Harkham's Corner (Harkham's Series Book 3) (6 page)

“I told you we’d be done before they needed us,” he said, smirking.

“She’s probably scared. We didn’t tell her we were still here but out in the garage.” She patted his back.

He was squeezing the air out of her lungs because he was holding her so tight. It was too soon to let go.

He needed to soak in the final morsels of this moment and savor them.

“Mari . . . If I go help her get settled, will you stay out here? I want to talk out here, not inside. I don’t want the kids to hear this,” he said.

“It’s pretty warm out here. Why don’t you set her up, and we can go talk in the bedroom. It’s not like Button will know what we’re talking about.”

“Yeah, but he sleeps light during the day. He’ll probably wake up, and I want your undivided attention.”

“How about a shower? We can talk in there?” She wore a lazy grin.

He nodded, then got out of the car, put his clothes back on and went after Meg.

It didn’t take long to help her find something to keep her busy.

He gave her a snack, had one himself, but when he went back to take a shower with his wife, she was in there with Button.

Adam sighed.

He loved showering with the baby, but this was kind of important. If he didn’t take his time to discuss this, he might get all worked up and say it wrong.

“Button—you need to sleep,” he told their little guy, then took him from her so she could wash up.

“Did we make a mess in the car?” she asked as she doused her head.

“I don’t know. And I don’t care. If we did, I’m sure Meg will cover it up with crumbs and spilled drinks. No one’s gonna know.” Adam rocked Button in his arms.

“All right. If you’re fine with it, I guess it’s not a big deal.” She kept washing at her usual lightning-quick pace.

He couldn’t remember the last time she was able to just relax in here.

“Slow down. I’ve got him. Just enjoy this. He’s not fussing.” He stroked the baby’s back. “He loves the water.”

“I know, but Meg’s not known to hang out for long periods of time either, so we don’t have a ton of time to talk.”

He took that as his cue to begin. “Okay, fine. What should I say? That I still hate him? That he makes me crazy? That he wants to use something that was supposed to be a gift and turned it into a battle?”

“Is that what your mom said?” She shaved with quick precision, glancing at Button every few moments like he might explode any minute.

“No. She said he was doing it to be a part of my life, because he wants some credit as my father. I don’t get why he can’t just enjoy it, so I told her I’d give him all the credit. He can have all the money. I don’t even want it anymore.”

She paused, gave him a curious look and then exhaled. “Are you sure you wanna do this?”

“Yeah. Why wouldn’t I?” He kissed the top of Button’s head. The little guy was squirming now.

Adam grabbed the bar of soap and lathered up the squirmer.

“You realize if you go this route, he’s only going to push harder,” she said, sounding exhausted.

“Why would he do that? This is what he wants. He wants to control it and make money. I’m giving it to him so he can leave me alone.”

She stood straight, put the razor away and washed off the soap but kept her eyes on him. “This isn’t the end of it. This is his way of asserting control, but I don’t think it’s totally about the money.”

His throat exploded as he all but shouted, “Of course it is! He’s a bad, selfish man! There’s no bigger dickhead than him on this planet!”

She cupped his cheeks. “No, he’s a confused father. He’s trying to reach out but doesn’t know how.”

“This isn’t reaching. This is stealing. He wants money, and I’m giving it to him.” He swapped spots with her and rinsed the baby off carefully. His grip tightened so the slippery wiggler wouldn’t fly out of his arms.

Button made a raspberry noise. It was adorable, so Adam kissed his temple.

“
Adam
. . .” She took the baby so he could wash himself. “Think about it—what happens when you push our kids away even a little bit, even if it’s just for a few moments?”

“Meg gets whiny, Button gets clingy. So what?”

“So, what happens if I say I don’t wanna make love or pleasure you? How do you react?” She pursed her lips.

“I want it more. I get more demanding, or you say I’m a bear to deal with because then I won’t stop touching you at all. So. What?” His voice was tight.

“Grown-ups are the same as kids. We all have needs, and if they aren’t met, then things can get ugly. If you push him away, he’s going to get desperate and go after something else he knows is important to you. He’s trying in his own odd way to show you he wants to be involved. You both like music, and you’re both really talented. What else does he have in common with you? We haven’t let him see the kids again other than briefly when you gave him that present. Did you see how his eyes lit up when you handed him the CD with the song?” She played with the few little curls at the nape of the baby’s neck.

“I didn’t even give him the others I made. I didn’t know if he’d like it,” he said, his breath catching in his throat. “What if I’d given him the rest? Would he have tried to steal those, too?”

His head was pounding, and he could feel numbers at the back of his brain.

“Breathe . . . I’m not gonna discuss the what ifs. We don’t know what he would’ve done, so don’t worry about that. Maybe you need to ask him point blank what he wants instead of assuming he’s out to get you and make money off what was supposed to be a kind gesture.” She rocked the baby. He was squeaking a little now with his fist pushing into his mouth.

Adam groaned. “I don’t know how to talk to that man. I try, but he’s . . . He confuses me. I feel like a child when I’m around him, and I don’t like it. I’m a man.”

“I know you are, sweetie. You’re the best man.” She leaned in and kissed his cheek. “The best man I’ve ever known. Now, show your dad that’s who you are, and you’re not intimidated by his presence.”

A gallon of peace swept over him with the water. “You’re right. Why are you always so smart and sweet? I wish I was more like you.”

“God,
I
don’t, but thanks for saying that.” She smiled, and her eyes were softer than the baby’s skin.

“Why wouldn’t you want me to be like you?” His eyes lifted, and he ignored the water trying to get into his eyes.

“Because then you wouldn’t be a man, now, would you?” She smirked.

“You are silly. Sex in a the garage makes me feel better, and talking in the shower makes you silly.”

She giggled. “I love you.”

“I love you, but I still don’t like that man.”

“I know.” She stroked his shoulder. “It’s okay. Sometimes we love our family because we have to, but we don’t always have to like them.”

He shrugged. “Good, because I don’t know if I’ll ever like him, and it makes me feel sick about it. The only time I feel worse than when I think about him is when I guzzle down too much soda—that’s how awful he makes me feel.”

* * *

Dustin answered the door. “Hey, Son, what’s going on?”

Adam leaned into the door frame. “Do you have a few minutes between clients?”

“Yeah, a few minutes. You look like you’re not feeling well. Do you need to leave for the day?” His dad motioned for him to join him inside his office.

“I’m sick over something with Thomas. Remember I told you I was going to court because he was making me crazy?” Adam took a seat.

“I remember.” His dad nodded and took a seat as well. “I didn’t know what that meant, but I could tell you wanted privacy on the matter, so I didn’t press. I figured you know I trust you and anytime you want to talk about anything at all, I’m here for you.” His dad drummed his fingers on his desk.

“I need you to keep it to yourself—that’s why I didn’t tell you,” Adam blurted. “I don’t want Amelia to know. And I didn’t think it would be fair to tell you something I wanted you to keep secret from her since you love her. I love Mari, and I don’t lie to her. I tell her everything. You told me that was important. So, I’m being mean by asking you to keep this from her. Are you okay with this?”

His father nodded, and his mouth dropped a little. He tensed in his seat. “I can do whatever you need.”

“You’re not gonna get mad at me for keeping this from her?”

His dad sighed and shook his head. “Believe it or not, you come first, Adam. Always. I do what’s right for you. If you say don’t tell her, unless I think it’ll harm you not to, then I keep it to myself.” His shoulders relaxed.

Adam took a deep breath and told his father what Thomas was doing. “I don’t know what to do. I don’t feel like this is something I want Amelia to know. I just want her to respect me and think I’m still progressing and doing better, but after that last bad episode . . . It feels like I’m back to where I started. Why does that man make my head so crazy?”

His dad opened the drawer to his desk. “What does Mari think?”

“She says I should ask him what he wants from me.” Adam groaned and dragged his hands down his cheeks and jaw. “She thinks he’s trying to figure out how to connect with me, but I don’t want to connect with him. I was being nice by giving him a gift. I didn’t know what else to give him—not like you. I know what you like to do, and what you enjoy.” His eyes turned to slits. “I don’t know that man. I only knew he liked music. I took some clips online of his voice, recording my part, mixed them and then added my own beats. I gave him a CD of it. He liked it, so I put it on YouTube. He shared it with people, and they wanted to buy it. So, you know what he did? He set up that damned website, and had you give me the money.”

“Sounds like he’s trying to be nice back and honor you.” His dad smiled, but his eyes were grumpy at the corners.

“Then why is he bringing me to court so he has some rights to it? He wants money. That’s what I think.” Adam turned his face away. Tears were gathering at the edges. He blinked until it dried out.

“I don’t know what to tell you. He didn’t approach me about the money—your mother did. I told her you needed extra funds, so even though I didn’t want to deal with them, I agreed. All for you. I want you happy. I wanted you to get out of that one bedroom apartment.”

Adam stood up and sighed. “He should go back to not existing in my life.”

“I don’t think he can. Can anyone walk away from you?”

“Plenty of people do.” Adam frowned.

“Not really.” His dad set a hand on his shoulder. “The second someone really knows you, they care about you. Do you know how many of our patients ask for you over me? I’m the one running this place, and I’ve been their doctor for years, but they like you. They ask for my apprentice, and they call you that because that’s what you told them to call you.” His dad chuckled.

“You’re just being nice.” Adam lunged at him, hugged his dad tight and then left.

They had work to do.

“There he is! The apprentice!” one of his clients yelled out.

Mrs. Fahey approached him, shook his hand and his dad gave him the eyebrow that said, “See? Told ya.”

Adam grinned and helped her into an examination room. “How are you today?” he asked her.

“I’m good
now
. I swear that smile of yours always makes me happy.” Her face lit up as she took a seat.

“Well, I got this smile on my face because you’re always so patient with me.”

She laughed and sighed at the end. “Oh, you are too sweet. How many cavities will you give my sweet tooth today?”

He cocked his head. “I’m not a dentist, so you shouldn’t be here for cavities, but I’ve got an extra tooth brush I can give you to help out. It’s unopened. Want me to get it and give it to you?”

She laughed harder. “Sounds like I better see my dentist tomorrow.” She winked.

Adam rubbed his jaw and turned away. “I don’t have cavities, and I drink soda,” he told himself.

She cackled. “Turn around and say that to my face. I can’t believe how adorable you are.”

He curled over his laptop. “Uh . . . Maybe later. Let’s get your blood pressure instead.”

Chapter 4

Mrs. Fahey—a patient of his dad’s. Oh Lord, how Adam wished she’d find a new doctor’s apprentice to bother.

He ground his teeth together.

All Adam knew was she made him uncomfortable with those stares of hers as he worked.

“Are you going to finish on that computer, or are you playing games with me?” she called out.

He cleared his throat and turned around.

She was young. Probably younger than Mari. She wore her long blonde hair down today, and it was so straight he wondered if she pressed it between books like the way people pressed flowers and made them all flat and preserved.

That was always fun to do.

Her light green eyes studied him.

“You’re nervous. Do I make you that way?” She chuckled.

“No,” he replied, his voice shaky.

“Those deep blue eyes don’t lie to me. Come say that to my face,” she replied, pointing at the spot right before her.