“Let this go with your parents. Did you get everything off your chest?”
She nods.
“They love you, and their disapproval didn’t stop anything. We’re together, in love, and bound to each other forever. Nothing else matters.”
Chapter 71
Rip
With our fingers intertwined, we return to the living room. I give her hand a squeeze before she says, “Do you want to stay for dinner? Rip is going to grill since it’s not too cold today.”
“We’d love to,” her mom says. She crosses the room, pulls Eden away from me, and hugs her. “I’m sorry, baby, and I hope you can forgive me. I don’t want to lose my daughter.”
“You’re not going to lose me. I’ve said everything I wanted to say, but you and Daddy aren’t going to treat Ripley like dirt.”
“We won’t,” her mother quickly agrees. “He’s family. Dandy, I’m happy you have someone who loves and protects you as much as he does.”
I don’t know if any of that is true, but it’s what my wife needs to hear.
“Thank you,” Eden says. “I’m willing to move forward. How about a drink?” My wife smiles for the first time since her parents got here. “I can make some.”
“None for you. You’re still on meds,” I remind her. “Little drunk.” I swat her ass.
“Dad?” she asks.
“None for me, Dandy. I’m driving.”
She gestures for her mother to follow her. They head to the wet bar, and I grab the meat from the fridge. To my displeasure, Rose follows me onto the deck.
It’s early November, and the pool is covered, but it’s been mild enough for us to grill this week.
Neither one of us speaks, and I refuse to be the one who talks first. I busy myself with the grill, but I feel his eyes on me.
“You put on quite the show.” His voice is taunting.
I’m not sure what reaction he’s after, so I refuse to react at all.
“You have my daughter hoodwinked, but you’re nothing but a smug, arrogant, son-of-a-bitch hoodlum.”
“Or you can just call me son.”
His nostrils flare at my retort. “That will be a cold day in hell.”
“What’s the matter, Sheriff? You still mad?” I chuckle at that. “Not only did I best you all those years ago, but I have your daughter now.” I leave the grill, get closer to him, and whisper, “And you and your wife had to come over here and eat crow.” He glares at me, and I hold his stare, daring him to do something. “You’re welcome, by the way.”
“And what the fuck would I need to thank you for?”
“For one, I saved your grandkids.” I don’t mention his other daughter because I don’t give a fuck about her. “And two, I’m the one who convinced my wife not to throw the two of you out on your asses like you deserve.”
I wait for him to blame me for the mess between his wife and his other daughter, but he doesn’t. I leave him outside, go to my office, and retrieve the envelope that Preacher gave me.
“Here.” I slide through the glass door and hand it to him.
Flipping through it, he lets out a loud whistle.
“I’m out of it.” I open the grill and flip the meat over. Rose doesn’t comment on the contents of the envelope.
“Dandy looks good.”
