He waves it off. “Oh sweetheart, that’s nothing. You didn’t miss much.”
His gaze lands on Silas and Gideon, and his whole face brightens. “Ah, look at that. Back again.” He claps Gideon on the shoulder like they’ve been friends for years. “Didn’t expect to see you two so soon after last night.”
I nearly choke.
Silas steps forward, polite and steady. “Good to see you again, Chad.”
Gideon offers his hand—firm shake and easy smile. “Thank you for welcoming us twice in twenty-four hours. Hope we’re not intruding.”
“Not at all,” Dad says, waving that off like it’s absurd. “Any family of Talon and Abi’s is welcome here. What brings you all by?”
“We were visiting Talon,” Gideon answers smoothly. “He said he was here and asked us to swing through.”
Dad looks between us like that makes his entire afternoon. “That’s great. I love seeing him with good people around him.”
He turns back to me. “Abi told me to tell you that there is a dress fitting tomorrow. She’s very excited.”
I swallow around the sudden dryness in my throat. “Yeah. Okay. Ummm, can you text me the time and place?”
“Of course.” He smiles.
I clear my throat. “Actually, Dad—there’s something I want to ask before we go.”
He looks up from adjusting the cuff of his shirt, giving me his full attention. “What’s on your mind, sweetheart?”
“I still want to meet Minxy,” I say plainly. “Before the wedding. Before any of this becomes official.”
His brows lift, surprised but not bothered.
“I can’t stand up there as your best woman when I’ve never even exchanged a word with your future stepdaughter. I don’t want to walk into a family I don’t know. And I definitely don’t want her walking into one without someone in her corner.”
Chad lets out a long breath, and something softens in his face. Something relieved.
“I’m glad you said that,” he admits. “I’ve been trying to make that happen. I want you two to meet. Hell, I’d like to meet her. But she’s… well, she’s gotten herself into a little trouble at school.”
A knot forms in my stomach. “What kind of trouble?”
He shrugs, but the movement’s uneasy. “Attitude. Talking back. I’m not really sure. Abi said she’s had some ‘behavioral issues,’ according to the staff. But she’s a good kid. Talon, your mom said your sister’s always been a little firecracker? Spirited. Independent.”
Spirited. Independent. The kind of labels adults use when they don’t know the whole story.
I nod slowly. “I really want to meet her, Dad. Not just for you. For her too.”
He smiles. “I’ll keep pushing Abi. We’ll find a weekend soon. I promise.”
We exchange a little more small talk. Talon stays wisely silent. Finally, Gideon nudges the conversation toward the door with a polite mention of letting Dad enjoy the rest of his afternoon.
He walks us out, giving Silas and Gideon a friendly nod. “Good seeing you guys again.”
The second the front door shuts behind us, everything in me unclenches just enough to breathe fully again.
Talon trails after us to the cars, hands buried deep in his pockets, shoulders tense.
Silas doesn’t even look at him. “Gideon’s,” he says. “We’ll sort through everything there.”
Gideon’s dining table becomes an evidence board.
We printed and laid out all the pictures: invoices from St. Helen’s, disciplinary notes, the behavioral irregularities list with Minxy highlighted, the email about “influences,” the photo of Abi and her first husband, the USB.
