A Father's Love

By K.A. Henry

Daniel and Jeffery are two very different fathers. One's son is the center of his universe, the other's isn't even a part of his. When a horrible tragedy strikes, one must make an agonizing choice. One that will change the lives of both fathers, and their sons, forever.

• Language: English
• Publisher: K.A. Henry
• Release date: Jan 17, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301367429

K.A. Henry

K.A. Henry is a BSIC Publishing author who resides in West Michigan. A Father's Love is his first novel.

Book preview

Cover Design by ten21 Design Company

An affiliate of BSIC Publishing Company

Cover Copyright © 2013 by ten21 Design Company

Cover Copyright © 2013 by BSIC Publishing

A Father’s Love

By

K.A. Henry

SMASHWORDS EDITION

PUBLISHED BY:

Inspire Press

(A division of BSIC Publishing)

on Smashwords

A Father’s Love

Copyright © 2013 by K.A. Henry

Copyright © 2013 by Inspire Press

Copyright © 2013 by BSIC Publishing Company

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work.

This is a work of fiction. All characters, organizations, locations, and events portrayed in this story are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to any real person, living or deceased, is completely coincidental.

I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father's protection.

Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)

Australian Neurologist, Medical Doctor, Physiologist, and Pyschologist

A Father’s Love

Chapter 1

Jeffery Logan placed his open palm a few inches from his face, took a deep breath, and released it. As the hot air from his lungs bounced off his hand, Jeffery quickly took a sniff. Hmm, needs a bit more, he thought. Pulling a small aerosol can from the pocket of his suit jacket, Jeffery twisted off the cap and squirted a couple sprays into his mouth. Clicking his tongue to spread the minty breath spray around, he slid the small can back into his suit and smiled. Showtime.

As Maxine applied camera-makeup to his face and made sure his hair was just right, Bridget brought over his stories for the evening news. Jeffery knew he could just read what was on the teleprompter and use his cheat sheets with the bullet points of each story, but he liked to know what the stories were going to be about in detail ahead of time. It helped him prepare his emotions, his tones and facial expressions. He hadn’t become Grand Rapids’ favorite news anchor by cutting corners. Winking at the beautiful, and much younger, Bridget, he began going over the stories.

Jeffery read the same sentence multiple times before finally sighing and pinching the bridge of his nose. Maxine smacked his hand away from his face. Jeffery didn’t like when she did that. Before he could tell her so, she pointed at him with a makeup brush, glaring.

Don’t even think about sassing me, Mr. Logan. Just let me finish applying your onscreen makeup and then you can hem and haw all you want. Jeffery just stared back at her coldly. He wasn’t in the mood for lectures. Maxine noticed and shook her head, getting back to work as she looked on with a hint of concern.

I know it’s none of my business, Mr. Logan, but are you alright? I mean, you don’t seem yourself. Jeffery wasn’t feeling himself, but he wasn’t going to tell Maxine that. Flashing his signature smile, Jeffery nodded

Maxine, my dear, I’m just fine. Liar, he thought. He didn’t believe that…of course he wasn’t okay. Maxine didn’t appear to believe him either.

Alright, are you sure? Jeffery spread his arms wide.

Never been better. She eyed him skeptically, but eventually looked down at her make-up kit and got back to doing her job. Good, Jeffery thought, he had enough to deal with.

Robert, his twenty year old son was driving him crazy. The kid had all the potential in the world. He was handsome, intelligent, great with people, and genuinely cared about others. Problem was, Robert Logan didn’t care much about himself.

He had flunked out of college, or in Jeffery’s opinion, found a roundabout way of quitting. Robert had been attending Grand Valley State University, taking Pre-Med classes. If all went well, with some of Jeffery’s connections, Robert would be able to get into Med School at The University of Michigan. All he had to do was work hard. But the little cuss was as lazy as the day is long. He’d much rather lay around the house, play video games, and hang out with his hooligan friends. Those friends were a big part of the problem. Mostly because of what they convinced Robert to do.

Jeffery had come home from work early one night and found an unexpecting Robert and his punk-friends smoking weed and drinking alcohol. Alcohol that they’d stolen from Jeffery’s liquor cabinet. He’d been furious, screaming at them. They’d all just laughed, continuing their recreational activities. Jeffery was stunned at the disrespect they’d shown. That was when he’d blown a gasket.

He picked up Robert’s friends one by one, guiding them towards the door. By their arms, shirts, necks, or whatever he could get his hands on. Then he threw them right out of his house. Robert had been angry, stating he couldn’t believe Jeffery had embarrassed him like that. They’d argued, going back and forth in a screaming match that escalated and escalated until they both said something they’d regretted. Or at least, Jeffery knew he’d regretted what he himself had said. The exchange had gone something like this.

Robert said, I hate you! I wish you were dead instead of mom! Without thinking, without using his damn brain, responding out of hurt and anger, Jeffery fired back with this. Yeah, well ditto. I wish she was here instead of you, you little screw-up! And there it was.

Jeffery’s wife Robyn had passed away a year earlier. Breast cancer. She was only 46. It had been hard on all of them, watching her slowly deteriorate. Robyn had been everything to Jeffery and Robert. Strong, smart, beautiful, she always got them through their pigheaded ways, their foolishness…their differences. She was the glue that held the family together, and when she was gone, well, they fell apart.

Jeffery had tried the best he could. Or at least that’s what he told himself. After Robyn passed, Robert shut him out, and began to make poor choices. The harder Jeffery tried, the more Robert pushed him away. The more Robert pushed him away, the angrier and more frustrated Jeffery became. He had his plate full as it was. Being the lead anchor on the nightly news and one of the most influential and popular people in Grand Rapids, Michigan didn’t leave the elder Logan much time for spoiled, selfish little jerks like Robert. The truth of the matter was, Jeffery just didn’t have enough time in his life for his son.

He’d been busy before Robyn died, but after she passed, Jeffery had thrown himself into work. Long days at the station became full days. He would take any and every assignment available, any PR appearance or interview out there, doing anything and everything to avoid being at home. Jeffery was home to sleep, and that was about it. Some nights he wouldn’t even do that, crashing at the station. He’d known Robert was floundering, that he should be there for his son. But he didn’t care. Jeffery didn’t care about anything.

Besides, Robert was an adult. He was twenty years old. Jeffery was hurting too and work was the only thing that made the pain of losing the love of his life bearable. Robert had lost his mother, which was truly hard. Jeffery had lost his mother four years prior and it had hurt. But that hurt was nothing compared to losing your companion, your best friend. Robert would find his soul mate, get married and move on with his life. What about Jeffery? The thought of being with someone else made him want to vomit. His happiest days were behind him. All he had left to do was wait to kick the bucket. Maybe then he could see Robyn again. Not that she’d be too happy to see him right now.

The fight between him and Robert had taken place a week ago. Their interactions had been non-existant since. If they