Chapter 0351
“You wouldn’t have to break up,” Michael said quickly. Just get divorced and marry someone more fitting. You can keep Hazel. Your wife would only be for show –”
“No.” Logan snapped.
Frank took a steady step forward. “Hazel is like a daughter to us, and you come into this house ready to insult her like she is some kind of lesser being. I have a mind to put right out that door and onto your ass
“Waffles are ready!” Tammy said, returning from the kitchen. She placed the place of waffles down on the table, along with a set of silverware and a napkin. “Come. Sit.”
Michael looked around. With everyone glaring at him, he must have been uncomfortable, but Tammy was Insistent. Speaking from experience, those waffles were hard to resist.
“Everyone can be mad at everyone else after you eat,” Tammy said. Approaching Michael, she patted him gently on the shoulder, leading him to the table. He didn’t fight when she coaxed him into a chair.
“Now,” she said as she took the seat near him. “We can talk about this like civilized folks.”
She waited for Logan to lift his fork, cut into a piece of waffle, and then put it into his mouth.
Then she said, “You had to know that bringing that proposal to this group was not going to end well. What does he have on you that would make you even consider this?”
Michael swallowed down the lump of food in his mouth.
Tammy’s expression wasn’t one of aggression or anger. Instead, she seemed kind and motherly. How many custody fights they must have had over the years. For her to still be able to look at him like he was a human worthy of kindness spoke volumes to the type of forgiving, generous person she was.
“He stopped paying for my wife’s treatment,” Michael said. “I had to… beg…”
“You are a victim in this,” Tammy said. “You father has never once treated you with kindness.”
“My father is a great man.”
“He’s great at business,” Tammy said. “But I suspect he wasn’t so great in the father department…” She placed her hand on Michael’s wrist. To my surprise, Michael didn’t pull away. “Don’t you think it’s time to end this cycle?”
Michael inhaled and exhaled slowly. Then, staring down at his food, he said, “Logan.”
Logan turned to him but didn’t move an inch closer. I stepped closer to Logan’s side, letting our hands brush together.
Michael turned on his chair to look back at Logan. Then, with a sigh, he said, “I’m sorry, son.”
Immediately, he started to cry. Gently, Tammy patted his shoulder.
There, there.”
“I was such a terrible father to you,” Michael continued “I still am, aren’t I? Showing up here, trying to get you to do this thing. Your mother wouldn’t want this for you.”
+25 BONUS
Chapter 0351
Logan took my hand in his and clutched tightly.
“For far too long, I let that old man control everything did. I tried so hard to be the perfect son, and it was never enough. And when that failed, I turned to alcohol to numb the pain… I let my entire life fall into ruins. Worse, I just sit by and watched while he tried to do the same thing to you.”
“Eat your waffle,” Tammy said, pushing his plate closer to him.
Michael shook his head. Turning in his chair, he looked up at Logan.
“I can’t make up for the past,” he said, “But I can start doing things right. Finally. I know you are gathering information to use against Senior. I’m ready to tell you everything I know.”
“You mean…?” I started to say.
“Yes,” he replied. “I’m finally ready to stand up to him.”
+25 BONUS