Chapter 71

“Let’s go,” I said, touching Sebastien’s arm gently. “Come on now. Let’s go.”

“You come to my house and call me a shit?” Roland slowly rose out of his chair and leaned his hands on the table. “After what I did for you? I gave up my youth for you, Sebastien! My goddamn life! And you never even thanked me once. Ever. You and your mother were always teaming up against me. Do you think she’s the only one who raised you? I put a fucking roof over your head. I worked jobs I hated so that you and your mother could go shopping on Saturdays and have your little afternoons of ice cream and petting animals and so that—”

“Thank you!” Sebastien shouted at the top of his voice. “Thank you so much. Okay? Okay? Thank you, Dad. Thank you for everything.” He was livid, the vein in his forehead throbbing. “Thank you,” he whispered now, his lips trembling. “Do you want me down on my knees? Would that make you feel like the big man? Huh?”