Aiden shook his head. “I don’t think I am. He blew through like a hurricane and now I’m picking up the pieces. It’s not too different from when I was a kid actually.” When Liam had come back from his long hauls, Clare and the boys had rearranged the household to make room for him. Each adjustment grew more and more difficult to manage, which was probably why Clare had finally put her foot down.

“Will you see him again?”

“That’s the question, isn’t it? After all this time, I don’t trust him to be a stable presence in my life. He’ll probably leave again and then where will I be?”

“Good point,” Robert said. “But I wonder, would words be more effective than a fist?”

“The fist felt mighty effective at the time,” Aiden said in a short tone.

“Mmh. But the pen is mightier than the sword,” his mentor reminded him. “I’m not telling you what to do, my boy. But a little closure might be the ticket, eh?”

“I’ll think about it,” Aiden said, rubbing his temple.

“Good.”

“Good?” Aiden repeated.

“Opportunities like this aren’t afforded to everyone, Aiden. When we get them we have to take them seriously. What will you do with yours?”

The question caught Aiden off guard. He hadn’t thought of this as an opportunity in the least. An appearance from Liam was only another wrench in his summer plans. He had actual work to do without the addition of emotional labor. “I haven’t a clue.”

Robert gave a throaty chuckle. “When I told you to go to the water, I didn’t think you’d find your father. After his odyssey, your father is faced with his past and has to atone for his actions. You have to admit there’s a certain beauty in that.”

“I have yet to find the beauty.”

“When you let go, you will, my boy. You will.” Robert paused before delivering a stern warning. “Whether you talk to him or not, you will have to let him go. The man who he was; the boy you were. You must leave them behind.”

Aiden sniffed. “Yeah.”

“This too shall pass, Aiden. And when it does, you’ll be a better man for it. Your father isn’t the only facet of your full life, nor is your career. I hope I didn’t give you the impression that being a professor was all there was in life. Family, love, and passion makes the man. Cling to those things and cut loose the things that can’t bring you joy.”

Cut the rope.

Aiden’s voice was a lump caught in his throat. “Thank you, Robert.”

“Of course,” his mentor said. “We’ve got reservations to make, but let’s talk this evening.”

“Sure, I’d like that.”

When he hung up, Aiden stood from his bed and paced the room. The next thing on his mind was Antonia. He wanted to see her, but he was thoroughly embarrassed by how their day unfolded. He wanted to call or text her, but in the convenience of being neighbors, they’d forgotten to exchange phone numbers. Antonia was only on the other side of his wall, possibly sitting on her bed worried about him. Aiden should go over there. He started toward the door and stopped himself.