I want you to know you can always come to me or Elise. We’re here for you, and we love you.”
“I know that, Dad.”
“Good.” He finished his sandwich, deciding as he did to learn everything he’d come here to learn. “Tell me the truth: You took this job, because you wanted to.”
Hunter wiped his mouth with his napkin. “Yes,” he said. “It’s actually been fun learning from Laura. I can do this, Dad.”
“Of course you can, Hunt. It’s not a question of whether you can or not. It’s whether you should or not.”
“You sound just like Molly.”
“So you’re still seeing her?”
Hunter shrugged. “We text and go to dinner every Friday. Does that count?”
“I don’t know,” Gray said. “Does it?”
Hunter rolled his eyes, his attitude salty today. Gray had put up with this when Hunt was a teenager, but he’d grown out of it quickly, and since then, they’d always enjoyed a great, mutually respectful relationship.
“She’s working a lot,” Hunter said. “I’m working a lot. We don’t have the luxury of not having jobs, Dad.”
“You don’t need a job,” Gray pointed out. “You’re choosing to work here.”
Hunter opened his mouth as if he’d argue, but he promptly closed it again.
Gray sighed, hating that after all these years, he still had no idea how to parent his son. “Listen, I know you don’t want to hear it, but as your father, I need to say it.”
“Go ahead,” Hunter said, folding his arms.
“I’m worried about you. I love you so much, and I know you so well. I fear this is not the right place for you.”
“Where would you place me?”
“The same place Uncle Wes would, and Uncle Ames. I spoke to both of them last night, and they were both quite surprised to hear you’d accepted the CEO job. I was surprised you hadn’t told Wes, at the very least.”
Hunter dropped his chin to his chest, clearly embarrassed. “I didn’t know how.”
“Because you knew what he’d say.”
“Maybe.”
Gray gave himself a few seconds to think and order his words properly. “Hunter, you have been blessed with a brilliant mind. I know you don’t want to come straight to the farm, and I respect that. I know you’ll end up there soon enough, and it’ll be yours the moment you say you want it.”
“I appreciate that, Dad.”
“I know you love your science and your computers, and I fully support you working in Lab Six for as long as you feel like it’s the right fit for you. I know it’s important to you to help others, and the work in the lab feeds that.” Gray took a breath, almost done. “I’ve been wondering how you’re going to balance your job here with the equine therapy at the farm with your relationship with Molly. And that was just when you were working in the lab. It feels like a lot to me, and eventually something falls apart.”
“Matt and Gloria are doing the majority of the equine therapy program,” he said. “Molly too.”
Gray nodded. “And you think seeing her once a week is where you want your relationship to be with her?”
“I don’t know.”
“Do you think that’s where she wants it?”
“I don’t know what she thinks.”
He didn’t know, because he hadn’t asked her. Gray wished he could shake his son and get him to wake up. “Hunter, you’ve loved that woman since you were fifteen years old. Stop and think about what you’re doing. How many chances do you think you get?”
Anger entered his son’s eyes, but Gray knew how to deal with an angry Hunter. It was the “I don’t know” Hunter he hated. Or the one who said nothing.
“Dad, I really don’t have time for a lecture.”
“Okay.” Gray stood up and gathered up his garbage. He took it to the trash can while Hunter rewrapped the sandwich halves he hadn’t eaten. Amidst the movement and cleaning up, neither of them spoke.
Gray reached for the door handle and stepped out into the hall. He wasn’t sure what he’d hoped would happen here today, but he felt like he’d failed.
“I’ll ride down with you,” Hunter said, and the two of them walked down the hall together.
“So good to see you, Myra,” Gray said, employing his professional lawyer voice.
“Have a great afternoon, Gray.”
He and Hunter got on the elevator, and the tension between them increased inside the enclosed area.
“What does Elise think?” Hunter asked.
“Your mother wants nothing but for you to be happy,” Gray said.
“She doesn’t think being CEO will do that.” Hunter sighed. “No one does.