When he stepped towards me I stepped back. “I didn’t say it was good to see you, I asked why you’re here.”
“Now, Hunter. That’s no way for you to speak to your father. He came all this way to see you. The least you can do is be cordial.” Bill’s low voice boomed out, but I didn’t look away from my father’s face to acknowledge what he’d said.
My father waved off Bill’s warning. “Save your breath, Bill. Hunter has spent 19 years treating me like I’m not worth his respect.”
“Why. Are. You. Here?” I didn’t care to hear anything come out of his mouth other than the purpose for coming. I wanted to settle whatever score he had, deal with whatever bullshit he was about to start, and get him the fuck out.
“I came to talk to you. I think you’ve made a big mistake by dropping out of Harvard and coming here. I was hoping I might be able to convince you to fix that mistake before you throw your life away.” He took a step towards me and I didn’t step away this time. I was fucking livid and I wasn’t backing down. I hoped he’d take a few more steps and be within my reach so I could toss his ass back in the car and make him leave.
“I don’t care what mistake you think it is that I’m making. I haven’t asked for shit from you since I’ve been down here and you need to get in your car and drive away. If you have something you need to discuss with me, you can text me.”
“You mean, on the phone that I pay for?”
Shit. I hadn’t thought of that.
“And how would you suggest I take the BMW away with me? Since you’re not asking for anything from me.”
“Fucking tow it for all I care. I haven’t been driving it.”
“Hunter?” Ellison’s voice called out from the front of the car and my dad turned to look at her and froze. His entire body seemed to tense for a second and his eyes were glued to her.
Bill went to say something to her, but she pushed past him and offered her hand out to my dad. “Hi. I’m Ellison James. You must be Hunter’s dad. You two look just alike.” Her smile was genuine and when my father didn’t extend his hand to shake hers, I was glad that he hadn’t touched her, but at the same time, pissed because I wondered if he’d instantly judged her unworthy.
I moved to stand next to El and looked up to see that my father’s eyes were opened wide and he looked like he’d seen a ghost. Bill walked up and put his arm around my father.
“She looks just like her, don’t she?”
My dad’s response was so faint you could barely hear it. “Identical.”
Ellison leaned into me and I could tell by the way she held herself that she was spooked out by my dad’s reaction.
Eventually, he seemed to snap out of it. Clearing his throat, he offered her his hand. “My name is John McCormick. I’m sorry I reacted that way. It’s just that you look exactly like your mother.”
Shit! I’d forgotten all about what Bill had told me about my father and El’s mom when they were younger.
“Well, thank you. I considered my mom to be very beautiful, so I’ll take that as a compliment.” Her smile could have melted glaciers it was so warm. “It’s nice to meet you, I’m Ellison James. I’m Hunter’s girlfriend.”
“Fiancé.” I corrected.
Dad’s eyes shot to me almost instantly and I couldn’t determine by his expression what he was thinking. I rolled my shoulders back and looked at him in a way that dared him to say anything. Bill interrupted before he had the chance.
“Fiancé? When exactly did that happen?!” Stepping closer, he grabbed Ellison’s hand and looked at the ring. “Well, I be damned … ”
“Why don’t we all just go inside and talk about this. There’s a lot going on and I think we’d be more comfortable if we weren’t standing out in the driveway.”
I hated Ellison’s suggestion. There was no way in hell I was letting my father in either of those houses.
“I don’t think that’s … ”
“Actually, son. I think Ellison’s right. Let’s go John, it seems like we all have something to talk about.”
My dad grudgingly followed Bill inside his house and I was left out by the car with El. I narrowed my eyes at her and she scowled at me in response. When she didn’t back down I rolled my eyes and reached out to pull her to me. “Why did you invite him in? I want nothing to do with him.”
“Tsk. Whatever, Hunter, obviously, he’s here for something and there’s no point not hearing him out.”
“I already know why he’s here. He came to tell me that I’m a fuck up for having moved down. It doesn’t matter what I do with my fucking life. To him, if I don’t attend Harvard, I’m a failure. So, I don’t see why I need to take the time to listen to him say it again.”
Her expression remained impassive when she replied, “Because he’s your dad. The fact that he came down at all tells me that he cares for you. And maybe he is a fuck up — but, so were you when you came down. I didn’t hold it against you and eventually you turned things around. Why can’t the same thing happen with him? You’ll never get anywhere if you avoid people in a stubborn refusal to resolve your differences. All that gets you is a bunch of pissed off people sitting on opposite sides of the earth that are miserable. Give him a chance, Hunter.”
Technically, I could have kept arguing, and if it had been anybody else, I would have. But looking down into her concerned blue eyes, I had nothing else to say. Well, except for one thing.
“If even one harsh word about you comes out of his mouth … ”
She placed a finger on my mouth to silence me. “Then I’ll handle him. I’m willing to work out differences, Hunter, but I’m not somebody’s doormat. You, of all people, should know that’s true.”
I allowed Ellison to lead me inside the house and we sat down at the kitchen table with my father and Bill. At first the discussion was strained. My father was still startled by Ellison’s presence and I was on the edge of my seat, waiting for him to say one wrong word about her. Yes, I knew El could handle herself, but I still refused to let anybody speak badly of her. I made my case for living in Florida by explaining my intent to go to medical school. I didn’t go into detail as to why. My reasons weren’t as important as the fact that I was determined to do it. It was a long conversation, one in which I talked the majority of the time and, surprisingly, my father sat back and listened. By the time it was done, he didn’t respond. His eyes flicked back and forth between Ellison and I and, after a few minutes, he nodded.
“If you’re that determined to stay here, Hunter, I realize there’s nothing more that needs to be said about it. So, I won’t argue.” Breathing out a long breath, he sat back in his chair and admitted, “To be honest, I’m surprised, and somewhat proud to see this side of you. I never thought you’d straighten up your act and I’m glad to hear that you’ve finally made a decision to do something with yourself, regardless of how I disagree with the manner in which you’ll accomplish it.”
I was stunned and Ellison hit my leg under the table when I’d failed to respond. It was the first time my father relented to anything I’d said and I didn’t understand why. However, I wasn’t going to press him about it so I nodded and thanked him for understanding.
Eventually, the conversation moved on to more casual topics and as the sun started to set, Bill and my father walked outside. Ellison and I remained at the table and she smiled over at me, tapping her foot against the side of my leg. “See? Told you that if you just talked it out, you could resolve it. You two still have stuff to work on, but at least you’re communicating again. It’s a start.”
I playfully grabbed her hair at the back of her head and pulled her to me. My mouth brushed across hers and she immediately pressed herself against me, kissing me in a slow and seductive way. I heard the engine of my father’s car start and she pulled away from me. I responded with a frustrated groan to the loss of contact.
“Would he just leave without saying goodbye?” Her eyebrow quirked in an adorable way and I laughed.
“Yep. That’s pretty much how it works.”
Her lips puckered and her face scrunched up. She was mad and I was inwardly laughing at her reaction. She stood up and moved to the window. Pulling the curtain back to look outside, she turned to me with a smirk on her face. “Maybe you should come take a look.”
My brows furrowed in confusion, but I got up to stand beside her. When I finally turned my attention outside, my jaw dropped to see Bill and my father standing in front of the Mustang, toying around in the engine and laughing with each other. I’d never seen my father appear even the slightest bit carefree and it was unnerving to witness it.
“Looks like two other people had some making up to do as well.”
All I could do was nod my head in response.
Ellison slipped her arm around my waist. “Well, come on. We need to fix dinner. It’s rude not to offer him something before he has to make the drive back.”
~ ~ ~
When dinner had finished, my dad stood up and apologized that he had to cut the night short. We said our goodbyes and Bill walked him to the front door. He was halfway through when he stopped and turned back to look at me. “Hunter, could I talk to you outside, please?”
Just fucking great …
I somehow knew his acceptance was too good to be true. Ellison nudged me to follow him and I sighed when I stepped outside. We approached the car and he turned to me, before briefly looking towards the house and back in my direction.
“I’m surprised to hear that you are engaged so young. I won’t say it doesn’t worry me, but … ” A deep breath escaped him and his shoulders dropped in resignation. “ … I understand. Ellison has a unique vibrance in her, much like her mother had. I know how infectious and life altering someone like that can be.” He frowned while remembering back to a girl he’d once loved. “I didn’t chase after her and I didn’t put up much of a fight when I lost her. I’m not saying I don’t love your mom and I married her as a consolation, but I will say that I know there aren’t many people in this world as open and alive as Anna was and as Ellison appears to be. That’s something that is difficult to find and have to let go.”
I listened to what he said, shock settling along my spine to hear him admit something so … human. My entire life, the only things I’d heard him say to me were the mechanical words expected of a parent towards a child. Even his posture seemed different; it was soft rather than rigid.
“How are you paying for school?”
“I don’t want … ”
He held up his hand to silence me. “Hunter, I know you want to do this on your own. I get that. But school, especially graduate school is expensive; and you’re about to have a wife to worry about. I’d rather you focus on your classwork than pay for rent and tuition. I have the means to put you through college, and I plan to do just that. I also offered the same to Lily.”
The surprise must have been apparent on my face, because he laughed to see my expression.
“Bill has been on his own with her for too long. I held a grudge that I shouldn’t have. I guess it’s time that I make it up to him.”
He clapped me on the shoulder and climbed into the car. Looking back out at me, he said, “Please have the school financial office call me. I want to take care of this for you.”
I nodded and stepped back so he could shut the door. Starting up the engine, he waved before he pulled out of the driveway and disappeared down the road. I heard the door to the house open and close and Ellison’s footsteps as she approached me from behind.
Wrapping her arms around my waist, she rested her head against my back and held me. My hands came up to hold hers and I absently toyed with the engagement ring on her finger.
“See? I told you to give him a chance. I don’t think he’s as bad as you thought — just misunderstood. Everybody has a story, Hunter, and that story will cause them to act in ways that other people won’t be able to understand. But, you give a person enough time, eventually, they’ll open up, and it will all make sense.”
A smile crept over my face when I realized that once again, Ellison had improved my life. And maybe that’s what I’d always needed. A tenacious blonde who wouldn’t take shit from me and who called me out on my mistakes — and a woman who, by her very existence, brought something to life within me.
Epilogue
- 2064 -
The auditorium was silent. Not a single person spoke or made a sound while their eyes remained glued to Hunter at the podium. His head was bent down and his posture looked tired and frail. Finally looking up, the audience could see a tear rolling along the wrinkled skin of his cheek from the illumination of the stage lights. Clearing his voice, he straightened his spine and rolled his shoulders back in an effort to finish what he’d come to say.
“I started college with Ellison that year, but, the passion of being newlyweds overtook us and she became pregnant during the second semester. I argued with her for the first four months of her pregnancy about her decision to withdraw from school in order to raise our first son. I didn’t think it was fair that she should have to give up her dreams in order for me to continue forward in mine.” Chuckling to himself, his shoulders shook with mirth and a smile cracked his lips.
His voice boomed out louder, prouder, when he continued, “She put me in my place when I’d said that, and she told me that there were many ways in this world to make a difference. Sometimes, it’s the things you do yourself, and other times, it’s something as simple as raising a child to be remarkable. As soon as she knew she’d be a mother, she chose the latter path.”
His eyes took in the audience, the faces were shadowed in comparison to the lights glaring down on his body, but he still tried to meet their eyes, tried to make them understand. With his eyes locked to the nameless faces before him, he confessed.
“I wasn’t able to save her. Despite how tirelessly I worked, how many hours I devoted to finding a cure for the disease that killed not only her, but so many people that came before her, I didn’t discover it in time.” His hand hit against the podium, the sound of the strike echoing out across the large space. Tears welled in his eyes and his body sagged at the sudden drain in strength that accompanied remembering when she’d died.
Hunter gained his composure to finish his speech. “Ellison had once said that she feared being insignificant — she feared she was one small person who could only hope to bring small changes to the people and environment that she loved.” He looked down at the wood of the podium and traced a vein of the wood with his finger.
Looking up, his voice bellowed out when he finally reached the end of the story he had to tell.
“Ellison is anything BUT insignificant. She is the reason for my success; she is the smile and the light that drove me along my path in life. She is the reason so many people can stop fearing a disease that carries the pain, the heartache and the tears of every person it has touched directly or indirectly. Whereas, I’ll be accepting the credit for the cure, and whereas it will be my research and methods that will be used and applied to finally eradicate something as heinous and far reaching as cancer — the true credit belongs with a blonde-haired girl with blue eyes and a smile that would light up even the darkest corners of this Earth — the credit belongs with Ellison.”
His vision was distorted by his tears, but even distorted, his eyes widened to see one person after another stand up, bring their hands together and applaud. It was a steady wave as they rose from their seats and the light applause rapidly became a booming ovation before him. But Hunter couldn’t smile with them. Despite having succeeded in his quest for a cure, he still considered himself a failure, because he hadn’t been able to save her.
Slowly, he stepped away from the podium and made his way down the stairs. Silently stalking back up the carpet through the center of the room, the audience continued to applaud, their faces following him as he passed. At the end of the row of people stood two men. They held out their hands to steady him as he reached the door and they walked
him through and to the car waiting to take him home. Once packed in the car, the older of the two men turned to him.
“Do you want to go straight home?”
Hunter shook his head. “No. There’s one place I want to visit first.”
~ ~ ~
Placing the roses at the base of the granite slab, Hunter traced his finger over her name where it had been carved into the stone. He brushed away the dirt and errant leaves that littered her grave and he leaned forward to kiss the stone that marked where Ellison’s body had been interred. The two men reached down and assisted Hunter back to his feet, and the three men stood staring down at the grave.
Hunter sniffled and wiped at his nose with the handkerchief he’d pulled from his pocket. “You know boys, your mother would have been proud today. If she could have been here, she would have stood at the podium with me and she would have argued with me about my crediting her with the accomplishment. But she would have smiled as well — because, despite her argument, she would know that what I said was true.”
Jeremy, Hunter and Ellison’s oldest son, spoke first. “I didn’t know the entire story until tonight. I find it hard to believe that grandma and grandpa had been so cold when you grew up.”
Hunter smiled. “My parents were just another one of your mother’s accomplishments. I don’t have to tell you boys, but she had an uncanny ability to set people at ease, to forgive and teach others to do the same. It was her meddling that caused my parents to return to Florida to be closer to the two of you.” Hunter laughed. “I don’t think my mother or father knew how to deal with her stubbornness any more than I did.”
Chase, the younger of their boys, spoke next. “I’m glad you didn’t give up, Dad.”
Hunter turned to look at him. “Give up in what? Finding a cure?”
Chase shook his head and wiped a tear from his face in attempt to hide his emotions. “No. I’m glad you didn’t give up on her.”