He held up a hand and put away his cup. Forcing a smile to his lips, he spoke. "I know I haven't been the best of parents to you, and I'm sorry for it. I could tell you that I'm not good at that sortof thing and I have been feeling very sorry for myself. I could also tell you that it's because of my health." He pressed a hand to his chest where his heart was beating in solid, even beats for good measure and noticed the look of concern on her face. "But that's no excuse. You've given up so much for this old man, and I cannot tell you how grateful I am." He drew in a breath.
"Dad—"
"No," he shook his head. "Please let me finish. I want to get this out and clear the air between us. I resented your mother for a very long time, and that was not fair to her. She came from money, you see." He had to concentrate on keeping the bitterness from his tone. "She was an only child, and her parents hated me. They didn't think I was good enough for their daughter. But Kathy loved me. Or at least she did at first, and then when things got rough and she was disinherited, she changed." He paused for dramatic effect. "I tried to do my best to give her what I could, but it was never enough." He shook his head. "I don't know if she slept with that—that conniving Robert Whitlock, but they were best friends." He spread his hands. "I felt insignificant, you see. He was wealthy, and I was struggling. He was everything I was not."
Kadian sat still for a moment, her heart beating fast. She didn't know how to tell him her news now. But she had to and hoped for the best.
"Dad—"
"I love you," he interrupted again. "You're my daughter, and you've always been there for me. And I appreciate all you're doing. You've turned the place around and made it into something. I'm proud of you."
Tears clogged her throat and made it hard for her to breathe. This was not something she had expected. He had never spoken to her this frankly before, and she felt an awful sense of foreboding settling inside her chest.
She swallowed hard, the weight of years—of silence, sacrifices, and unspoken gratitude—settling over her like a cloak. The lamp's golden glow seemed to ripple between them, reflecting off the rain streaking their window, blurring the world beyond into something soft and forgiving.
She wanted to reach for his hand, but her nerves felt too fragile, her fingers trembling. "Dad, there's something I need to tell you." The words nudged their way out, quiet but determined.
He met her gaze, eyes patient and tired, ready for whatever burden she had carried home. "You can tell me anything, Kadian."
She took a deep breath, feeling the tremor in her chest and the strengthening resolve in her heart. "I know I haven't said much about my relationship. I—I got married. Leon Whitlock and I are married. Almost seven months ago." The admission hung in the air, fragile but unmistakable.
The air in the room felt thick with tension as he stared at her in utter and complete shock. He had expected her to tell him she was seeing someone, that it was getting serious, but nothing had prepared him for this. It was worse than he expected, and he wanted to lash out at her. Taking several deep breaths, he opened his mouth, but the words didn't come out. And he knew exactly what he had to do.
Rising slowly, he grabbed at his chest and swayed, making her spring to her feet. "Dad!"
"My pills," he gasped, gesturing toward his bedroom. "The bedside table. My heart."
He almost laughed as she rushed into the room and came back in seconds, the bottle grasped in her hand.
"Two."
Opening the cap, she shook out two tiny pills and placed them in his mouth. "I'll get you some water." She rushed into the bathroom and came back with a glass half filled.
He drank it all and handed her the glass.
"I need to lie down." He was playing the part perfectly, he thought grimly, as he leaned on her heavily as she guided him into the room.
"Let me pull back the sheets." Her hands trembled as she helped him into bed and took off his shoes. "I should call the doctor—"
"No." He lifted a hand that seemed fragile to her. "It takes a moment, but it will work in a minute. I need to be alone and try to get some sleep. You should do the same."
"Dad—"
"Please." He made his voice sound thready and weak.
She stood there for a minute as if to reassure herself that he was not going to expire, before turning on her heels and leaving.
He waited until she closed the door before grinning in triumph. The smile faded, his eyes glittering as he processed the stunning and completely unwelcome news. She was just like her mother, he thought viciously, heart pounding heavily. His wife had betrayed him with the senior Whitlock, and now his daughter had done the same with the son. Well, we'll see about that, shall we? he thought with a malicious smile. If she was hoping for happily ever after, she had another thing coming.
*****
By the time she got to her room, the tears were already running down her cheeks. She had almost caused his death, and that would have been on her conscience for the rest of her life. She had told him, and it had not gone well. What did she expect? Swiping her hand over her cheeks, she sat on the edge of the bed, despair wrapping around her like a heavy cloak.
What was she going to do? How was she going to tell Leon that she needed more time? And how much was she talking about? Several months? A year? How could she expect him to continue waiting? The feeling of impending doom that had been with her for several weeks now had become a reality. It had not been her imagination at all.
Pushing off the bed, she made her way out of the room and went quietly to check on her dad. Careful to open the door quietly in case he was sleeping, she stepped inside and made her way toward the bed. He was sleeping, head propped up on pillows, one hand over his chest. Tugging on the quilt, she pulled it over him and ascertained that he was still breathing before leaving the room.
She had to tell Leon.
