“You say you are. We were concerned for a while. Not so much now.”
“Are we going to have a heart-to-heart?”
“I’m not sure we have ever had one. Do you want to?”
He coughed out a laugh. “Not really.”
“Good. Saves us both the awkwardness of it.”
He smiled. Something he didn’t do often. His father wasn’t wrong. It’d be uncomfortable and awkward for them both, but they’d both do it if it’d help the other.
“There is that,” he said.
“Meredith seems to fit in well with everyone.”
“She does.”
“And you don’t want to talk about that either?”
He shrugged. “Did Mom send you out here to question me?”
His father laughed. “Your mother would never consider it. If she thought I was talking to you about your girlfriend, she’d shove me out of the way and pull out her list of opinions.”
When was the last time he had a girlfriend? What a thought.
Is that what Meredith was?
The only conversation they’d had was about being exclusive. It’s not like he was out looking for anyone else.
He trusted she wasn’t either.
“I can only imagine what some of them are,” he said. “But it’s early yet.”
“Not so early if you’re out here brooding over it.”
His father got that dig in there. “She’s nothing but trouble layered on trouble.”
“That’s mean.”
“It wasn’t meant that way. Just stating a fact. Looking back, I’m not sure she’s ever been any different.”
“She was a little bit of a klutz on the property.”
“Still is,” he said. “Maybe not as bad because she’s aware of that flaw. But this thing with her ex, the ex’s ex, then someone else with the rock through the window. She’s got three people giving her shit. How is that possible for someone who is so sweet and caring?”
“Well,” his father said. “I’m sure her ex doesn’t think she is sweet and caring with what she’s done. Me, I call it justice. Something your mother would do.”
“Mom would have been much worse. She doesn’t touch glitter. She’d dump flour in your shit, along with sugar on a hot day. Maybe a few eggs.”
“That’s right. She’d find all the ingredients of my favorite breakfast and stuff my clothes full of it and ruin them in the process.”
He closed his eyes and laughed. “Mom thought it was funny when she found out.”
“There you go,” his father said. “As long as your mom approves, you’re golden.”
“I’d never hear the end of it if she didn’t like someone I brought home,” he said. “But she’d never treat that person badly either.”
“No,” his father said. “Clay, don’t overthink things. Go with your gut and your heart. It’s never led you wrong before.”
