Dante's Paradise by Mesce Jr Bill

Author:Mesce Jr, Bill
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Willow River Press
Published: 2024-01-16T00:00:00+00:00

Dante looked for Harlan Jr. in the Shanahans’ waiting room, but their receptionist told him he was outside. Dante found him pacing the corridor past the shuttered offices on the floor.

“It’s over?” Harlan Jr. asked.

“Soon.”

Harlan Jr. pulled a pack of gum from his jacket, shook a stick loose for himself. He held the pack out to Dante. “Gum?”

“I don’t chew gum, thank you.”

“I gotta sneak in some chew time. Dorothea doesn’t like me to chew gum in front of people. She says it makes me look like a dumb cow. I mean, don’t get me wrong, she tries to look out for me like that. You know, making the right impression for business purposes and stuff.”

Dante nodded.

“I know she can come off a little, you know…”

Dante nodded.

“It’s ‘cause she really wants us to, you know, she’s just trying to, well, it’s kinda hard to explain.”

Dante nodded.

Harlan Jr. stopped in front of one of the empty office suites, a view through the glass doors of barren desks shadowy in the light coming through the pulled blinds of the windows overlooking Broadway. “Can I ask you something, Doc?”

“Sure.”

“I mean it won’t violate anything legal, would it?”

“Depends on what you ask.”

“How’s my dad?”

“That’s why we’re here, Mr. Bick, isn’t it?”

“I mean…” A hand reached out to the office door, fingers drummed restlessly on the glass. “How’s he doing out at that place?”

“He’s all right. A little lonely. He misses his grandson.”

Harlan Jr. nodded. “Well… yeah.”

“Mr. Bick, do you love your father?”

He turned to Dante with a sad smile. “Yeah. Believe it or not, even with all this crap, yeah.”

“I believe you.”

“It kills me to have to do this –”

“I believe he still loves you, too, Mr. Bick.” Dante stepped close. “I’m overstepping my bounds here, but I’m asking you not to continue on with this. It’ll open a wound that will never heal. Your father is alive, he’s capable. You should be enjoying these years with him. And he should be enjoying them with you… and your son.”

They could hear voices coming out of the Shanahan & Shanahan conference room. Harlan Jr. sighed. “It’s gone too far, Doc.” He held out his hand to Dante. “But thanks.” He saw his wife looking for him, waved to catch her attention.

“One last thing, Mr. Bick. How did you find out your father changed his will?”

Harlan Jr. seemed surprised. “Didn’t she tell you?”

“Who?”

“Emeline. She told me.”

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