“As a parent, as humans, we don’t know what we don’t know. I think it’s a big deal that he called and asked for your help, and maybe that means there’s hope for change within him. But, right now, until he shows you he’s trying to change, I think that you need to keep him at arm’s length. He’s a grown-ass man who’s capable of making his own decisions; we’re past that old adage of ‘that’s just how he was raised.’ You were raised that way, too, and you’re absolutely not like him at all.”
She takes a long drink from her coffee mug. The wheels in her head are turning quickly. I stand, reaching down and squeezing her hand.
“I should probably get back to the house and get some sort of supper made for Caleb. It’s been a long day.”
She doesn’t say anything, just nods. I lean down, kiss her on the top of the head, and then walk out of the house.
I’ll give her some alone time, but she needs to understand that she’s not doing life alone anymore. I’m going to protect her, take care of her, and be here for her. We’re a team now.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Sutton
Iguess people can change. Or maybe, I never really knew Wade Callahan at all. Sure, he’s always been a smart man, but his words just now were beyond insightful.
I sit at the kitchen table, his words playing on a loop in my mind. Most of the time, people will tell you that you can’t choose your family and that you just have to live with their behavior. Much like my mother, she’d excuse it away and blame it on something else entirely. That’s always been the response, honestly. But Wade, he didn’t excuse it away. He also pointed out that none of this is actually because of me.
Did I know that already?
Yeah, probably. Deep down, I think I’ve always understood that my dad’s behavior is because of him and not because of my actions. It’s easy to convince yourself otherwise, though. I remember hearing my aunt say that my dad always wanted a son and got a daughter. I was probably six at the time. After that, it was like the explanation for everything.
Whether it was true didn’t matter. It’s the story that I told myself, and I’m certain it only made the divide between us become the Grand Canyon.
I sigh, pushing myself up and heading for the bathroom. The hot water feels like a blessing as it cascades over me, washing away the dirt from the day but not the thoughts swirling in my head. I’m falling for Wade. Hard. And I don’t know what to do about it.
I let the hot water and steam ease the aches in my body, melting the stress away as best they could.
The way Wade kisses me is like nothing I’ve ever experienced before, and I wish that he would’ve kissed me tonight instead of leaving.
After my shower, I wrap a towel around myself and wander into my bedroom, opening drawers in search of pajamas. Of course, none of my favorites are where they’re supposed to be. Typical. I’m mid-search when my phone buzzes on the nightstand. Grabbing it, I see Kelsey’s name flashing on the screen.
“Hey, Kels,” I answer, tucking the phone between my shoulder and ear as I rummage through another drawer.
“Hey, yourself,” she replies, her tone light but with that knowing edge she always has. “How’s life on the ranch? Coming any closer to figuring things out?”
“Not really. I did send some cattle to the lab for a necropsy rather than sending tissue samples. Maybe that will get us further along. I think it’s bovine respiratory disease, but the symptoms aren’t textbook.”
“I’m learning that nothing is textbook,” she laughs “It’s like they need to rewrite them all because these diseases are growing legs or something.”
“Haha, yeah, you might be right. I had one ranch show signs of lepto, so I don’t know if it’s related or something completely separate. Hicks Creek is definitely keeping me on my toes.”
“Yikes, lepto is way scarier.”
“Yeah, no one wants to be the vet who missed the symptoms and caused a virus outbreak for humans, too. Hicks Creek would really be a ghost town.”
“Ah, humor in the midst of chaos, look at you,” she teases.
“Dark humor is what gets me through the tough days,” I say lightly. “I feel like I’m getting close to a breakthrough, that’s the important part.”
“How are things with your dad? Are you staying there?”
“No, I found an Airbnb close by, but things are the same with Dad,” I chuckle. “You’ll never guess whose property the Airbnb is on, though.”
“Is it a celebrity?”
“No,” I chuckle. “Remember the guy from my hometown that I unknowingly hooked up with in Texas? When we were celebrating our acceptance to vet school?”
“Of course, I do! Well, I forgot about it until you just mentioned it. Whyyyyyyyyy are you just not telling me this? Is he single? Oh my God. Or should I say, how’s life with Mr. Tall, Dark, and Broody?”
