Randomly dedicated to the following: Tanishalovesyou, danni_darko, IBtissam_HW, AmieraAmos, babySakura16, nessayeet, Boy-bye, EniolaBalkis, ViolaBabirye, Gallex09, beautaefulness, AndrewCyr, Sashstrangee

Jeremy's P.O.V

I followed my father and his wife down the hallway and into the dinning room. The smell of baked chicken warped through the air and I suddenly felt hungry.

"You boys have a seat. I'll fix you both a plate so you can talk and eat. Jeremy it's so nice to finally meet you. Hal has told me so much about you. You're quite a fetching young man. Look just like your dad," Luce finished with a smile.

I blushed and thanked her before she went off towards the kitchen.

I took a seat at one end of the table while my father took the other end.

"Got a job?" he asked.

"Yeah. I'm an attorney"

"Ahh. You always did like to watch Law and Order and those other crime shows. I always thought you'd be a cop. Attorney definitely surpassed my expectations,"

"Guess you must think pretty lowly of me then,"

"Hey, that's not what I meant. There's nothing lowly about being a police officer. I think nothing but the best of you son,"

Just then Luce returned with two steaming plates of food. She set one before me and the other before my father. Everything looked good and I was just about to eat when she asked me to bless the meal. I watched as they both bowed their heads and closed their eyes in reverence. I followed suit.

"Uh, Dear God... kindly bless this food and...the hands that prepared it. May it... nourish our bodies. Thank you. Amen," I mumbled with a blush.

Luce nodded at me with a smile.

"Well I'm off to bible study. Hopefully by the time I get back, you'll still be here Jeremy. I'd loved to get to know you. Have fun guys," she said and then turned to kiss my father on the lips.

"Love you babe," he whispered and she giggled.

After that she left. I heard a car pull out of the driveway and I listened until I couldn't hear it anymore.

"A little birdie told me that you got married sometime ago. Congratulations on that. Wedding a woman is a very big step in a man's life. I should know. I married twice," he laughed like he'd just told the funniest joke.

"Well I don't plan on following in your footsteps. Once is good enough for me," I answered coolly.

"How come I wasn't invited? Do you know how awkward it is when your own barber gets to talk about a ceremony that you, the father of the groom, wasn't apart of?"

I stayed quiet, opting instead to take a bite out of my chicken, allowing it's flavor to wash over my tongue.

Dad stuffed a baby carrot into his mouth and chewed it slowly.

"I suppose inviting your own father to such a major event wasn't important to you. I guess you didn't want me there anyways," he continued while still chewing.

"You can't blame me. I did what I thought was best for me at the time,"

Dad's eyes studied me as he swallowed with an audible gulp. He didn't say anything for a little while and I took the time to gather my thoughts.

What am I going to say to this man? He's acting like nothing even happened between us.

Taking another mouthful of baby carrots my father preceded to break the silence.

"When will I get to meet your lovely bride? You should have brought her along. I'm sure she'd love to finally meet her father-in-law,"

I didn't respond.

"Is she a beauty? Am sure she is. You always had a way with the ladies just like your old man," my father chuckled at his joke.

I scrunched up my face at that in response. I've been avoiding the thought of Grace for a while. I've started to accept that I couldn't win her back. This was my punishment. Plus I never planned for Grace to meet my father. Them meeting wasn't going to happen.

Dad caught the look on my face and his smile slid from his lips. He studied me again. I lowered my eyes and straightened my expression.

"Ahh, I see. Trouble in paradise huh?"

"I'm not here to talk about my personal life," I stated in an effort to get back on task. He doesn't need to know my business.

Dad's eyes took on a sudden shine.

"Okay Jeremy. What ARE you here to talk about?

"I'm here to talk about my childhood and how you messed it up for me. You sit there acting like nothing happened, trying to make small talk, learn about my life after all these years. I'm not having it,"

I watched my father carefully as he placed his fork down on his plate, awaiting his response.

"Why would you want to talk about those things? Why are you still living in the past Jeremy? You're a grown man now. Man up. So what you had a rough time as a kid, who hasn't? For the record, I think you came out okay. You're an attorney, you're married. Got any kids?"

"Yes. A baby boy,"

"Really? That's great! See you turned out just fine,"

"Except I didn't. Don't try to down play what you did to our family. I might be an adult, but your actions really messed me up Dad,"

"What the hell are you talking about? You drive a Mercedes. I'm sure you own your own home. You've got your degree. That's way more than I could have done for myself. Look, I forgive you for leaving me and not reaching out. I forgive you for not inviting me to your wedding. Let's just put those things behind us and try to -"

"WHAT!? ARE YOU SERIOUSLY HEARING YOURSELF RIGHT NOW? You think that because I've managed to gather a little success for myself, everything is peachy? Dad! No. I'm not okay. I have never been okay,"

"Don't raise your voice at me boy. You can't be that bad Jeremy. You're overreacting. You've always been a tad bit dramatic. Remember your third grade school play? You nailed your part as the Wizard of Oz," dad smiled dreamily at that memory.

"Yeah. I remember. I also remember you beating on mom when we got home because you didn't like the way she was talking with Mr. Cooper,"

Dad's smile faded and he released a sigh.

"I said I was sorry. She forgave me," he said softly

"She forgave you lots of times. That didn't stop you. It didn't stop me either,"

Dad gave me a confused look, but then brushed it off.

"Jeremy, if you want me to admit that I wasn't the best husband fine. I was a complete douchebag, but I loved your mother. I love you. I've sacrificed so much for you. Look at you now! I'm so proud that you were able to rise despite your circumstances,"

"But I haven't. Not really..."

"Oh stop trying to be so humble. You made something of yourself boy. Accept that. I'm sure you're the envy of your friends. I'm gonna have to start showing you off to my own friends," dad laughed again as he picked up his fork to resume eating.

"I'm just like you," I mumbled as he chewed.

"What? Cat got your tongue all of a sudden? Speak up. Don't tell me you're going soft on - "

"I beat my wife."

The words flew out of my mouth before I had time to react.

Dad put down his fork again, a grim expression on his face. He didn't say anything for a long time. I continued talking.

"I've been hitting her way before we got married. At first, I couldn't believe myself. I felt so awful. I felt even worse when I heard her cry the first time. Somehow though, it happened again. And again. And again. And again. Each time was meet with an apology and an elaborate display of affection. Within the confines of marriage, things took an even darker turn. I started having an affair soon after my son was born. Everyday I came home to my wife in a different emotional state. She got it the worse when I lost a case and was sulky about it. She would try desperately to ease my frustrations, but for me it wasn't enough. It was never enough. Now she's planning to divorce me just like mom divorced you. Now, tell me that I'm fine. Tell me that your behavior had no effect on me. Tell me that I'm not an abuser like you Dad," I finished.

I pushed my plate away from me. It was still pilled high with food, but I couldn't manage an appetite anymore. There was something cold and heavy brewing in the pit of my stomach. It was a mixture of shame, guilt and self pity.

"Of all the things you've seen me do, why'd you pick up the worst habit?" Dad asked.

"You make it sound like I had a choice?"

"OF COURSE YOU DID!" he shouted before slamming his fist on the table. Our plates and forks jumped in response.

"You saw how I messed things up with your mother Jeremy. You saw how bad things got. We were doomed, but you had a chance to move away from that,"

"Don't try throwing all the blame on me. I did what I saw growing up. I learned from you. You ruled our house like a tyrant. You had dominance. Mom submitted to you -"

"And where did that get us?DIVORCED!!" Dad interrupted, "your mom ran out on me the same way your wife will. The blames on you for that boy,"

My phone vibrated in my pocket then, but I didn't bother to look at it. I was too preoccupied at the moment.

"Why can't you just own up? Why can't you just say that your actions had an impact on me, huh?" I asked through gritted teeth.

"Because I didn't make you hit your wife son. You did that all on your own," Dad leaned back in his chair with a satisfied look on his face.

"You're a monster. Just like I remember,"

"I'm a monster because I used to beat your mother? Go figure. You're a monster as well,"

"No I'm not. At least I had the courage to admit my shortcomings and seek professional help. You did nothing, but drive mom away,"

"Let me ask you a question. Since I also hit you, does that mean you're going to hit your son? I mean, you're the one who said you took those traits from me. I guess your boy is going to get it when he's older,"

"SHUT UP!! You know nothing about my son and what he means to me. I will not do to him what you did to me,"

My father studied me with his dark eyes. His jaw was clenched. Hard.

"What if he's disobedient? Won't you discipline him?"

"Discipline isn't the same as excessive hitting. You didn't discipline me. You hit me to the point of bruises," I replied coolly.

"What if he's being rude and disrespectful? Won't you slap him across the head to show him whose in charge?"

An image ran across my mind as soon as he said that. I remember a time when my father slapped me across the head numerous times because I didn't do too well on a math test. In that moment, I could feel the vibration of my skull and pain that accompanied it. The sting that travelled from the point of contact, to the front of my head and then to the base of my neck. I remember thinking that my neck was broken because I couldn't turn my head for a few hours without it aching. I was nine at the time. Nine and terrified of my father.

"No. I don't want him experiencing that kinda pain. I don't want him fearful of me the way I was afraid of you,"

Dad didn't seem fazed by my answer.

"What if he pisses you off? Won't you hit him then?"

"I will not hit my son out of anger. I may have messed things up with my wife, but my own flesh and blood will not know what I've had to endure under you,"

Laughter spilled out of my father's mouth. My confidence wavered a bit.

Why was he laughing? This isn't funny. Why won't he believe that I'll keep my word?

"Okay Jeremy. I believe you. I hope you can keep your hands to yourself this time, but if you're anything like me, I wouldn't bet on it. I hope your son doesn't grow up to be just like you. Hope he doesn't hit on his wife and then blame his father. That would be Déjà vu for you, huh?" Dad grinned at me and I felt a heat rise within.

I stood up at that moment and closed the distance between us in a few short strides. My father also stood, but he was no longer the giant of my childhood. I stood a couple of inches taller than him.

"You will never get the satisfaction of seeing those things come to pass. I am not you. I made a couple of mistakes. I regret them everyday, but at least I'm making an effort. It wasn't even my idea to come see you. It was my therapist who thought that maybe seeing you would help me grow. She's was right. I have nothing to be afraid of anymore. You're just a sour old man with evil thoughts. You'll never be apart of my family,"

"You can't run from your past Jeremy. It will always be apart of you. I will always be your father. My blood runs in your veins. You can't change that,"

"I'm not trying to. I'm not running from anything anymore. You won't admit that your behavior had detrimental effects on me? Fine. You won't even apologize for the things you did and said? Okay then. I'm not going to carry you around in my heart anymore. I'm weary and frustrated and you don't deserve the effort. I forgive you Dad. Not because you're a great guy, but because I'm moving past this obstacle in my life. I'm choosing to let you go,"

"Hello?" Luce's voice called from behind me, "is everything okay with you boys?"

"Yes honey. Everything is splendid," dad answered without taking his eyes off of me.

"I was just about to leave," I said with one last stare at my father, I backed up and turned towards his wife.

"The food was delicious Mrs. Novak. I'm sorry that I didn't have enough appetite to finish it all. I had a large burger and fries on the way over here. Thank you for the hospitality. I hope bible study was great," I concluded with a smile.

Mrs. Novak nodded and smiled back.

"It's okay Jeremy. I'm sorry we didn't get to talk, but I'm sure you and your father had a good time catching up. Please visit us again soon, okay? Maybe you'd like to attend church with us one Sunday? Oh Hal would love that!" she exclaimed before turning to her husband. My father nodded for her sake.

"I'll consider it. Thank you for the invite. I'll see you both some other time. Goodbye,"

"Let me walk you to door son," Dad said before placing a kiss on his wife's forehead.

We travelled down the corridor in silence. I didn't really have anything more to say to him and I suspect that be didn't have anything either.

He opened the front door and I made my way out. I was halfway down the walkway when he called out,

"Don't be a stranger now. You're my son and I'm your father regardless of our past. Let's try to maintain that relationship, okay?"

I turned around to look at him. He still looked confident with a faint smile on his lips. This was my father. As bad as the past might have been, I was still his son, whether I liked it or not.

"Okay," I replied before getting into my car. I started the engine and drove away.

Only heaven knew if I truly meant my response.

This was a long chapter! I didn't even realize until I stopped writing. It feels so good to create something new. Guys, this chapter in particular had me feeling some intense emotions. I feel so much for these characters. I know a lot of people despise Jeremy, but writing the conversation between him and his father was tough. I guess that's why this chapter took two weeks to complete. I wanted it to be real and give y'all some genuine feels.

Question time:

1. What's your views on Jeremy's dad?

2. Do you think that he feels any remorse for his actions?

3. Do you think Jeremy will ever visit him again?

4. Who do you think was calling Jeremy's phone?

Thank you again for reading, voting and commenting. Oh and to all the people adding this book to their reading list, thank you for showing interest in this story. This is way more than I could ask for as a writer.
If you have any questions, don't be afraid to leave them in a comment or message me directly.
Love you all so much!