He rubs his hands over his eyes and the sheen of tears there makes a lump form in my own throat.
"You didn't know, Dad. He was your friend. Of course you trusted him."
"I was a fool. Trusting the wrong person cost me everything."
He lets out a long breath. The sadness on his face finally gets to me so I pull him into a hug. I hate seeing my father like this, broken and ashamed. The same boiling rage I always feel when hearing this story washes over me. I can't understand how people can be so cruel. So twisted. Manipulating people who are trusting is the lowest form of crime, in my opinion. It requires that you have no conscience at all. I'd rather someone stole my things than my dreams and my faith in other people.
"Well, I know that Uncle Tommy ended up owning the club anyway. Was he mad at you for dropping out?"
"At first. He called me all kinds of stupid for losing my money to a scam but it was too late. Since I was out, he had to come up with more cash to cover my share. I'm not sure how he did it but somehow he got the money. Things were great for a while but when the club hit hard times, they had to sell it. In the end he moved on and ended up in the glass business. He's happy and has a great life but I know he wonders about what might have been just like I do. Maybe if I'd been invested with him, we could have ridden out the hard times. I don't know." He blows on his hands and rubs them briskly.
"I'm sure he doesn't blame you, Dad."
"Maybe. Maybe not. But it's something I'll always wonder about. All your mother thinks about with you girls is getting you to settle down but I don't ever want you to settle. When you get married and have a family, there are sacrifices you'll have to make. I love you girls and I love your mother. You know I do. But it is a sacrifice. Do you understand what I'm telling you, baby girl?"
He squeezes my hand and his eyes are fixed on mine. I understand then what he's trying to say. The thing he doesn't want to admit out loud. That there's a part of him that will always wonder about what could have been. That he doesn't want that to happen to me.
"I understand, Daddy. I won't settle. Never again."
His face breaks into a grin. "Ever since you were a little girl, I always knew that you were going to do things your own way. You've always been independent like that. The others take more after your mother. I love them but they don't have that same wild spirit inside like we do. They can't understand. So don't let them get you down. And definitely don't let them stop you."
"I won't. I'll just have to find other investors. Although I have to admit that I'm not quite sure how to do that."
My mind immediately goes back to Gabe and his offer to help me with the forms the day we'd met. He looks like the kind of guy who knows all about business plans and profit and loss statements. He could probably write a business plan in his sleep. Maybe I shouldn't have blown him off so easily.
I wince remembering how I'd picked him apart the first time we met. He’d been obvious but I shouldn't have ripped into him that way. I'd just been so frustrated and cranky after standing in that long line only to find out that I'd done something wrong. Again.
But it wasn't his fault he was the embodiment of the type of man that had hurt me in the past. Maybe his offer to look over my forms had been sincere. Since I'm going to be in business, I need to learn how to manage people. How to gauge who's actually sincere and who wants something from me.
Of course, it's a moot point now because all that happened before he knew who I was. Now that he knows I'm connected to Finn and Tank, he won't come anywhere near me.
"My business plan is pretty rough. If I'm going to approach other people, I need to step up my game."
He leans over. "Well you've got one investor right here."
My heart sinks. Apparently my mom didn't tell him everything that she was going to do. "Mom already said that you guys are pulling your investment completely. I guess she didn't tell you?"
He stands and retrieves his coat. "I didn't say your mother would be investing with me. I have some money tucked away for a rainy day. Your mother doesn't know all my secrets yet. And I already talked to your Uncle Tommy and he wants to invest too."
He kisses me on the forehead. "I'll see myself out."
As I watch him leave, my emotions are in a tailspin. I've gone from excited to devastated to hopeful all in the span of an hour. But overwhelmingly, I feel hopeful.
I latch on to the feeling with all I have.
* * * * *
After the impromptu visit from my father, I sit on the couch and think back over everything he told me. This new information puts a lot of the stories he's told over the years into perspective. By the time I finally leave the house, I realize so much time has passed that my craving for pancakes will have to wait. I'll have to console myself with a cheeseburger instead.
My landlady, Mrs. Hanes, is on her side of the building watering her plants. Her gray hair is wound up into a high bun and she's only wearing a light sweater despite the cool weather. I'm not sure how she can stand it because as soon as the weather changes I feel like I need to wrap myself up in several layers.
"I met your father earlier. He fixed the railing." She nods toward the slats in the railing.
Sure enough, all the slats are in place and nailed in to the banister. One of them came loose last week and was sticking out at an odd angle. I'd tried to push it back into place but I wasn't strong enough and I was scared of cutting myself on one of the nails poking out of the wood.