29-03-2025, 02:26 PM
We walked around the mall for a bit longer and returned home.
*****
It was the week of the wedding and I was getting all sorts of stressed out. I knew that Shannon, her mother Suzanne and her friends pretty much had everything planned and under control. They kept telling me over and over again that all I had to do, as the groom, was just to show up.
I had spent part of the day at the office, much to Mitch Monahan's dismay, but Brian Kelley and Billy Shoemaker were both still on their mandatory leave. As I pulled in the driveway, I immediately knew something was amiss as I saw a strange car parked in the driveway. I got a sinking feeling in my stomach as I saw the Iowa license plates on a brand new blood red Cadillac CTS.
I walked in the front door and was immediately greeted by Shannon, who looked flustered and nearly out of breath. She gave me a quick kiss and a hug.
"Patrick," she said, hesitantly, "there's someone here to see you."
"Let me guess. My father?"
"Yes, he's waiting for you in the family room."
"Oh, joy," I said, squeezing her hand.
"Do you want me to leave you two alone?"
"You're welcome to come and go as you like but I can't promise that things won't get a little heated. My father is an arrogant ass and he doesn't like it when I call him out on it."
"I've already visited with him for the last hour while he's waited. He's also a shameless flirt," she said, rolling her eyes. I immediately sensed my stomach tying itself in a knot.
"I'll try and get this over with. I'm sure he's probably just pissed that I didn't invite him to the wedding."
"Good luck," Shannon said, giving me a wink.
I walked into the family room and saw my father sitting in my favorite recliner, which kind of pissed me off. He had always made a big production about how his chair was HIS chair and it would be considered extremely rude for anyone to walk into his home and make themselves comfortable there. Conversely, he also said it was one of the biggest honors he could give to a guest by inviting them to sit in his chair, also. It sounded dumb to me at the time but now I suddenly realized that he was disrespecting me in a way that would be imperceptible to others but was an outright slap in the face to me.
And he knew it. Allow me to introduce you to my father, Sean Patrick Quinn, Sr.
"Ah, Sean Junior! You're finally home!" he exclaimed with false enthusiasm. I could feel the hair rise on my neck as though someone had run their fingernails across a chalk board. My father knows how much I detest being called Sean, let alone Junior.
"Patrick, Dad. Everybody I know calls me Patrick," I corrected as I sat down.
"Oh, come now, son. Old habits die hard. How about a drink for your old man?"
"Sure thing. How about some Templeton Rye on the rocks?"
"Surely you can do better than that, can't you?"
"I've got half a bottle of Johnny Walker Blue but I only save that for special occasions," I replied, getting in a dig of my own.
"What, having a drink with your old man isn't a special occasion?"
"What are you doing here?" I asked as I handed him a tumbler. He took a long pull of the Templeton and grimaced.
"Would you believe that this stuff isn't even made in Iowa anymore? Pathetic, if you ask me. The last time I had this it didn't even taste the same. But this stuff actually tastes okay," he said sounding surprised.
"Yeah, it's made in Indiana now and then bottled in Iowa and the recipe isn't the same as the one used during Prohibition. This is one of three bottles from 1999 that I have left, which is why it tastes original. But, once again, what are you doing here?"
"Well, it's been forever since I've seen my son and grandsons. I had some time in my busy schedule so I decided to pay a visit and ask my son face-to-face why his old man didn't seem to rate an invitation to the wedding."
I swallowed hard on my own sip of Templeton. "Well, Dad, I guess I figured you would be too busy to attend and too indifferent to really care one way or another."
"Oh, nonsense, Sean. Why in the world would you think that?"
"Why would I not?"
"Are you just gonna answer all of my questions with a question, Sean?"
"I dunno, Dad. Are you gonna ask any questions worth answering?"
"All of my questions are worth answering, son."
"Let me ask you a question then, Dad. If being here and feeling the heart strings tug for your family means so much to you, then how come you never bothered to see me when I was in the hospital?"
My father took another long pull of the Templeton. "I figured my presence wasn't wanted."
"You expect me to buy that bullshit?"
"It wasn't bullshit, Sean, and you know it. You and I hadn't spoken since your mother died and I didn't know if you'd want to see me then."
"I was in a drug-induced coma for eight days, Dad. I had been shot several times from a 12-gauge shotgun. I was literally on my death bed. And it never occurred to you to fly or drive up from Iowa to see me? Maybe for the last time?"
"Like I said, Sean. Things weren't particularly good between us at the time. Besides, by the time your ex-wife bothered to even call me about it, you were already past the danger point."
"Eight days, Dad. Eight fucking days. You expect me to believe that she didn't call you for over a week after it happened?"
"I don't know exactly when it was, Patrick. All I know is that it was several days after the shooting and you were still around. You obviously pulled through or were at least going to pull through eventually. And, yes, I'm sorry that I never came to see you."
"Well, better late than never, I suppose," I retorted, getting up for a refill. "Want another glass?"
"Don't mind if I do," Dad said, obviously as irritated as I was.
"So, why did you really come here?" I asked, handing him a fresh glass.
"I told you. I wanted to know why you wouldn't invite me to the wedding."
"And I already told you."
"I don't think you did."
"Yes, Dad, I did. I said specifically said that I didn't invite you because I didn't think you'd care nor did I think you would bother to attend."
"Look, son...I know that things have been pretty strained between us. But I came here in good faith to try and clear the air on some things, okay?"
I thought carefully. "Why should I believe you?"
"I don't exactly have a reputation for being a liar, Sean! Tell me, exactly, what have you possibly got against me after all these years?"
"I think I could ask you the same thing, Dad."
He threw his arms up in frustration. "There you go again. Answering my questions with a question of your own. Can I just get a straight answer for once? You're making me feel like I'm taking a deposition, for God's sake!"
"Alright. You want an answer? My answer is resentment."
"What the hell do you resent me for so bad, Sean?"
"Why do you resent me so bad, Dad? Why was I never good enough for you? Why was I always such a disappointment to you? What the hell kind of father doesn't visit his own son in the hospital after he has just damned near been shot to death?"
"I never looked at you as a disappointment, Sean. I was just...I dunno...frustrated I guess."
"Why?"
"Because I set everything up for you, Sean! And you never wanted any of it! Everything I ever did, everything I ever built, I did for my family! And you wanted nothing to do with it!"
"Everything, Dad? You did everything for your family? What about Mom? What about all those other women you slept with? Did you do that for your family, too?"
My father just stared at me, seething. "I worked my ass off, Sean, building a law firm from the ground up. Few men can say that they've been as successful as me, Patrick. I started out in Sioux City and now I've opened offices in Omaha, Des Moines and we're opening offices in the Quad Cities. I have seventeen dedicated partners and over 50 associates working for me now in just about every facet of law."
"Yes, I know you did, Dad. And you sacrificed every family moment you could in order to build your firm, too."
"Sacrifices have to be made, son. I don't apologize for that."
"You were never there for us, Dad. Ever. You were always too busy for us. I never understood it. Beth never understood it. And Mom never understood it."
"Oh, yes, she did. Your mother understood very well."
"The hell she did, Dad. She ignored every one of your affairs with those young, hungry female associates. What was it you always used to say to your buddies at cocktail parties? You can teach 'em to file motions, you can teach them how to make a final summation but you can't teach 'em to grow tits?"
"Your mother was content in our marriage, Sean. She knew the demands and the pressures of what I was doing and never minded if I found a little relief outside of our marriage."
"Bullshit! You were gone so damned much! You weren't there to see her cry herself to sleep all those nights you were gone...knowing what you were doing with some associate, clerk or intern. But Beth and I were. Beth and I knew at a young age what you were doing with a lot of your non-billable hours!"
"What I did with my non-billable hours was my own damned business! You didn't seem to mind growing up in a nice house, going to a Catholic college instead of a public one or having a nicer car to drive in high college than any of your friends!"
"That's because I was a kid, Dad. I took whatever kind of attention from I could get. So did Beth."
"Beth? Really? She sure as hell doesn't throw me the same kind of bullshit resentment in my face that you do! She and Tom were pretty damned happy when I talked to them and told them I was coming up here."
"Well, she's more forgiving than I am, I guess," I spat, getting up for another round of Templeton.
"Why don't you pour me another one while you're at it?"
"Because I didn't offer you one. And besides, you've still gotta drive when you leave here shortly."
"I was hoping I could crash with you, maybe have a chance of getting to know that beautiful fiancée of yours a little better; maybe find out what exactly it is that she sees in you."
"She sees plenty in me, Dad. Far more than you ever did."
"Think she'll be happy being the wife of a cop? Think you'll be able to make her any happier than you did Clarissa?"
"Shannon is twice the woman Clarissa is...in so many ways. And as far as making her happy? That's my problem to figure out, not yours. So butt out of it!"
My father got up, smirked and just toyed with his empty glass tumbler. "All I ever wanted, Sean, was for you to realize your potential. I'm a world class lawyer. I built an incredible firm right in the heartland of this country, something that nobody should have ever been able to do. I've got clients all around the country and all around the world. People come to Iowa to do business with me! Because they know that I can get things done! Don't you see that, Sean? I set it all out for you! It all could have been yours! And you threw it all away!"
"Because it was all tainted, Dad! If living your life that way and becoming that type of person was the cost of success, then I wanted absolutely nothing to do with it. And being in law enforcement is just as good and important as practicing the law."
"And what did that get you, Sean? An empty house? A divorce? At least I managed to stay married to your mother. At least I never caused my kids to grow up in a broken home, splitting time between their parents."
"What's the difference, Dad? You were never there for me and Beth anyway."
Dad set his glass on the table. "I was there for you, Sean. You just chose not to see it because you wanted it to be on your terms. Making a living and building a business wasn't good enough for you. Despite everything you say about not wanting to be like me, you're just as spoiled as any other golden-spoon trust fund baby. I guess I'll be going now. I apologize for everything I tried to do for you, Sean. Or I guess you want to be called Patrick, don't you? Guess even my name wasn't good enough for you."
"Oh, wow! Listen to you! Such a victim! That sympathy card doesn't play around here, Dad. Don't even bother."
"Sorry that my unmitigated success is such a disappointment to you, Patrick. Since I didn't rate an invite to the wedding maybe I'll get in touch with my former daughter-in-law and see if she wants to have lunch."
"Find, Dad. You do that. While you're at it, tell her to have the boys ready on time next time I'm there to pick them up."
"Tell her yourself. Oh, and by the way, better give your sister a call. She might have some news for you that you ought to find interesting." My Dad just looked at me one last time, shook his head and left the house. I could feel my fists clenching so hard that my fingernails were digging into the skin.
"Everything okay, Patrick?" Shannon said, coming back into the room.
"Yeah, babe. Everything's fine. Just needed to clear the air on some stuff."
"Sounded like it was getting pretty heated. Did you guys get some things worked out?"
"Oh, hell no. But at least we know where each other stands. I gotta make a call real quick, okay? I'll just be a few minutes and then we can relax a bit together, okay?"
"No problem, sweetie," she said giving me a quick kiss.
I pulled out my smart phone and punched in my sister's number. She picked up on the second ring.
"Hey, big brother! What's up?"
"Hey, sis. Not much. You'll never guess who was just here for a visit."
"Yeah, I know. We were surprised he was here this soon, too. We weren't expecting him until the day before the wedding."
"You knew he was coming?"
"Well, of course, Patrick. Why wouldn't he be?"
"Because I didn't invite him."
"What, to the wedding?"
"Yes."
"Are you serious, Patrick? You seriously didn't invite Dad to the wedding?"
"Serious as a heart attack. And since I didn't invite him, that means he came up here to see you and Tom. Wanna tell me what that is all about? He said that you would have some interesting news for me."
"So, I take it that Dad didn't tell you."
"No, he did not."
I could hear Beth let out a long sigh. "Patrick...Tom, the kids and I are moving back to Iowa. Dad's opening a law branch in the Quad Cities. One of the more senior partners is going to be moving there to serve as senior partner there along with several associates and we're moving to Des Moines. Dad offered Tom a partnership. He would be the main tax and probate lawyer and would have all the work he wants or could handle. It was too good of an opportunity to pass up. Dad's known all around the country and Tom would have a ready-made clientele."
I was stunned. "You guys are leaving Red River Falls?"
"Yes," she said, hesitantly.
"Why wouldn't you tell me? Why keep it a secret? Does Tom's family know? I mean, he grew up here."
"Yes, Tom's family all know and they're very happy for us. We didn't really try to keep it a secret, Patrick. We've been kind of overwhelmed ever since Dad offered it to Tom. Tom's gonna have to divest from his current firm and tie up a lot of loose ends there. He's been a partner here for almost ten years and you can't just up and leave like you can with any other job."
"Yeah, I get that part. I guess it just took me by surprise, ya know?"
"I'm sorry we didn't tell you sooner, Patrick. I hope you're not angry with me. In fact, I hope you're happy for us. This is a huge opportunity for Tom. And, it's not too late for you, Patrick."
"I have zero interest in going back for a law degree now, Sis. And besides, I think you and I both know how well me working with Dad would go over. Like a lead balloon."
"Patrick, you can't keep this going on forever, you know. I know you're upset about Mom but she obviously dealt with Dad in her own way."
"I know, Beth. Some things are just harder to get past for some of us than others. And I'll always be pissed at and despise Dad for the way he treated her."
Beth was silent for a few moments. "I'm really sorry we didn't tell you sooner, Patrick."
"I know, Sis," I said, hanging up.
Wow. Mind blown. I had just had a typical conversation with the father I hadn't seen in almost three years, only to find out that my sister, her husband and their family were moving to Des Moines to join his business and, of course, to fall right in with my father's sphere of influence.
Not me. I had no intention of letting that happen to me. As I pondered all of that, my cell phone rang once again. The caller ID simply read, "UNKNOWN NUMBER". Few people had my cell phone number and I had all of the pertinent blocks in place for telemarketers. Nonetheless, curiosity got the better of me.
"Hello?" I answered.
A pause. "Is this Sheriff Quinn?"
"Yes it is. Who am I speaking with?"
Another pause. "One who is displeased, Sheriff."
I was getting irritated. "Who is this?" I demanded.
"Who I am, Sheriff, is not your concern. Who you are is the concern."
"And why, exactly, is that?"
"Because you are the guilty one, Sheriff," the voice hissed.
"I beg your pardon?"
"No," the voice answered.
"No, what?"
"You asked me to pardon you, Sheriff. My answer is no. I will not pardon you."
"Pardon me for what?"
"For the sin you have committed, dear Sheriff."
"I'm gonna ask you this again. Who the hell is this?"
"Hell is exactly right, Sheriff."
"How so?"
"Because that is what your life will soon become, Sheriff. A living hell!" (*Click*)
I stood there staring at my phone. Someone was obviously fucking with me. And playing some sort of game. I wasn't sure what the hell was going on. But I was pretty sure of one thing; I had just been threatened.
Someone would need to pay for threatening a Sheriff...especially me. This was one phone call that would NOT go unanswered. And the caller was unlikely to enjoy the response.
*****
The news of my sister and brother-in-law moving back to Iowa to work with my father took the wind out of my sails a bit. Actually, a lot - almost as much as that damned cryptic phone call. It seemed like one more small victory, of sorts, that my father could claim over me. It also sucked that it was all happening so close to the wedding.
Shannon and her family had gone all out, despite my insistence that they really didn't need to. I constantly had to remind myself that, although I had been through it before, that this was still Shannon's first wedding and it should be the day she had always dreamed about.
The wedding party was going to involve Shannon and her best friend and Matron of Honor, Marcy Beemus, whom she also worked with at Holy Family. In addition, my sister Beth would be one of the bridesmaids, along with two other friends she worked with at Holy Family.
On my side would be me and my best friend, Deputy Danny Larson, who would be my Best Man. Deputy Chris Hayes, Captain and Chief Deputy Ben Villanueva, and Deputy Brian Kelley. Both of my sons, Nick and Jake, would serve as ring bearers and Bridget, of course, was our flower girl. I, along with all the men in my wedding party, would be attired in our dress department uniforms, to include our firearms and utility belts, of course. That gave Monsignor Flannagan a bit of heartburn but he didn't put up much of a fuss. And I thought we all looked pretty sharp for the pictures. Six other members of my department served as ushers.
The rehearsal and rehearsal dinner went off without a hitch. Per Shannon's instructions, she decided to spend the last evening before our wedding at home with her parents, with strict instructions that I was not to see her prior to the moment where she was walking down the aisle. That sucked because the anticipation of how amazing she was going to look gave me an unrelenting and vicious erection that seemed to take forever to go away. Fortunately, it did without me having to rub one out. I wanted to save every last bit of myself that I could for the consummation on our wedding night!
*****
It was the week of the wedding and I was getting all sorts of stressed out. I knew that Shannon, her mother Suzanne and her friends pretty much had everything planned and under control. They kept telling me over and over again that all I had to do, as the groom, was just to show up.
I had spent part of the day at the office, much to Mitch Monahan's dismay, but Brian Kelley and Billy Shoemaker were both still on their mandatory leave. As I pulled in the driveway, I immediately knew something was amiss as I saw a strange car parked in the driveway. I got a sinking feeling in my stomach as I saw the Iowa license plates on a brand new blood red Cadillac CTS.
I walked in the front door and was immediately greeted by Shannon, who looked flustered and nearly out of breath. She gave me a quick kiss and a hug.
"Patrick," she said, hesitantly, "there's someone here to see you."
"Let me guess. My father?"
"Yes, he's waiting for you in the family room."
"Oh, joy," I said, squeezing her hand.
"Do you want me to leave you two alone?"
"You're welcome to come and go as you like but I can't promise that things won't get a little heated. My father is an arrogant ass and he doesn't like it when I call him out on it."
"I've already visited with him for the last hour while he's waited. He's also a shameless flirt," she said, rolling her eyes. I immediately sensed my stomach tying itself in a knot.
"I'll try and get this over with. I'm sure he's probably just pissed that I didn't invite him to the wedding."
"Good luck," Shannon said, giving me a wink.
I walked into the family room and saw my father sitting in my favorite recliner, which kind of pissed me off. He had always made a big production about how his chair was HIS chair and it would be considered extremely rude for anyone to walk into his home and make themselves comfortable there. Conversely, he also said it was one of the biggest honors he could give to a guest by inviting them to sit in his chair, also. It sounded dumb to me at the time but now I suddenly realized that he was disrespecting me in a way that would be imperceptible to others but was an outright slap in the face to me.
And he knew it. Allow me to introduce you to my father, Sean Patrick Quinn, Sr.
"Ah, Sean Junior! You're finally home!" he exclaimed with false enthusiasm. I could feel the hair rise on my neck as though someone had run their fingernails across a chalk board. My father knows how much I detest being called Sean, let alone Junior.
"Patrick, Dad. Everybody I know calls me Patrick," I corrected as I sat down.
"Oh, come now, son. Old habits die hard. How about a drink for your old man?"
"Sure thing. How about some Templeton Rye on the rocks?"
"Surely you can do better than that, can't you?"
"I've got half a bottle of Johnny Walker Blue but I only save that for special occasions," I replied, getting in a dig of my own.
"What, having a drink with your old man isn't a special occasion?"
"What are you doing here?" I asked as I handed him a tumbler. He took a long pull of the Templeton and grimaced.
"Would you believe that this stuff isn't even made in Iowa anymore? Pathetic, if you ask me. The last time I had this it didn't even taste the same. But this stuff actually tastes okay," he said sounding surprised.
"Yeah, it's made in Indiana now and then bottled in Iowa and the recipe isn't the same as the one used during Prohibition. This is one of three bottles from 1999 that I have left, which is why it tastes original. But, once again, what are you doing here?"
"Well, it's been forever since I've seen my son and grandsons. I had some time in my busy schedule so I decided to pay a visit and ask my son face-to-face why his old man didn't seem to rate an invitation to the wedding."
I swallowed hard on my own sip of Templeton. "Well, Dad, I guess I figured you would be too busy to attend and too indifferent to really care one way or another."
"Oh, nonsense, Sean. Why in the world would you think that?"
"Why would I not?"
"Are you just gonna answer all of my questions with a question, Sean?"
"I dunno, Dad. Are you gonna ask any questions worth answering?"
"All of my questions are worth answering, son."
"Let me ask you a question then, Dad. If being here and feeling the heart strings tug for your family means so much to you, then how come you never bothered to see me when I was in the hospital?"
My father took another long pull of the Templeton. "I figured my presence wasn't wanted."
"You expect me to buy that bullshit?"
"It wasn't bullshit, Sean, and you know it. You and I hadn't spoken since your mother died and I didn't know if you'd want to see me then."
"I was in a drug-induced coma for eight days, Dad. I had been shot several times from a 12-gauge shotgun. I was literally on my death bed. And it never occurred to you to fly or drive up from Iowa to see me? Maybe for the last time?"
"Like I said, Sean. Things weren't particularly good between us at the time. Besides, by the time your ex-wife bothered to even call me about it, you were already past the danger point."
"Eight days, Dad. Eight fucking days. You expect me to believe that she didn't call you for over a week after it happened?"
"I don't know exactly when it was, Patrick. All I know is that it was several days after the shooting and you were still around. You obviously pulled through or were at least going to pull through eventually. And, yes, I'm sorry that I never came to see you."
"Well, better late than never, I suppose," I retorted, getting up for a refill. "Want another glass?"
"Don't mind if I do," Dad said, obviously as irritated as I was.
"So, why did you really come here?" I asked, handing him a fresh glass.
"I told you. I wanted to know why you wouldn't invite me to the wedding."
"And I already told you."
"I don't think you did."
"Yes, Dad, I did. I said specifically said that I didn't invite you because I didn't think you'd care nor did I think you would bother to attend."
"Look, son...I know that things have been pretty strained between us. But I came here in good faith to try and clear the air on some things, okay?"
I thought carefully. "Why should I believe you?"
"I don't exactly have a reputation for being a liar, Sean! Tell me, exactly, what have you possibly got against me after all these years?"
"I think I could ask you the same thing, Dad."
He threw his arms up in frustration. "There you go again. Answering my questions with a question of your own. Can I just get a straight answer for once? You're making me feel like I'm taking a deposition, for God's sake!"
"Alright. You want an answer? My answer is resentment."
"What the hell do you resent me for so bad, Sean?"
"Why do you resent me so bad, Dad? Why was I never good enough for you? Why was I always such a disappointment to you? What the hell kind of father doesn't visit his own son in the hospital after he has just damned near been shot to death?"
"I never looked at you as a disappointment, Sean. I was just...I dunno...frustrated I guess."
"Why?"
"Because I set everything up for you, Sean! And you never wanted any of it! Everything I ever did, everything I ever built, I did for my family! And you wanted nothing to do with it!"
"Everything, Dad? You did everything for your family? What about Mom? What about all those other women you slept with? Did you do that for your family, too?"
My father just stared at me, seething. "I worked my ass off, Sean, building a law firm from the ground up. Few men can say that they've been as successful as me, Patrick. I started out in Sioux City and now I've opened offices in Omaha, Des Moines and we're opening offices in the Quad Cities. I have seventeen dedicated partners and over 50 associates working for me now in just about every facet of law."
"Yes, I know you did, Dad. And you sacrificed every family moment you could in order to build your firm, too."
"Sacrifices have to be made, son. I don't apologize for that."
"You were never there for us, Dad. Ever. You were always too busy for us. I never understood it. Beth never understood it. And Mom never understood it."
"Oh, yes, she did. Your mother understood very well."
"The hell she did, Dad. She ignored every one of your affairs with those young, hungry female associates. What was it you always used to say to your buddies at cocktail parties? You can teach 'em to file motions, you can teach them how to make a final summation but you can't teach 'em to grow tits?"
"Your mother was content in our marriage, Sean. She knew the demands and the pressures of what I was doing and never minded if I found a little relief outside of our marriage."
"Bullshit! You were gone so damned much! You weren't there to see her cry herself to sleep all those nights you were gone...knowing what you were doing with some associate, clerk or intern. But Beth and I were. Beth and I knew at a young age what you were doing with a lot of your non-billable hours!"
"What I did with my non-billable hours was my own damned business! You didn't seem to mind growing up in a nice house, going to a Catholic college instead of a public one or having a nicer car to drive in high college than any of your friends!"
"That's because I was a kid, Dad. I took whatever kind of attention from I could get. So did Beth."
"Beth? Really? She sure as hell doesn't throw me the same kind of bullshit resentment in my face that you do! She and Tom were pretty damned happy when I talked to them and told them I was coming up here."
"Well, she's more forgiving than I am, I guess," I spat, getting up for another round of Templeton.
"Why don't you pour me another one while you're at it?"
"Because I didn't offer you one. And besides, you've still gotta drive when you leave here shortly."
"I was hoping I could crash with you, maybe have a chance of getting to know that beautiful fiancée of yours a little better; maybe find out what exactly it is that she sees in you."
"She sees plenty in me, Dad. Far more than you ever did."
"Think she'll be happy being the wife of a cop? Think you'll be able to make her any happier than you did Clarissa?"
"Shannon is twice the woman Clarissa is...in so many ways. And as far as making her happy? That's my problem to figure out, not yours. So butt out of it!"
My father got up, smirked and just toyed with his empty glass tumbler. "All I ever wanted, Sean, was for you to realize your potential. I'm a world class lawyer. I built an incredible firm right in the heartland of this country, something that nobody should have ever been able to do. I've got clients all around the country and all around the world. People come to Iowa to do business with me! Because they know that I can get things done! Don't you see that, Sean? I set it all out for you! It all could have been yours! And you threw it all away!"
"Because it was all tainted, Dad! If living your life that way and becoming that type of person was the cost of success, then I wanted absolutely nothing to do with it. And being in law enforcement is just as good and important as practicing the law."
"And what did that get you, Sean? An empty house? A divorce? At least I managed to stay married to your mother. At least I never caused my kids to grow up in a broken home, splitting time between their parents."
"What's the difference, Dad? You were never there for me and Beth anyway."
Dad set his glass on the table. "I was there for you, Sean. You just chose not to see it because you wanted it to be on your terms. Making a living and building a business wasn't good enough for you. Despite everything you say about not wanting to be like me, you're just as spoiled as any other golden-spoon trust fund baby. I guess I'll be going now. I apologize for everything I tried to do for you, Sean. Or I guess you want to be called Patrick, don't you? Guess even my name wasn't good enough for you."
"Oh, wow! Listen to you! Such a victim! That sympathy card doesn't play around here, Dad. Don't even bother."
"Sorry that my unmitigated success is such a disappointment to you, Patrick. Since I didn't rate an invite to the wedding maybe I'll get in touch with my former daughter-in-law and see if she wants to have lunch."
"Find, Dad. You do that. While you're at it, tell her to have the boys ready on time next time I'm there to pick them up."
"Tell her yourself. Oh, and by the way, better give your sister a call. She might have some news for you that you ought to find interesting." My Dad just looked at me one last time, shook his head and left the house. I could feel my fists clenching so hard that my fingernails were digging into the skin.
"Everything okay, Patrick?" Shannon said, coming back into the room.
"Yeah, babe. Everything's fine. Just needed to clear the air on some stuff."
"Sounded like it was getting pretty heated. Did you guys get some things worked out?"
"Oh, hell no. But at least we know where each other stands. I gotta make a call real quick, okay? I'll just be a few minutes and then we can relax a bit together, okay?"
"No problem, sweetie," she said giving me a quick kiss.
I pulled out my smart phone and punched in my sister's number. She picked up on the second ring.
"Hey, big brother! What's up?"
"Hey, sis. Not much. You'll never guess who was just here for a visit."
"Yeah, I know. We were surprised he was here this soon, too. We weren't expecting him until the day before the wedding."
"You knew he was coming?"
"Well, of course, Patrick. Why wouldn't he be?"
"Because I didn't invite him."
"What, to the wedding?"
"Yes."
"Are you serious, Patrick? You seriously didn't invite Dad to the wedding?"
"Serious as a heart attack. And since I didn't invite him, that means he came up here to see you and Tom. Wanna tell me what that is all about? He said that you would have some interesting news for me."
"So, I take it that Dad didn't tell you."
"No, he did not."
I could hear Beth let out a long sigh. "Patrick...Tom, the kids and I are moving back to Iowa. Dad's opening a law branch in the Quad Cities. One of the more senior partners is going to be moving there to serve as senior partner there along with several associates and we're moving to Des Moines. Dad offered Tom a partnership. He would be the main tax and probate lawyer and would have all the work he wants or could handle. It was too good of an opportunity to pass up. Dad's known all around the country and Tom would have a ready-made clientele."
I was stunned. "You guys are leaving Red River Falls?"
"Yes," she said, hesitantly.
"Why wouldn't you tell me? Why keep it a secret? Does Tom's family know? I mean, he grew up here."
"Yes, Tom's family all know and they're very happy for us. We didn't really try to keep it a secret, Patrick. We've been kind of overwhelmed ever since Dad offered it to Tom. Tom's gonna have to divest from his current firm and tie up a lot of loose ends there. He's been a partner here for almost ten years and you can't just up and leave like you can with any other job."
"Yeah, I get that part. I guess it just took me by surprise, ya know?"
"I'm sorry we didn't tell you sooner, Patrick. I hope you're not angry with me. In fact, I hope you're happy for us. This is a huge opportunity for Tom. And, it's not too late for you, Patrick."
"I have zero interest in going back for a law degree now, Sis. And besides, I think you and I both know how well me working with Dad would go over. Like a lead balloon."
"Patrick, you can't keep this going on forever, you know. I know you're upset about Mom but she obviously dealt with Dad in her own way."
"I know, Beth. Some things are just harder to get past for some of us than others. And I'll always be pissed at and despise Dad for the way he treated her."
Beth was silent for a few moments. "I'm really sorry we didn't tell you sooner, Patrick."
"I know, Sis," I said, hanging up.
Wow. Mind blown. I had just had a typical conversation with the father I hadn't seen in almost three years, only to find out that my sister, her husband and their family were moving to Des Moines to join his business and, of course, to fall right in with my father's sphere of influence.
Not me. I had no intention of letting that happen to me. As I pondered all of that, my cell phone rang once again. The caller ID simply read, "UNKNOWN NUMBER". Few people had my cell phone number and I had all of the pertinent blocks in place for telemarketers. Nonetheless, curiosity got the better of me.
"Hello?" I answered.
A pause. "Is this Sheriff Quinn?"
"Yes it is. Who am I speaking with?"
Another pause. "One who is displeased, Sheriff."
I was getting irritated. "Who is this?" I demanded.
"Who I am, Sheriff, is not your concern. Who you are is the concern."
"And why, exactly, is that?"
"Because you are the guilty one, Sheriff," the voice hissed.
"I beg your pardon?"
"No," the voice answered.
"No, what?"
"You asked me to pardon you, Sheriff. My answer is no. I will not pardon you."
"Pardon me for what?"
"For the sin you have committed, dear Sheriff."
"I'm gonna ask you this again. Who the hell is this?"
"Hell is exactly right, Sheriff."
"How so?"
"Because that is what your life will soon become, Sheriff. A living hell!" (*Click*)
I stood there staring at my phone. Someone was obviously fucking with me. And playing some sort of game. I wasn't sure what the hell was going on. But I was pretty sure of one thing; I had just been threatened.
Someone would need to pay for threatening a Sheriff...especially me. This was one phone call that would NOT go unanswered. And the caller was unlikely to enjoy the response.
*****
The news of my sister and brother-in-law moving back to Iowa to work with my father took the wind out of my sails a bit. Actually, a lot - almost as much as that damned cryptic phone call. It seemed like one more small victory, of sorts, that my father could claim over me. It also sucked that it was all happening so close to the wedding.
Shannon and her family had gone all out, despite my insistence that they really didn't need to. I constantly had to remind myself that, although I had been through it before, that this was still Shannon's first wedding and it should be the day she had always dreamed about.
The wedding party was going to involve Shannon and her best friend and Matron of Honor, Marcy Beemus, whom she also worked with at Holy Family. In addition, my sister Beth would be one of the bridesmaids, along with two other friends she worked with at Holy Family.
On my side would be me and my best friend, Deputy Danny Larson, who would be my Best Man. Deputy Chris Hayes, Captain and Chief Deputy Ben Villanueva, and Deputy Brian Kelley. Both of my sons, Nick and Jake, would serve as ring bearers and Bridget, of course, was our flower girl. I, along with all the men in my wedding party, would be attired in our dress department uniforms, to include our firearms and utility belts, of course. That gave Monsignor Flannagan a bit of heartburn but he didn't put up much of a fuss. And I thought we all looked pretty sharp for the pictures. Six other members of my department served as ushers.
The rehearsal and rehearsal dinner went off without a hitch. Per Shannon's instructions, she decided to spend the last evening before our wedding at home with her parents, with strict instructions that I was not to see her prior to the moment where she was walking down the aisle. That sucked because the anticipation of how amazing she was going to look gave me an unrelenting and vicious erection that seemed to take forever to go away. Fortunately, it did without me having to rub one out. I wanted to save every last bit of myself that I could for the consummation on our wedding night!
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