Page 56 of Hearts Don't Lie
“You’re quitting? Jesus Christ, man! How can you quit? You’re one of the best to ever play the game!” There were a few minutes of silence, and then Mike spoke again, soberly. “You’re serious.”
“As serious as a heart attack.”
“DAD!”
“BRO!”
“Coming, Beck. The minis call. We act.” Mike chuckled. The men stood and Mike held out his hand to Hardin. “I like you, but I love Kenna and Stowe. Don’t break their hearts. Do we understand each other?”
“You have my word.” Hardin shook his hand and stared back at Mike.
Mike slapped Hardin on the back. “I’m glad we had this talk. Let’s go.”
He walked companionably with Mike, hopeful he’d earn the big man’s trust and respect. He was also pleased as hell. His son had called himBroinstead of by his name. It was progress he could live with.
They separated as they fished in the shade of Slate Lake. Stowe and Beckett. Hardin and Mike. As promised, the view was spectacular, reminding Hardin of areas in the Alps. He felt no twinge of emotion when he reflected on that or when he thought of Spain. But when he watched his son, Hardin’s heart tightened. His heart and soul were already ensconced in Colorado. He was done, regardless of how Arlo’s negotiations went.
“You know, Kenna didn’t say much other than you’re Stowe’s father. She closed up after that. Why do you call her Mac?”
“I’ve always called her that. It’s short for McKenna.” Hardin cast his line.
Mike watched Hardin propel the leader and fly a good distance from where they stood in the water. “Nice job. You catch on quickly. She’s McKenna?”
“Yep.”
“Interesting. We’ve always known her as Kenna. She’s never mentioned the name McKenna.”
“She may have legally changed it when she changed her surname.”
“It’s not Eliot?”
“It wasn’t. Look, Mike. I’m not trying to be a prick, but Mac’s story is hers. I’m not comfortable discussing it because I didn’t ask or get her permission to share.”
“She’s okay though? Not running from the law?”
“Mac?” He guffawed. “No. She’s a woman of great moral character, thebest person I’ve ever met. She had good reasons.”
“But she ran from you and took Stowe?”
Hardin stopped watching his line and turned his head and pushed his sunglasses up, his eyes met Mike’s, unflinching. “No. She never ran from me, nor did shetakeour son from me. That’s all I can say right now. I’ll talk to her and maybe, probably, the four of us can talk about this soon.”
“Okay.” Mike circled around again. “She said you didn’t know about Stowe.”
“Nope. I’d been trying to find her for over a decade, but she was smart. Changed her name. Stayed off the grid. But I finally found her.”
Mike looked surprised. “You seem proud of her.”
“I am. She’s smart as a whip. She had her reasons and they were justified.”
“And there’s more.”
“Yes, and you and Cori will have to wait.”
“I can’t imagine how devastated I’d be if I were in your shoes.”
“I felt that way and I’m pissed as”—he glanced at the boys, who seemed far enough away, focusing again on the wonderment that was Stowe—“pissed as all fuck, but not at her. Mac did what she felt she needed to do, and I support her decisions. But at the same time, it kills me that I didn’t know my son since before birth.She and I are still making sense of the things that have happened in our past, that impacted us and our son.”
“You can’t get that back.”
