As the small crowd began to disperse, Landon felt a hand on his shoulder. It was Duke, his expression softening slightly as he guided Landon away from the crowd.
“I’m sorry to spring this on you, kid,” Duke confessed. “But you deserve to know.”
Landon nodded, his mind a whirl of questions. “Did you know him well?” he asked, his curiosity outweighing his apprehension.
Duke paused, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Let’s just say, we had some adventures,” he replied, his eyes distant with memories.
There was something reassuring in Duke’s demeanor, a sense of camaraderie that made Landon feel a little less alone. He wanted to believe that his father was more than the stories, more than the shadows he had grown up with.
The walk to the nearby diner was quiet, the kind of silence that promised understanding. Landon felt anticipation bubbling within him, a need to unravel the mystery that had surrounded him for so long.
Once inside, they settled into a booth at the far end, away from prying eyes and curious ears. Duke leaned back, his gaze meeting Landon’s with a promise of honesty.
“Your dad,” Duke began, choosing his words carefully, “was a good man. A bit rough around the edges, maybe, but he had a heart of gold.”
Landon listened intently, hanging onto every word. For the first time, he felt a connection to the father he never knew, a thread that tied him to a past he was just beginning to understand.
