Chapter 2

- Zach’s POV ~ 4 Years prior -

For years, I have been helping my mom with bills. As a kid, trying to find work was difficult, however I had friends who knew what strings to pull.

I got into fishing, was put on a boat and tested for my strength. Ever since I was 13, this is all I have known. It was easy to get into, it gave good money to help my mom get out of debt, but it’s like it keeps on coming.

I heard a lot about my dad and how he was a millionaire, if not billionaire, and owned his own oil drilling business. My parents had a one night stand, but my mom never bothered to tell him about me, she didn’t want to ruin his life. For 21 years, I lived without a father, never even knew his name. I had to teach myself most things a dad teaches his child. It was hard, of course, but my mom never forgot to tell me how proud she was of me. She was my idol, my hero, and I did everything in my power to make her proud.

I remember my mom telling me that she tried to reconnect with him, but she never spoke much, like she was trying to protect me. I always held onto the hope that one day I’d meet him, but I never thought it would be so soon. Within minutes, there was a knock on the door and a man on the other side of it. My mom opened the door and her jaw dropped. She stood for a minute, a little dumbfounded, before wrapping her arms around him and letting out a few sobs.

“John! God, I never thought I’d see you again.” She managed to squeeze the words out of her throat. “You aged perfectly!”

He wrapped his arms around my mom and kissed her head. “Lauren, you are still the most beautiful woman I have ever set my eyes on.” They shared a few small words that I couldn’t pick out. I wasn’t sure who this man was but I had a feeling that it was my dad. Up until she saw this man’s face, I had never seen my mom so happy before.

The man looked up and over at me, taken aback. He studied my face a bit and a small smile creeped onto his. My mom realizes what - who -  he is looking at and she smoothes out her hair. “John, this is your son, Zachary. Zach, this is your father.”

I couldn’t believe what she was telling me. This man is my dad..? After a few minutes of shock, John embraced me with a brief hug, and we spoke while mom made him some coffee. He explained how he got back in touch with my mom and he wanted to meet me since he first found out he had a son.

He asked what I did for work and when I told him, he looked a bit concerned, then started to tell us about his business. He named it “K&R’s Drilling and Contracting” and honestly it sounds like a dream. Amazed, my mother and I listened to everything he had to say. All in all, I was just glad I finally met my father.

- 2 Months later -

“Alright, Zach.” My mom knocked on my door and walked in. “We need to have a little chat.”

“Of course, mom. What’s up?”

Mom smiled, but it never fully made it to her eyes. “Your father and I have been talking. We think it’s best to move to Edmonton where his business is located, this way we can save on some money because we won’t have to buy plane tickets every other week.”

My heart sank into my stomach. “Ma, I can’t move. I love it here, I love the money my job has been pulling in for me.”

“Sweetheart, you weren’t going to be coming with us,” she whispered. 

“Son, I am going to help you buy a home of your own, anywhere you want.” Dad walks in and places a hand on moms shoulder. Speechless, my eyes well up with tears and I collide into them both, hugging them. For the first time in my life, I will be living without either of my parents.

I just met my dad, and just like that, he’s gone again.

- 3 years later, one year before present time -

I got home from work and started to peel potatoes. I had music on full blast from a speaker, playing anything and everything on my playlist. I started to think about having my weekend to myself, it was the first time this summer. Maybe, just maybe, I can work on my truck.

Suddenly, my phone ringing disturbed my thoughts. The caller ID read “Mom” with a heart emoji and I smiled, answering the call.

“Hello stranger, how has my beautiful mother been?”

“Zach.. I’ve been trying to reach you all day.” My mom sounded irritated.

“Okay, I don’t even get a ‘Hello son, I’ve been great,’ it's just straight to the bickering, huh? That’s fine.” I chuckled.

“Zach,” this time my mom sounded worried. “It’s your father. He’s not going to make it.”

The words blurred in my head. I slid down the wall next to the countertop and dropped the phone. I started to tear up and I picked the phone back up. “I’ll be there on the next flight.”

That, I did. The next day I arrived, my brother picked me up. My dad adopted him when he was 2, he’s 20 now. Sometimes he can be a bit of a douche but when it involves dads health, he is a generally good guy. We rode in silence for what felt like hours until he spoke up.

“I don’t want to lose dad. It feels like he is what holds everything together.” He chokes out. I don’t dare look over at him.

“I know. I’m sorry, Jacob.” I sighed. I reached over the console of his truck and patted his shoulder. Soon, we pulled up to the hospital doors. We ran inside and up to his floor, meeting mom in the waiting room.

“Hey boys. The doctor is trying to make him comfortable right now, then we can go in to see him.” We both grabbed each of her hands and formed a little group hug. Minutes later, the doctors called us in and we found ourselves beside dads bed. He was still awake, looking at us, but you could tell just how tired he was. I sat next to him and brushed my fingertips along his cheek.

“Hey dad. Man, you look like shit,” we all laughed and he hit my arm. “Joking, sheesh. I came as soon as I got the call.”

“I’m surprised you dropped everything.” He chuckled, then looked over at Jacob. “Look, I got to speak to you boys.” We leaned closer and he started again. “Zach, I have the business signed into your name and you are now the CEO of K&R Drilling and Contracting. Jacob, you are signed as a partner.”

Jacob’s face dropped and he whipped his head to me. “Why the fuck are YOU the CEO? You only just met dad, you live across the country. You already have some stupid fucking job.” He looked back at dad. “This is bullshit!”

Dad coughs and looks at Jacob. “Jake, your brother is older and has his head on his shoulders.”

“Dad, I literally have no idea how to run a business! This is a bad idea.” I cut in.

“Please, the two of you. I already have it in the paperwork, starting Tuesday, Zach will be the new owner of the company.”

After a few more minutes of bickering, we finally stopped. We decided to think on memories and never realized this would be our last time being together as a family. This was a new memory.

After today, I will be fatherless again.