we know her? You’re talking about her like you’re interested in her. She your age?”
“She’s a long way from entertaining another relationship, so I’m trying not to even go there in my head. She still wears her wedding rings. I’m not trying to get in the way of that.”
“Be careful, honey,” Sadie warned. “I see the same look in your eye that I did when you met Lisa.”
Whitaker figured Jack was about to chime in with his own warnings about Claire, but Jack surprised the writer with a curveball. “What’s the story about?”
Whitaker was absolutely dumbfounded by his father’s query. Not because of the specific question, but because his father was showing interest. His mother had always asked about his novels, but to hear his father show curiosity was such a soothing feeling. Even if Jack was forcing it, who cared? His question was one of those instances over the course of Whitaker’s life where Jack had shown how great a father he could be.
Whitaker looked at his dad. “It’s about a guy my age going through the typical impediments we midlifers go through. All the stuff that drives you crazy. But this guy looks outside of himself and helps a young boy who needs a lift up in the world. He’s an orphan living in a group home. No father to speak of. His mom pushed him out of a moving car when he was three. It’s not a sob story, very uplifting. So far, at least. But I’ve been doing a ton of research, trying to understand the foster care system. It’s heartbreaking to learn how many kids come from broken homes. We’re all just skating by ignoring them, thinking we have enough to deal with.”
Whitaker pushed himself up straighter with the armrests. “Did you know more than a hundred kids a month are taken from their parents in Pasco and Pinellas Counties? Some months more. We don’t have the support system to give them homes. Parents are afraid to adopt or even foster. Children are living in hospitals right now, because it’s the only place with empty beds.” Whitaker took a breath. “I think this novel will help bring awareness and maybe help a few kids. If I could even help convince one family to take in a child in need, then I’d be happy.” Whitaker shook his head and repeated a notion he’d read online. “Who are we as a community if we can’t take care of our children?”
Jack crossed his arms high on his chest and breathed in deeply. His belly visibly expanded against his button-down shirt and then contracted again.
Whitaker braced himself as a sharp pain ran through his forearm to his wrist. “What is it?”
“That’s all fine, son. Sounds like a fun little project. Or hobby, or whatever it is you call it now. And it’s nothing you couldn’t do while working for me. Something to do on Saturday mornings. Like fishing is for me.”
The pain reached Whitaker’s fingers, and he stretched his hand. Did Jack really want to go to war right now? Could Whitaker bite his tongue? “Look, Pop. I am so appreciative of the job offer. Seriously, I am honored that you’d go out of your way for me. And I know it’s a great job, and a million men would be lucky as hell to be offered such a position. But I’m not them, and I’m not you. I look at you, Dad. The things you’ve accomplished as a soldier, an entrepreneur, a father, a husband, a community leader. It’s all so commendable, and I’m inspired.” Holding eye contact, Whitaker gently set his throbbing fist down on the table. “But I’m not you. I have to give back my own way.”
Whitaker pointed at himself. “I’m an entertainer. I change people’s lives with words. Or at the very least, show them a different perspective, or, hell, put a brief smile on their face. Writing is the thing I can give most to the world, and that’s why I have to do it. Doing anything other than writing is just pretending, or faking it. I don’t want to die a pretender.”
The two men continued staring at each other, and Whitaker had no idea what his father was thinking. But Whitaker knew he was doing what was right, and even if he couldn’t get through to his father, he had to stand his ground.
“How is the story going to end?” Sadie asked, attempting to deflate the tension.