WhatmoreI was capable of, I still wasn’t sure. But for Claudia, I wanted to try.
I’d been officially divorced for a while, but if I was honest with myself when I looked back, we’d been separated long before that. I’d never considered staying in that town after Maggie and I were over. It had been her home more than mine, and the stigma of what had happened between us would reach too far and wide to escape it. In a small town, although where we’d lived wasn’t as small as Kelly Lakes, word got around fast, and I didn’t need the looks of pity everywhere I turned. I got them here too, but they were more out of concern than judgment.
When Dad’s health had started to decline, I’d known I had an impending decision to make since I was in Kelly Lakes most of the time anyway. It was easier to focus on my father than to dwell on the fact that I had nothing keeping me in the house and town I’d called home for almost a decade.
I was as sick of my mundane life as my father was of witnessing it. The thought of Claudia ending up with someone else if I didn’t get my head out of my ass infuriated me enough to shock me awake.
My father’s easy smile surprised me as his gaze slid to mine.
“You look good. Not as good as Claudia will look, but—”
“Well, that’s a given.” I laughed as I stuffed my wallet into my jeans and came up to my father. Whatever it meant or what would come out of it, I looked forward to spending tonight with the beautiful woman I couldn’t stop thinking about. I’d try to leave the fear and worry at the door and enjoy it.
“I know you’re going to call me a pain in the ass, but leave the phone close by. Don’t ruin my dinner by not answering a text and making me race home.”
“And don’t ruin your entire night by worrying about your father for most of it. I’m fine, and I’ll even lift your curfew for the night. Stay out until dawn if you want.”
We shared a rare laugh.
“Well, thanks, Dad. Let me get you settled, and I’ll head—”
“Stop it.” He put his hand up. “Jolene made dinner before she left for the day, and I’m fine. I’ve mastered getting in and out of a chair when I need to, albeit slowly. Just go and don’t keep her waiting.” He inched out of the way for me to pass. “I’ll lock the door behind you when you go.”
“Can’t get rid of me fast enough?”
“Picked up on that, did you?”
“Thanks, Dad.” I tapped my chest. “That warms my heart to hear my father admit he wants me gone.”
“I’m doing you a favor.” He wrapped his hand around my bicep. “You have a long night of convincing Claudia you’re not really the dumbass you’ve been the past few weeks. A head start would help you out.” He jerked his head toward the front door.
“I suppose it would,” I said as I followed my father’s slow gait to the door.
“See you soon,” I said, glancing over my shoulder one last time to make sure the living room was clear enough for him to move around if he needed to. I thought I was stealthy about it until I heard his groan behind me.
“It better not be too soon, or else I’ll send you back out. Go.”
I chuckled when he nudged my shoulder.
“Have a good night, Dad.”
“Same, son,” he said, a slow smile spreading across his cheeks as he closed the door almost in my face. I laughed as I waited for the lock to click and headed to my truck, texting Claudia before I climbed in that I was on my way.
The drive to the Russos’ house was less than five minutes, but it seemed to take forever. After avoiding Claudia for so long, and all the ways my father was so kind to point out I’d fucked up with her so far, I was anxious to make it right and have her all to myself for a night.
I was in new territory—or at least new for me in the past few years. The excitement stirring in my chest wasn’t something I was used to, but it sure didn’t suck. I had a lot of hang-ups to get past and trepidation that I wouldn’t be able to shake off in only one night, but the fact that I was here at all seemed significant enough to mean something.
“Look at you, right on time.”
I laughed at Jake’s wry grin as I stepped out of my truck. He was sitting on a blanket in the grass with his daughter as bubbles floated around them. She pulled on his sleeve after he greeted me, grunting with an impatient pout aimed at her father.
“Sorry, baby girl.” He swirled the wand back in the container and slipped it out. Jake blew out a slow, round bubble as her eyes lit up, tracking it as the breeze carried it over to me and right into my face, popping when it hit the tip of my nose. Her raspy giggle made me laugh right along with her, despite the dull pang in my chest from watching Jake with his daughter.
My father and I had done everything together for as long as I could remember. Much to my mother’s dismay at times, we were always playing in the yard and getting right in the dirt, trudging into the house filthy but happy. As much as she’d yelled at us, I always spotted the smile she’d try to hide.
I’d wanted to be just like my father when I had kids of my own, never thinking I’d be a displaced bachelor in my midforties and taking care of him instead.
“That’s a big one!”
