“Not legally.” Darius searched his father’s expression. If Simon was anxious to end his marriage, why didn’t he file for divorce?
“Speaking as a lawyer, Darius is right.” Ean lowered his coffee mug. “Your separation hasn’t dissolved your marriage.”
Ean shoved away his empty plate. In contrast, Darius’s half-eaten breakfast cooled in front of him. Again. The only way he’d regain his appetite was if Simon left. Past experience demonstrated that wouldn’t be happening any time soon.
“Are you and Ethel going to try to work things out?” Megan’s question elicited a dry look from Darius.
His parents reconcile? Not likely. They’d been hurtling toward a divorce his entire life.
Simon grunted. “Why would I want to get back together with Ethel? I’ve never been as happy as I am now without her. In fact, I’m looking forward to getting back into the dating scene.”
“I thought you’d never left it.” Darius couldn’t let Simon’s hypocritical comment pass unchallenged.
His father glowered at him. “Now don’t you start with me. A man makes one mistake—”
“Only one?” Darius interrupted.
Simon swallowed more pie. “I never said I was perfect. Still, your mother left me anyway.”
“I don’t understand that.” Ramona rested her hands on the counter. “Don’t get me wrong. I would have left you, too—after I knocked out all of your teeth.”
“Ramona.” Megan’s voice carried a low, reproving note.
Audra set down her porcelain mug of coffee. It landed on the Formica counter with a decisive snap. “Let’s get back to discussing the Halloween party. It’s next week and I want to know what to expect from my first Trinity Falls Halloween.”
Darius could have kissed Jackson’s girlfriend for again trying to change the topic. She’d arrived in Trinity Falls from Los Angeles in July, just a few weeks before Peyton had arrived from New York. Audra had left briefly after Founders Day in August, but Jackson had wooed her back. The couple seemed more in love every day.
“Now that’s a perfect example of what I’m talking about.” Simon looked at Megan and Ramona. “Ethel never wanted to come to your Halloween celebration. Well, you can bet I’m coming this year.”
Great. In addition to ruining Darius’ Saturday morning breakfast routine, Simon was going to put a damper on the Books & Bakery Halloween celebration. He’d rather be locked in the smelly archives again—with Dr. Peyton Harris, of course.
Jackson leaned forward on his bar stool. “Simon, what are you going to do now that you’re retired from the post office?”
“Oh, I’ve got plenty to do,” Simon rushed to reassure him. “Plenty.”
“Such as?” Darius prompted.
Simon laughed, tipping his head toward Doreen. “Oh, you think I pulled out of challenging Doreen for the mayor’s job because I didn’t think I could beat her?”
Ramona snorted. “No, we think you came to your senses.”
Darius gripped his cup. “Your name never even made it to the election ballot. You didn’t get enough signatures on your petition to enter the mayoral campaign.”
Simon sulked. “That’s another thing your mother ruined for me.”
Darius’s tension grew in his neck and shoulders. “You ruined that for yourself.”
“Your mother’s not an easy person to live with, you know.” Simon finished his pie.
Darius clenched his teeth. “This isn’t the time or place for this conversation.”
Simon ignored his son’s warning. “She’s a bitter, angry woman. She’s bitter and angry all the time.”
Darius had had enough. He forced himself to move calmly as he rose to his feet. He pulled his wallet from his pocket and left more than enough money beside his plate to cover his breakfast.
“Thank you, Doreen.” Darius turned to leave, ignoring his friends’ concerned expressions. “I’ll see you guys later.”
But Simon wouldn’t let up. “She wasn’t even that good of a mother to you. Admit it.”