calculated Chaos

I can only imagine the shock on my face. “Why now?” I manage to ask.

“Something you said to me the day you walked out replays in my head every morning. You told me not to expect to see you on my deathbed.”

Axel cringes, whispering, “Damn.”

“At first I was just angry,” Dad continues. “But I started wondering, what kind of dad would push his kid to say something like that? I made you hate me.” He chuckles darkly. “But I’m good at that, right?” He wrings his hands together. “I decided to go to therapy to figure out why I push everyone away. Your mom, you, everyone who ever took a chance on me. I can’t really say why yet, but at least I figured out that I’m the problem.”

“Yeah,” I murmur.

“And listen, I know I can’t wave a magic wand and suddenly be the man I always should’ve been. I don’t really deserve your forgiveness so I’m not asking for it. I just wanted you to know, I guess, that I see it now. After the year I had, it was time to face you.”

“What does that mean?” I ask.

He takes a step forward. “Turns out I was sick, and I had been for a long time. I ignored the symptoms.”

“You better be telling the truth and not manipulating him,” Axel says, leaning in like he’s gonna punch my dad.

My dad nods. “Definitely the truth. Prostate cancer. I thought the weight loss was just stress.” He glances at my mom and Jameson. “I’m better now. In remission and making lifestyle changes.”

“Dad…” I whisper.

“I don’t want anything, Hollister,” he continues. “I don’t expect anything. Not your time or your sympathy and certainly not your pity. I created this. All of it. But I got a second chance and with the time I have left I figured the least I can do is make sure you know that…” He pauses as his voice breaks. Before he speaks again, he looks around at everyone, then he nods. “You did the right thing by leaving and following your own path. I learned the hard way that all that matters in this life is the people who care. You have a lot of people who care, Hollister. You lived your life never forgetting to be kind. Not that you need it, but I’m really proud of the man you became in spite of me. A testament to your mom and Jameson, for sure.”

I lean into Axel for support, trying to keep from falling into a sobbing mess. I waited my entire life for this man to say he was proud of me, but the weirdest thing is the realization that I didn’t need it as much as I thought. While the sentiment is nice, somewhere along the way I let go of the desire to hear it. I’m proud of myself, and apparently that’s all I truly needed.

“I’m stepping down. If anything happens to me, you’re still the beneficiary of my estate, but the board of directors will appoint a new CEO for Burke and Associates, unless of course you change your mind. You could come back and take over now.”

Everyone falls silent, and as my eyes dart around the shop to my friends and family, the staff who trusted me to work here, the people lining up outside peering through the windows, and my dad’s revelation, a sense of peace and rightness like I’ve never felt washes over me.

I turn to Axel with a huge smile on my face. He smiles back, rubbing my neck. “Whatever you want to do, I’m here to support you.”

“I know.” I turn back to my dad. “I’m sorry to hear you were sick, and I appreciate everything you said today. I’m open to seeing you again, but as far as I’m concerned everything worked out perfectly for me. I’m about to embark on the dream I’ve always had with all these wonderful people around me. You’re welcome to grab a table and try the food, but I’ve got work to do. My husband and I have a restaurant to run.”

“Husband…” my dad whispers, looking at Axel before he nods. “Congrats. I’d be happy to stay.”

“Great.” I smile, noting how my mom wipes tears away and Jameson gives me a thumbs-up. “Sara, can you open the doors, please?”

With a bright smile, she nods. “You bet, boss.”

As people stream in and tables fill up, I squeeze Axel’s hand. “We did it, Ax.”

“Nah, babe, you did it.” He kisses my temple. “Just like the very good boy you are.”

My stomach flutters. “Maybe I’ll get a good boy present then?”

“You better believe it.”

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