“Ididn’tcarefor the plan when youtoldme yesterday,” Frank scolded me in the car, putting emphasis on certain words. “I tell you the plans, Billy. Not to control you, but to keep you safe. Plus,you knowI didn’t like the waythat guyacted the last time.”
“It’s fine, Frank. People assume I flew home to LA right after the picture with Laurel. Why would I stay? No one would believe I’m out here in the snow, buying a Christmas tree.”
“Are you kidding?” Frank side-eyed me from the front passenger seat, the driver of the SUV pretending not to listen to our cross words.
“Who cares? Like I said, it’s fine. If people recognize me, I’ll take a few photos and move right along. It’s not like we are going to a strip club. Didn’t you hear me—we’re shopping for a Christmas tree. For the holiday season. By the way, do you have the check for the donation to their charity? It’s all for a good cause too. If anything, it will be decent PR for me.”
Frank ignored my last question and comment, turning his body as much as he could from the front after glaring at me in the back seat, bundled in a Canada Goose down coat and a red Santa hat with matching gloves, trimmed in white fur.
“For the record,” he said, lowering his voice, “I would have never signed off on a strip club. And we’re not just buying a tree. We’re doing it withthat manin tow. You know how quickly rumors spread. I was hoping this whole thing was over when he slithered out the last time you saw him. The nerve of him to not call me and follow protocol. Not to mention, I knew you were hurt. Don’t you dare lie to me. We are way beyond that, Willa.”
He brought out my full name, which pointed to him meaning business.
“We’re going in a group.” I ignored Frank’s commentary on Cal’s early departure from our dinner date and references to my silly broken heart. Selfish and spoiled me couldn’t see past the fact that Cal had left. He went to help a patient; he was a damn doctor. This was why I didn’t get involved with decent men—I didn’t know how to have a normal relationship.
I swiped my phone off my lap and made a point of ignoring Frank’s scowl.
“Whatever, Billy.” Frank dragged me out of my head. “Don’t go and get any ideas though… There won’t be any going off and getting cozy with the doctor today. You hear me?”
He said it all under his breath, but he knew I heard him.
“Frank, I know you mean well, but I am a grown woman. We’ve known one another a long time. You are family to me, but I can have a little fun. I’m not a robot. I can and will develop feelings when I want to, and while it’s your job to keep me physically safe…it’s not your place to protect my heart.”
I spewed out the monologue without thinking and watched Frank squint at me. We walked a fine line because I knew he cared about me, but he wasn’t my dad or my brother.
“I guess we will see who will be there to pick up the pieces of your broken heart, won’t we?”
I deserved his comeback. He’d been by my side many times before… “Like I said, we are family, but don’t I deserve to have a little slice of the happiness pie?”
All he did was nod and turn back around. “You deserve the whole pie,” he mumbled, and I wasn’t sure if it was meant for me to hear or not.
Frank had almost given birth to a cow yesterday when I came walking out of the hospital with Cal—no warning, no text, no call. I’d broken all the rules. Frank had been sitting in the front seat of the Escalade, thumbing through his phone when I’d knocked on the window. He’d flung open the door and jumped out faster than I’d ever seen him move.
“What the fuck?” he’d asked, quieting his tone while staring at Cal the whole time.
“I’m fine, Frank. We’re in a back alley, and no one knows we are here. You remember Cal…” I said the last part flippantly.
“Yeah. Hi, buddy,” he tossed at Cal. Then to me, “You are not going to get hurt on my watch, Bill. I make the safety protocols, and you follow them for a reason,” was all he’d said in response before opening the back door and waiting for me to slide in.
“One sec,” I’d commented, pointer finger in the air before taking Cal’s hand and saying, “Thanks for walking me out.” It was more PDA than I’d expressed in a decade, and I was worried Frank might have a heart attack.
I watched Frank eyeing my fingers entwined with Cal’s, raising an eyebrow for the millionth time. There might have even been an eye twitch to go along with it, and for a hot second I felt bad. His intentions were in the right place, but he needed to give me some breathing room. I deserved to live.
This was on my mind when I’d turned quickly and whisper-shouted, “We’re going to go get a tree for Jamie’s place tomorrow.” And with the tiniest jump, added, “And one for my hotel. There’s a tree farm nearby.”
“I’m sure we can order the trees to be delivered. I’ll call.” Frank’s tone was curt and not to be trifled with.
Clearly, I’d pushed one too many buttons. Delivery was always Frank’s solution, but I was the boss. “Don’t be a party pooper, Frank. I want to go. Cal’s coming too… It’ll be fun.”
He didn’t say anything more than, “Let’s go,” waving toward the car.
After saying a quick goodbye to Cal—no kiss—I dutifully entered the SUV and listened to Frank rant over safety and the paps all knowing I was in the area. I stayed quiet, only arguing when Frank said he would be next to me all day, especially when Cal was around. This was where I drew the line.
Which brought me to this current moment, agreeing for the tenth time that I wouldn’t wander off with Cal at Davidson’s Tree Farm—as if it was an illicit outing. I had my own covert plans.
I didn’t mention how I planned to invite Cal to have dinner in my room later. (I’d liked the direction it had started to go last time.)
Some discussions are best left for the last minutewas my thought before we pulled up in front of Cal’s place. I hadn’t seen it before—duh—but I wanted to be invited inside the moment I took in the statuesque row house. Beautifully pointed red bricks outlined the façade and surrounded an ornate black iron-trimmed door. Smack in the middle of Mt. Vernon, the well-maintained home was equal parts welcoming and daunting. Now, as snowflakes caught my eye, flitting all around the shrubs, my gaze hesitated to meet Frank’s in the rearview mirror.
