Page 87 of What I Like About You

“Not the same thing. He’s not a Sutherland.”

There was a part of Dalton that had a hard time believing what he was hearing. He’d always known how cold and calculating his father could be, but somehow, this seemed next-level. Not that he wanted to give Jonah anything or felt like he deserved even the slightest bit. But after years of being Big D’s right hand, one would think there would at least be some kind of gesture from the old man. Apparently not.

“Even after being your right hand or whatever he’s been since I left?”

“He is not my right hand,” Big D corrected him. “You would have been my right hand. He’s just the Director of Corporate Initiatives. No different than anyone else I would have put in that role. Other than I guess I have to see him on holidays. I told you, he’s a decent employee. I’m sure you can find use of him. He and your sister certainly don’t get along, but maybe they’ll behave better for you than they did me.”

Doubtful…

“So, I’m going to have both a gold digger and a brown-nosing weasel who feel like they’ve been cheated. Even in death you know how to make my life difficult, old man.”

“I trust that you can handle it, Tripp,” Big D said, chuckling. “BobbiJo will likely be upset, but I have included a letter to her explaining my wishes and why this is what I want. She’ll respect that…eventually.”

“Jonah won’t.”

“He will if he wants to remain employed here, I imagine. His salary is quite generous, and he would have a hard time finding a similar package elsewhere. But he has no claims to anything. I’ve never made him any promises.”

There was a moment of awkward silence as their conversation hung in the air. It was so much to take in and left Dalton feeling a little uneasy. The news that his father was dying didn’t dissolve his anger toward the man by any means, but it put a crack in the walls. If he was only going to have months left with the man, maybe he needed to be a little more open to forgiving him.

“I didn’t set out to fuck the nanny, you know,” Big D said, breaking the silence.

“Look who’s being crass now,” Dalton replied, tossing his father's judgment back at him.

Big D shot him a look saying “smart ass,” which got a chuckle out of him. "Grief makes you do some inexplicable things.”

“Like fuck the nanny?”

“Yes,” Big D responded, drawing out the word. “But then she surprised me and became a great confidante. She's a fantastic listener, which you would know, son, if you gave her half a chance.”

“Did mom know?” Dalton asked. He’d wondered from the moment Felicity had told him whether their mother had known what was going on behind her back. She’d always been incredibly perceptive, knowing something was up even when they’d denied it, but she’d been so sick toward the end that he had no idea what she was and wasn’t aware of.

“In the end, I think so. We never outright discussed it, but your mother always had a way of just knowing things about me. She knew me better than I knew myself,” Big D answered. Dalton could see tears form in his eyes as he took a moment to collect himself thinking about his late wife. “Not being there the moment she passed is something that haunts me every day.” He paused again, wiping at his eyes. “Your mother used to say that ‘things didn’t happen for no reason, they happen to teach us something.’ Your leaving taught me a lot of things, including forcing me to take a look at myself. I hope, with the little time I have left, we can maybe find better footing.”

Dalton let out a deep breath and dropped back into the leather chair. He hadn’t realized just how tense he’d been until his body relaxed, letting his father’s wish sink in. If Zara could forgive him for what he’d said all those years ago, then he could find a way to forgive his father. It certainly wouldn’t be overnight, but maybe with time he could figure out a way to put it behind them.

“Yeah, I think we can.”

“Can I give you some advice, son?”

“It’s a little late to want to be Jason Seaver,” he joked, hoping his father would understand the reference.

“God, your mother loved that show. And I am fully aware I was a shitty parent, thank you. I have tried to be better with Lulu, but I imagine I have failed her plenty as well. But seriously, Tripp, some advice from an old man who has learned a thing or two along the way. When you meet someone who lights your soul on fire and is also willing to put up with your shit, hold on to her.”

“Thanks.” If only it were that easy…

“I've always thought you and Zara were a good match.”

Dalton just looked at his dad. What the fuck did he know about him and Zara?

“Don’t look at me like that. I might have been a shitty father, but I’m not blind. I watched the two of you together growing up. And I know all about what you did for her for prom. Even if Stu hadn’t told me all about it, I did pay the bill at Posey’s.” Big D gave him a knowing laugh, one Dalton couldn’t help but return. “I’m not entirely sure why you two had a falling-out, but life’s too short to let a girl like that get away.”

“Yeah, well, I’ve fucked that up not only once, but twice now,” Dalton admitted. “We reconnected recently, and I lost her again because I couldn’t get out of my own way.”

“So then get out of the way and go after her.”

“Just that simple, huh?”

“Tripp, women are never simple. But if she forgave you once, who’s to say she won’t do it again?”

Dalton just looked at his father. The man had a point. Now, just how to make it a reality.

“Got an office I could use?” he asked.

“I thought you’d never ask.”