Max
THREE DAYS HAD passed since my last interaction with Alina’s father. We hadn’t spoken since I’d confirmed Geoffrey had shown up at the park. But it appeared as if I’d be seeing him again, that day in fact.
“Are you sure you want to go with me?” Alina asked, pacing the foyer while I put on my shoes. “I know you and my father aren’t fond of each other.”
“He’s growing on me, as I believe I am on him. But I will tell him what I think when it comes to you and your happiness. So be prepared.” Finally dressed to leave, I snatched my keys and reached for her hand. I’d brought my car to her place the evening before, knowing today we were going to the hospital to pick up her father. They’d kept him an extra day because they didn’t like some of his readings, but according to their last report, he was clear to be discharged.
“Someday I hope you two will be civil,” she wished, giving me a quick kiss before reaching for her purse. “Are you ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.” Alina had tried to convince her father again to stay with her for a week so she could make sure he was all right, but he refused, reminding her he would hire a visiting nurse to tend to him if so needed. I understood why she made the offer, but a part of me was elated he’d refused. I knew most of her time after work would’ve been consumed with him, she wouldn’t want to leave him alone while he was staying with her.
When we arrived at the hospital, one of Winthrop’s physicians was going over the discharge papers, reminding him to take some time off from work and relax, to which he grumbled and snatched the papers from the doctor’s hand.
“Dad, you have to listen to him.”
“I’ll do whatever I feel is best,” he countered, slumping back on his bed and crossing his arms like a petulant child, which was quite an odd scene to witness. Although, in his defense, he was surrounded by people telling him what to do, and even if they had good intentions, as a man in his position, it was bothersome and somewhat emasculating.
“So stubborn,” both the doctor and Alina said simultaneously. I laughed, but my expression flattened when her father addressed me directly.
“Max. I want a word with you,” he sternly said before turning to his daughter. “Alina, will you give us a minute alone?” The fact he asked and didn’t tell her spoke volumes, and I knew she picked up on the subtleness of his request.
“Sure.” She looked from him to me, mouthing, “sorry,” before she left the room. As soon as we were alone, I walked toward the windows and looked out onto the road.
Randall cleared his throat, pulling my attention away from the many people below. He gestured toward the chair close to his bed, and after I sat down, I crossed my ankle over my opposing knee and settled in for some kind of speech. I had no idea if he was going to try to get me to stop seeing Alina, or accept I was in her life.
“I wanted to thank you for helping to handle the situation with Geoffrey. With me being in here, I had no idea what I was going to do, so it worked out perfectly.” I remained quiet because I sensed he wasn’t done talking yet. “I had someone I trust go to his apartment and retrieve anything pertaining to Alina. It turns out he had pictures as well as a few more copies of the video. My guy did a thorough sweep of the place and cleaned it out.
“What about the copy he said he hid somewhere else, the one he’d tell where it was once he got his money?”
“I presume no one will hear from Geoffrey ever again, so hopefully he hid it somewhere good. And even if someone did find it, they’d be hard pressed to identify Alina. We know who was on the tape, but a stranger probably wouldn’t know who she was on sight.”
“I suppose you’re right, although the thought of anyone seeing her in that way, whether they knew who it was or not, doesn’t sit well with me.”
“It bothers me too, but we’re only going on what-ifs, and quite frankly, there’s not anything we can do at this point.” Geoffrey Paulson’s demise brought a lightness to both her father and me, knowing he would never again harm the woman we loved.
An awkward silence followed before he spoke once more, his expression softening when he looked at me.
“When your own mortality is staring you right in the face, you tend to take stock of your life. I’ve always been strict with Alina, but after her mother died, I was so wrapped up in my grief I ended up pushing her away and keeping her at a distance. I didn’t know how to deal with not being able to help my wife that I ended up making sure I controlled everything when it came to my daughter, obviously right down to who I thought she should marry.” He took a breath. “I may not show it often, but my daughter means everything to me.”
“Then why don’t you tell her that?”
“Because I’m not an emotional man. At least, I wasn’t until my fourth heart attack.” The corners of his eyes crinkled before his body convulsed with a coughing fit. I poured him a drink of water and handed it to him, the thankfulness in his expression enough to temper me a little toward his otherwise hard exterior. Randall Winthrop was a complicated man, but hopefully, I’d have the time to try and peel away at least a few of his layers.
“I can see you care for Alina.”
“I don’t just care for her. I love her,” I corrected.
“Good. That’s good,” he repeated. “I must admit I couldn’t stand the way she looked at you. You were not part of the plan, and I knew I’d have a fight on my hands when it came to keeping her and Chris together, but I can see now you are the better choice for her.”
For him to say those words threw me for a loop. Completely unexpected but definitely great to hear. There was an issue I wanted to clear up, however. I needed for him not to have any doubts about my character and what kind of man I truly was. “You do know I never hit my ex-wife, right?”
“I know. I knew the whole time she’d made a false accusation, but that didn’t matter. I was out to use whatever ammunition I had in order to get Alina to fall back in line. An action I regret, of course.”
I nodded, not quite sure what to say in response.
“Anyway, I wanted you to know you have my blessing to proceed with my daughter.”
I didn’t need his blessing or approval. Nothing would keep me from the woman I loved, but knowing he was accepting and had offered his sanction made things a lot easier.
“I’ll take good care of her,” I promised, rising from the chair and extending my hand.
He took it, his grip strong. One more show of dominance, to which I had to laugh. “I have no doubt.”