I needed to face Pops to show him I am a man, a father, and something he will never be to me. I needed to do this to become a better man for Harper. Be the love of her life that protected her. Kylee had to leave, and I had to tell ‘em all. That was it. If Kylee needed to take Evelyn away from me and stay in Houston, so be it. If she thought that would make everything better, I would make it work. I would show my father he wasn’t in control of his twenty-eight year old son’s life. Done. I pulled into the circle driveway and parked next to Mom’s Mercedes. I loved her, but I didn’t know her. I was raised by Rosetta, the housekeeper. I remember calling Rosetta ’Mom’ for years until I realized, the stranger I shared a house with was actually my mom. How many fuckin’ parent/teacher conferences did they attend? I saw Kylee pull in beside me. “Evelyn here?” I asked, prayin’ she wasn’t so she wouldn’t have to witness this shit.
