“She was attending Ezra’s church, and they had been dating. But while I was here she didn’t see much of him.” He squirmed in the chair, his eyes still cast downward. “I had no idea I’d gotten her pregnant. I finished my research and went back to California.”

I’d bet there was more to the story than Godfrey told me. I got the feeling he lied about not knowing about Julia’s pregnancy.

“You left, and she married Ezra Wardlaw.” I watched him, wondering if he would look at me. “And she never got in touch with you to let you know she about Justin?”

Godfrey shifted in his chair again. “No, she didn’t.”

This behavior convinced me he was lying, but I wouldn’t call him on it. What would be the point?

“Why are you telling me all this?” I said.

Examining his hands again, Godfrey said, “You’re the only old friend I have in Athena—besides Julia, of course—and my son is living in your house. I thought you should know, since I’ll be in town for a while, hoping I can get to know my son.”

His only “old friend”? I almost laughed at that. Considering our history in high school and college, Godfrey had to be pretty desperate to call me his friend. After the way he treated me, I shouldn’t even be talking to him.

Even though he was still a jerk, I couldn’t, in good conscience, turn my back on him. As a father, I could sympathize with his situation.

“I’ll do what I can,” I told him.

His face brightened.

“But you need to keep in mind that Justin is in his first semester of college. He’s facing a lot of stress as it is, and you need to be careful about adding more.”

“I understand,” Godfrey said. “I just want to be a part of his life, if he’ll let me.” He leaned back in his chair. “But I’d really like to take him to California with me for a while. We could get to know each other, he could have a little fun—which we both know he hasn’t had with Misery in the picture. Maybe take off for Europe, if he’d like that.”

Protesting would do no good, I realized. Julia would be horrified if she heard this, because I knew she wouldn’t want Justin that far away from her. But they would have to work this out themselves. It was none of my business.

Diesel jumped down from the window and walked over to Godfrey’s chair. He sat up on his hind legs and stretched out one of his front legs, resting his paw on Godfrey’s knee. Godfrey stared down at Diesel in surprise.

“He does that sometimes,” I said. “He seems to sense people’s feelings, and he tries to comfort them.”