Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 88841 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88841 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
“Daddy!” Addie yells, making me do a double take because did she just call me …
“I think she picked it up from me,” Kira says with a laugh. “I always refer to you as Daddy. She also called me Mommy earlier. Her vocabulary is increasing by the day.”
“Jesus,” I mutter, shaking my head. “As much as I like the idea of her growing up, I’m not sure I’m ready for this.”
Addie calls me again, and Kira laughs.
“C’mon, Daddy. Better go play with your little girl before she’s too grown to want to play with you.”
I glare her way, and she cackles, skipping over to the girls. We play in the water for another few minutes until I spot my grandfather standing in the corner, watching us. He’s dressed casually in a collared shirt and khaki dress shorts with his Sperry leather boat shoes. He’s aged since the last time I saw him, and I hate the thought of him getting old. Once he’s gone, I’ll literally have no family left in my life, aside from Addie.
“Gramps!” I say, extending my hand to shake his since I’m too wet to give him a hug. “You got here quick.”
“Came right over when you texted me the name of the hotel,” he says. “I’m sorry about your dad, son. We warned him to behave, but he just couldn’t do it.”
“I’m done,” I tell him. “I’ve tried so many times, but this was the last straw. I’m almost forty years old, and I’ve spent my life wanting that man to accept me while knowing he never would unless I was following in his shadow. But I can’t do it anymore. I’ve fallen in love, and she’s been through hell, and I’m not going to expose her to people like my father.”
My grandfather smiles and nods. “Love, huh?”
“So fucking in love,” I admit with a laugh.
“Well, all right then, let’s have lunch so I can meet her.”
I call the girls over and introduce Kira to my grandfather, who insists she calls him Walter or Gramps. After we dry off and get the girls dressed, we get a table at the resort restaurant and have a nice lunch. Gramps spends the meal getting to know Kira and Violet while bonding with Addie. The entire time, I wonder why the hell my dad couldn’t be more like his father. All I ever wanted was a family to be a part of, and yet all he’s ever wanted was to be successful. He cares more about the fact that I chose to work for Kingston rather than Du Ponte.
“Your grandmother would’ve been proud of you,” Gramps says after lunch is over.
Kira insisted on taking the girls up to the room to lay them down for a nap while I walked my grandfather to the valet to say goodbye.
I wish we could’ve spent more time together, but he has to be at the Du Ponte Enterprises picnic since he still owns the company. He might’ve handed the reins over to my dad, but he’s still extremely active in the company. He had planned to retire, but then my grandmother passed away, and he didn’t know what to do with himself.
“I miss her,” I admit. “I miss spending the weekends and summers with you both, and I hate that Addie doesn’t have family in her life, like you and Gram.”
“I can’t replace your grandmother,” Gramps says, “but I’ve decided to retire … for real this time. I’m in my eighties, and I feel like all I’ve done in my life is work. I was thinking I could come visit. Rent a place near you and—”
“Absolutely not.” I shake my head. “You’re the only damn family we have. I have a house that’s way too big with far too many rooms. You can stay with us.”
Gramps smiles and squeezes my shoulder. “I’m proud of you, Ryder. Keep loving hard and living your life how you see fit. Your dad will never change, and your brother won’t get his head out of your father’s ass long enough to think for himself. You deserve to be happy. Marry that woman and start your own family.”
Gramps pulls me into a hug and murmurs, “I’ll see you soon, my boy,” and then gets into his waiting vehicle.
As I walk back to the room, I see several more texts from my brother and dad and know I need to do as Gramps said, so I do something I should’ve done years ago. I send a text to my dad, letting him know that I’m done and to not contact me anymore. And then one to my brother, telling him that as much as I would love to have a relationship with him, I can’t have our father in my life anymore. If he wants to get to know me, I’m here, but until then, I need to focus on my family while he focuses on his political future.