Graduation and Gifts (Untouchable Book 8) by Heather Long (best books to read for beginners TXT) 📕

"For the record, not regularly." Though I planned to attend the group sessions with Frankie as she'd asked. I'd been as skeptical as the next person about therapy to be frank, but in the weeks that followed Homecoming, as we'd all had to watch her struggle, my opinion changed.

Therapy had helped her. It showed in her attitude. How she would confront issues directly. And how the nightmares faded. The smile on her face and the light in her eyes was no longer clouded under some dark shadow. Would it do me any good? Who the fuck knew? But I didn't discount it anymore.

"And let's be blunt here, Edward, what do you have to lose? Your marriage is over. Your position in the company is nothing more than a glorified figurehead now, you have no negotiating power. You could spend your weeks golfing, and no one would notice your absence."

He winced. "Ouch."

"I'm calling it like I see it. The only major flaw in your life right now is your choice of companions."

"After today, I sincerely doubt Maddy will want to see me. It could even be months before she deigns to acknowledge me again...and that is a good thing. The woman..." He looked to the distance and it hit me, there were lines of age around his eyes, a hint of gray in his hair and deeper grooves round his mouth.

Edward was getting older.

"Maddy has always been one of mercurial moods. But she never responds well to attacks."

I said nothing as he spoke.

"It might be a good time to take Frankie on a trip." He focused on where she continued to chat with Hank and Bubba's family. "Maybe take all of you on a trip. If you need some..."

"I've got it," I said. "You said you could handle her." That was before the much clearer breakup. We'd discussed this very fact a few days prior.

"I didn't expect her to drop by the office yesterday and got..."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, you keep telling yourself that. If you wanted out of the relationship, why don't you man up and just end it. The drama play, the backstabbing, the cheating? All it does is make you both miserable. It made Muriel miserable. It definitely didn't do me any favors."

"Because...she's a singular woman," Edward admitted. "While I know a lot of people think you're too young, I see the same look in your eye when you look at Frankie that I felt when I looked at Maddy."

"Then or now?"

"They run together, if I’m honest. She's still the girl who takes my breath away. The woman who pushes me and challenges me. She's the one I want to win, that I would pursue..." He grimaced then ran a hand over his face. "So maybe you're right, maybe I should just be direct with her and end things like adults. But when I'm with her, I’m not a rational man."

She was toxic for him. That was what Grandpa had said. Defeat seemed to weigh down his shoulders.

"I can't tell you what to do. I can tell you that I think she's unhinged and dangerous. I think she's already committed crimes." What Hank had said earlier, about waking up to find her in his bed and he'd been drunk and didn't remember it, that was definitely taking advantage of someone. The neglect she subjected Frankie to. Blatantly threatening her life if Maddy's parents tried to intervene... Those were just the things we knew about. "If she really thinks she's lost you," I said slowly, "there's a chance she could turn that anger on you."

"Worried about me, Archie?" The pained smile Edward wore, he'd earned.

"I don't wish you dead," I said flatly. "I don't have a high opinion of you..."

"Clearly, a fact you detailed when you wanted to protect Frankie from the monster that is me."

I shrugged. "She is my priority."

"She's a remarkable young lady, and maybe this too little, too late, but what she said to me will not go away. I missed out on a lot with you, I'd like to miss out on less. I know you're not fond of golf but..."

"Possibly," I said, raising a hand. "It's not my favorite game, but Frankie loves mini-golf and if she wants to come along to learn...we could test the waters. But Edward..." I leveled a stare at him. "Maddy shows up, and all bets are off. I don't want her anywhere near Frankie. And it may need to wait because we're heading out of town in a few days."

"Have you decided on where?"

"Yes. Jeremy will know how to reach me." Frankie's apartment would be packed and cleared out before we returned, but I wasn't going to provide him with that information. Edward was reeling on several fronts, give him time to get his bearings and his feet back under him and that might very well change.

It wouldn't be the first time.

Holding out a hand, he said, "You might not believe this, but I am proud of you."

"I'm an epic son," I confirmed and clasped his hand for a brief handshake. "You'd be hard-pressed to deny that, regardless of what you'd heard or seen."

He laughed again. Man, the first laugh had been strange. The second was downright bizarre. "Your wit is enjoyable when it's less pointed and aimed at slicing me."

Sliding my hand back into my pockets, I shrugged. "Not going to give you an apology."

"Not asking for one. But I am asking for a second chance. Maybe not to be your father, I have a feeling that I have missed far too much to get there, but I'd like it if we could at least attempt to be friends. To get to know each other."

Frankie's father flew thousands of miles and drove to her apartment on the slim chance he'd get to lay eyes on a daughter he'd never met. Edward wasn't really going that far out on a limb here, but...

"Consider therapy. Look at getting some help and get your life sorted and we'll talk."