“You know, Daddy,” Tate sighed. “I think Jameson brought us all here hoping for some sort of resolution, but I think we're too far gone for that.”

“I could have told you that years ago.”

It was one thing for Tate to tell herself she would never speak to her parents again. It was quite another to hear it from her parents. She nodded and wiped at her eyes, still trying hard not to cry.

“Good. That's good to know. Then I want to tell you something,” she said, her voice shaky. She felt Jameson's hand suddenly, resting against her leg. Squeezing.

“Don't get hysterical,” her father groaned.

“Let's all just calm down and have a drink!” her mother suggested.

“You've never liked me. Why you had a second child is beyond me. You always treated me like I was second place. Like an after thought. Nothing I did was ever good enough for you, and for years, I beat myself up over that. But now I know, I could've been goddamn perfect, and it wouldn't have been good enough for you. I own a successful business and I'm dating Jameson fucking Kane, and I'm still not good enough!” Tate's voice started to raise.

“I don't have to sit here and listen to -,” Mr. O'Shea started to growl.

“Oh, yes, you fucking do. If this is really us cutting ties, then I'm going out with a bang. Fuck you, Daddy. You never knew me, and you never will. You'll never know the amazing things I've done, or am going to do. You'll never be invited into any aspect of my life, and you'll certainly never meet any children I may have. I'm very glad you came all this way for nothing. Fuck both of you, and have a super awesome life,” Tate snapped, then stood up.

Her father yelled good riddance at her, but Tate ignored him. Jameson called out her name, but Tate ignored him, too. She kept walking out of the restaurant, trying to ignore everything around her.

You'd think after all these years, becoming an orphan wouldn't hurt so bad.

~7~

Tate had been right. When Jameson had found out that the O'Sheas were visiting Thailand, he'd thought it was possibly the perfect opportunity for some resolution between child and parent.

He had apparently thought very wrong. He watched as Tate stormed out of the restaurant, then he sighed and pushed away from the table.

“You know,” he started, pulling his wallet out of his pocket. “I've never understood. Why do you hate Tatum so much?”

“A better question is why do you like her? She's never getting a dime from me, if that's your angle, Kane,” Mathias O'Shea warned him. Jameson barked out a laugh before tossing some bills onto the table, enough to cover their meals.

“I hope that's a joke. Tate was a broke nobody when I ran into her in Boston, you never even figured into it. I have more money than you, anyway. I'm very sorry to have dragged you here, this was a bad idea,” Jameson sighed.

“I could have told you that, if you'd told me resolution was your intention. I saw those profane photos, her giving the finger to those cameras. Disgusting. You need to get her under control,” Mathias informed him.

“You're telling me how to handle Tate?” Jameson clarified.

“Well, someone should handle her! Girl needs someone who can put her in her place,” Mathias said.

“Tate is absolutely perfect the way she is; you're the one who needs to be put in his place. Unfortunately, I just don't care enough to do it. I brought you here to give Tate some closure. I hope she achieved it with that outburst. We won't be seeing you again,” Jameson said, then started to turn away.

“Was she pregnant?” Mathias barked out. Jameson froze. Turned back towards them.

“Excuse me?”

“I've never been able to figure out why you stayed with her. I understand the need for a mistress, but galavanting around with some slut on your arm is unbecoming. Did you stay with her because you knocked her up?” Mathias demanded.

Jameson was enraged. He could call Tate a slut. No one else.

“You listen to me,” he said in a low voice as he leaned over the table. “Don't you ever speak of her that way again. I plan on being with Tate for a very long time, which means I'm going to have to deal with the damage you caused. I'm sorry I tried to do this; clearly you are the lost cause.”

“I don't have to take this abuse. I was invited here, by you! I thought you wanted me to talk some sense into that girl, but clearly, that's not possible. So I hope you two are very happy together, wallowing in your filthy relationship,” Mathias coughed out.

Enough is enough.

“I am going to bury you. Do you hear me? Kiss everything you own goodbye. This time tomorrow, I will own every business, every share, every holding you possess. You'll be goddamn lucky if I let you keep your fucking house. And if I hear you say anything disparaging about Tate, ever again, I'll take that, too. You never have to worry about her again, she is no longer your family. She's my family now, and you aren't worthy of knowing her.”

Jameson didn't wait for a response, just walked away. He could hear Mathias sputtering, could hear Mrs. O'Shea trying to calm her husband down. He ignored it all and took out his cell phone, calling Sanders to tell him to bring the car around.

He found Tate just around the corner. She was leaning back against a wall, staring off down the street. Jameson moved to stand in front of her, but she didn't look up at him.

“Are you mad at me?” she asked. He barked out a laugh.