Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 117506 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 588(@200wpm)___ 470(@250wpm)___ 392(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117506 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 588(@200wpm)___ 470(@250wpm)___ 392(@300wpm)
“Dad, what are you doing here?” Michael asked.
His father let out a bark of laughter as he walked up the steps. “What do you mean? I live here.”
“No, you don’t, Dad. Not anymore,” Merit said. I walked up to her and she reached for me, slipping her hand into mine.
“What do you mean, no, I don’t?” Roger barked out.
The screen door opened on the old farmhouse and Lori walked out. She moved past Merit and headed down the steps.
Roger smiled at his wife and gave her a quick once-over.
“Did you get the papers from the lawyer?” Lori asked.
His smile faded. “Why do you think I’m here?”
Merit and Michael exchanged a confused look before Michael asked, “Your stint in rehab is over?”
Roger nodded without taking his eyes off of Lori. “Nothing like being served with divorce papers the same day you get out of hell.”
Lori slowly shook her head. “Your hell cannot possibly compare to the one you’ve put me or the kids through.”
Roger’s gaze flickered around to all of us. “Seems like everyone is doing well. Dirk, you home for the week?”
“No, sir.”
He waited as if expecting me to explain why I was there. When I didn’t offer another explanation, he went on. “I was sorry to hear about your daddy. He was a good man, and if I could have gone to the funeral, you know I would have been there. We were friends; I’ll miss him.”
Merit squeezed my hand, and I gave her a reassuring squeeze back. “Thank you, Roger. I appreciate it.”
Then, Roger narrowed his eyes at me and looked at my hand laced in Merit’s. “Doesn’t explain why you’re here.”
“It’s none of your damn business why he’s here,” Michael bit out.
Roger turned and glared at his son. “It’s still my farm.”
This time, Michael laughed. “Your farm? The same farm you almost lost because you couldn’t keep yourself out of the bottle? Were you thinking about the farm when you screwed some other woman and cheated on Mom?”
“Michael!” Lori and Merit both said at the same time.
Michael took a step closer to his father. I could see the rage building in Merit’s brother. He practically shook as he spoke. “You’re not welcome here, and you will never be welcome here. It was Merit who got us out of trouble while you sat in a rehab clinic and complained about how hard your life was. You didn’t give a damn about any of us while you got lost in the bottle. You didn’t give a damn about this farm. So excuse me if I say fuck off, you’re not welcome here.”
“Michael, stop it,” Lori pleaded.
“Feel better, son?” Roger asked, a slight grin on his face.
That set Michel off, and he charged his father.
“Shit!” I said as I ran down the steps. I hadn’t seen Merit following me, or I would have told her to stay away.
I stepped in front of Michael while Merit went to her father.
“Merit, get back on the porch,” I demanded. There was no way in hell I wanted her between these two men.
Pointing his finger at Roger, Michael cried out, “You are a drunk, cheating loser, and Mom’s better off without you!”
Roger’s face went red, and he lunged at Michael.
“Daddy, no!” Merit yelled, attempting to stop him.
“Merit, don’t!” I cried out as I tried to keep Michael back.
Lori ran over to Michael. “Stop it! You’re only making it worse.”
I wasn’t sure if I should go to Merit or keep myself between the father and son.
Then everything changed when Michael drove the final nail in.
“Besides, Mom’s moved on and she doesn’t want you any longer.”
Lori sucked in a breath as Roger growled and made his way toward us. I watched Merit step in front of her father once more to stop him.
I shook my head. “Fucking hell, Merit! Don’t!” I yelled as she placed her hands on her father’s chest.
“Stop this! Stop! You cannot come home and do this! What is the matter with you?” Merit screamed.
Roger grabbed hold of Merit and started to shake her and yell. “You can’t show up with your money and fix everything! Not when you abandoned us!”
I dropped my hold on Michael and rushed toward Roger and Merit as I tried to control my own rage. “Let her fucking go, Roger! Now!” I shouted.
Then, he did the unthinkable—he pushed Merit out of his way so hard it caused her to stumble and fall down the small group of stairs that led back down to the driveway. My heart stilled as I watched her tumble down the steps.
“Merit!” I yelled, running to her. My stomach lurched when I saw her head hit a rock and her body go limp. I dropped to my knees and pulled her to me. “Merit! Merit!” I cried out as I held her.
Michael was at my side a moment later.