Baewatch - Xavier Neal Page 0,88
across from him. “I’m willing to listen.”
“That’s great; however, I’m not willing to share.”
“But-”
“I have no interest in continuing any sort of relationship with you, business or personal.”
His mouth cracks, yet I cut him off once more.
“While I would’ve loved to have the clout of your firm’s name to further my cause, it is not worth the price I had, apparently, forgotten that comes with it.” I allow a small genuine grin to cross my lips. “That’s the thing about Brooklyn you won’t ever get to understand. She naturally has this way about her that makes you wanna see the best in people. That makes you wanna see the best in yourself. And, believe it or not, Father, that doesn’t come with a price tag.”
“Scott-”
“I am not finished!”
The glare that’s twitched pushes him back in his seat.
“And, unlike the woman who you treated like a hostile witness in the court case of the century, I am not going to, respectfully, wait my turn to talk! It is your turn to listen!”
For the first time I can recall, nervousness creeps into his stare.
“You are no fucking better than Grandfather was.”
My statement tightens his jaw in what I know is anger.
“You think just because you don’t beat your wife like he did that makes you a better man. A better person. It doesn’t. You are the same selfish, self-entitled, self-absorbed, pompous prick that he was with the only true difference being you damn near ruined two sons instead of just one.” I take a step closer that causes him to unconsciously pull back. “Your way of thinking…your way of acting…is the definition of toxic, and I do not want it around my children.” The head shake he’s presented is slow. Strong. “It will not be around my children. You,” a finger point accompanies the next portion of my statement, “will not be around my children. They will not know you. They will not know of you.”
“Son-”
“My formal resignation is in that folder along with the information for my attorneys should you need to have further communication with me regarding the dissolvement of my position here or should you choose to challenge me for the rights to my home or business, both of which, make no mistake, rightfully belong to me.”
“I-”
“Enjoy what remains of your holiday weekend!” It’s my turn to sound cheerful as I turn on my heels. “And, what remains of your life, Mr. Maxwell…”
His objection to my statements and self-dismissal are expressed loudly and furiously. My name – birth and the one I prefer – fly off his tongue as he makes every attempt to verbally stop me yet not a single physical one.
There’s no surprise there.
He’s always been a man of words rather than one of actions.
One more way we significantly differ.
And, just like all the others…
I’m more than alright with it.
Epilogue
About 4 ½ years later…
My eyes drag themselves away from the sandcastle our daughter, June, is building to where Ax is kneeling in the sand beside me, singing “Surfing USA”. For just a moment, I lovingly leer at him crooning and how he’s somehow managed to get even sexier in these past few years. He’s still tan and sporting a body like he’s one of Poseidon’s personal bodyguards. His beautiful blonde locks are as bright as ever and seeing our daughter have the highlights in her head of curly hair never fails to make me smile, either. The only real difference to his appearance from when we first met is he now has a few more smile lines than he did then. He wears them with pride, claiming he loves having proof that we’ve spent years together laughing with each other and our families.
“Ax,” I sweetly start as my smile widens, “are you singing to the baby or your board?”
A light chuckle escapes him. “I can do both.”
“Yeah, but are you?”
Another light laugh is expelled followed, promptly, by a kiss to my extremely round belly and him standing to plant a warm kiss on my lips. I lightly hum at the connection that’s ended all too soon thanks to a shrieking daughter.
“Houndrix, no!” June huffs. “That’s my stick!”
Our attention falls to the comedic pair that doesn’t always see eye to eye.
Pretty sure she loves the dog more than she loves us sometimes, and I’m fairly certain he feels the same way. He gave up sleeping with us or in our room as soon as she was born to sleep next to her crib, next to her bed, and