I saw no mention of the boy’s father, just the mother.
The boys father didn’t want his mom to move to Florida from the beginning, and yes he loves Eric very much, he is devastated. He would send to get Eric for the summer time and tried to convince Eric to listen to his mom and to behave. Anytime Eric would get home to late while visiting him he would remind him that he was not grown. Eric wouldn’t even dare answer to his father.