Paul didn’t want the food, but he couldn’t see any polite way to refuse it. So he tossed it in his mouth and chewed. The sheer deliciousness distracted him for a moment. “This is good.”
Adam sat back, his elbows resting on the arms of the chair, his fingers steepled. “Were you considering the job or was Jimmy overreacting?”
Paul stared out the window. Something about Adam’s question demanded honesty. He looked back to meet the other man’s gaze. “I want the job but I wasn’t going to accept it.”
“Because of Jimmy.”
“And Eric.”
Adam nodded. “So what do you want to ask me?”
Paul took a deep breath. “Despite his performance on Saturday night, I think Jimmy is making progress. This may sound trivial, but he took a lot of time and trouble to stencil pictures of Eric’s favorite things on his bedroom walls. It took patience and discipline and concentration over a period of weeks. That’s a side of my brother I’ve never seen before. And today he apologized for Saturday night’s lapse. Another first. He even swore not to miss another AA meeting.”
Adam nodded again. For a man who made his living in the hospitality industry, he was surprisingly taciturn. Maybe he used his day off to recharge his conversational batteries. Paul decided the best approach was a direct one. “Here’s my question. Is my presence here in Sanctuary a healthy thing for Jimmy or does he use it as a crutch?”
“I’m not qualified to answer that question,” Adam said. “You understand I’m a sponsor only because I’ve been through the twelve-step program and stayed sober for a number of years. I don’t have any formal training in therapy or counseling.” He took a swallow of water. “However, Jimmy seems committed to being a significant part of his son’s life. That’s a powerful incentive to stay sober, especially as Eric grows older and is more aware of what condition his father is in.”
“Jimmy says he can hold it together during the times he has custody of Eric, but he has to fight harder when he’s alone.”
“Probably true, but he doesn’t have to be alone. He knows that from his AA meetings. Help is always just a phone call away.”
“So there’s a safety net in place, if he chooses to use it?” Paul hadn’t fully understood that until he heard Adam’s tone of commitment.
“Absolutely. That’s one of AA’s promises.” The chef shifted slightly. “Alcoholics are manipulative; that’s how they hold onto the people who love them in spite of their destructive behavior.”
“Are you saying Jimmy is manipulating me? That he doesn’t need me to stay here anymore?” Paul didn’t mention his agreement with Terri. They had left it open for renegotiation if the situation warranted it.
“That’s not something I can confirm.”
Paul recognized the care with which the other man was choosing his words. It reminded him of how he sometimes spoke to his clients. There were no guarantees in the law or in life, and Adam was making that clear.
However, he was also giving Paul a new perspective on his brother’s behavior. Paul considered Friday night’s dinner conversation. Maybe when he thought he was giving his brother a chance to surprise him, he hadn’t understood Jimmy’s reaction.
He had seen the fear in his brother’s eyes, but maybe he didn’t know what caused it. He had made an assumption, and Jimmy’s behavior on Saturday night seemed to confirm it, so he hadn’t probed further. “You’ve given me some food for thought.”
“Now let me give you some real food,” Adam said with a half smile. He pushed the plate of cheese closer to Paul.
“I appreciate the offer, but I’ll take a rain check.” His stomach wasn’t real receptive to intake right now.
Chapter 18
JULIA WALKED SLOWLY along the sidewalk, trying to wrap her mind around the idea of firing her uncle. Paul’s arguments made sense, but her heart seemed to twist in her chest at the thought. She tried to see through to the other side of the conversation she would be forced to have with Carlos, but she couldn’t picture how he would react. Not well, she suspected.
Before she could confront him, she needed the security of having a new agent. Although she knew it was Monday, she quickened her pace as she neared the Gallery at Sanctuary. Sure enough, a Closed sign hung in the door.
Disappointed, she took a moment to admire the Blake Larson sculpture she coveted, starting when she heard locks clicking open.
“What timing!” Claire said, swinging the door wide.
“Isn’t the gallery closed today?” Julia said, stepping inside while Claire relocked the door.