“It’s not that,” I said. “It’s just…you know. Um…a whole new side of you.”
“A whole new side of me in your eyes, but not altogether. After this man’s fool-headed actions, I’ve decided I’m not waitin’ until we’re in private to call him out on his idiot behavior. No time for that anymore, because I intend to have him at my side for many years to come. So, if he wants to act like a jackass, I’m gonna tell him so. Regardless of who’s in earshot.”
“You’re not gonna do that while any of the fellas are around, are you?”
“Try me.”
“Sweetheart,” my dad said, in a tone that could only be described as a whine.
What in the hell was going on?
“Don’t ‘sweetheart’ me. You’ll have nothing to worry about if you follow the doctor’s orders and do as you’re told.”
“But they have me—” Daddy cut off at a sharp look from Momma, and I had to stifle another laugh.
We were in uncharted territory now. As far as I knew, none of us Haven girls had ever been witness to anything like this. No wonder Nat had been able to stay at the hospital all morning. This was better entertainment than skydiving. Especially with Gran there giving Daddy the what for, too.
“How’re things goin’ at town hall, honey?” Momma asked as she stroked Daddy’s hand.
“They’re—I’m…figurin’ things out.”
“Figurin’ things out at all hours, apparently,” Daddy said. “Spendin’ an awful lot of time there, if talk around town is to be believed.”
Of course, my dad would take the extra hours I’d spent there learning the ropes and turn it into a negative. Because I was so dumb, I’d flunked out of college, so ofcourse,I’d need extra time to do his work.
“Not that much…” I mumbled, but my fire from earlier had all but evaporated.
“That’s not what Gleaves told me. Said you’ve been gettin’ there before the sun comes up and not leavin’ until well after it’s set. That’s—” Daddy cut off and pressed his lips together, nodding to me. It took all my strength not to cringe in anticipation of what was coming. “Real impressive. I’m proud that you’re puttin’ in this work and not lettin’ town hall go to hell while I’m out.”
Wait…what? Had I stepped into the freakin’ twilight zone? You could knock me over with a feather, I was so stunned at those words coming out of his mouth. Though I was fairly certain praise from him had happened at least once in all my years, I couldn’t remember a single time.
“Don’t look so shocked, Mac. ’Course I’d be askin’ folks to keep an eye on things while I’m gone. Can’t effectively run the town from a hospital bed if I don’t.”
“That’s the whole point, dear. Youdon’trun the town.Macdoes.” Momma pursed her lips. “And you said so yourself earlier today after your phone call—she’s doin’ a fine job of it. So, leave her to it.”
I thought my shocks for the day were over, but apparently not. As my parents continued bickering quietly, I could only sit there, the outward appearance of utter calm. Meanwhile, inside, everything was all jumbled.
I liked to pretend as if I didn’t give two shits about what people thought of me, but that just wasn’t true. And though years ago I’d stopped attempting to gain my parents’ approval, that didn’t mean I didn’t still desperately crave it. And they’d just handed it to me on a silver platter.
I couldn’t deny the feeling of accomplishment that had settled over me at their words. Which was ridiculous—it should’ve been the acts that made me feel accomplished and not a couple well-timed sentences from my parents. Especially since I was a fully grown woman who didn’t need their approval for anything. I knew that, and yet…
“How long are you gonna be stayin’ this afternoon?” Momma asked. “I know you must be so busy at town hall.” Her words were spoken with such pride, I couldn’t help but feel that swell in my chest.
I cleared my throat from the tightness that was suddenly there. A tightness that had nothing to do with my daddy being in a hospital. “I’ve got a while. I was in late last night and again early this mornin’.”
“Must’ve gotten that work ethic from your daddy,” he said.
Never mind that I’d seen him skipping work more than actually doing it, but that was beside the point. He was showing me the kind of approval he usually reserved for Rory or sometimes Will. Never Nat. Never me.
Now, I just had to figure out how tokeepit.
If anything, the stakes were even higher now, because I’d been given a taste of something I couldn’t ever remember having, and it was as addictive as a drug.
It was time to buckle down as the acting mayor and make headway not waves. I’d sworn I was ready to sacrifice anything to prove my worth. And that included all the ideas I’d had for the town, like the entrepreneurial bonuses to entice newcomers to the area, or a dedicated search and rescue team for Havenbrook.
Now wasn’t the time to broach those ideas or fight for any of it. Not when I needed to hold it together for my family. Not when my daddy was counting on me to not fuck up.
So, for now, I could maintain the status quo. Besides, we’d gone without for this long—what was another couple months?
