“And my new car. I’m driving us home,” she whispers.
“You must think I’m some kind of pussy who lets his wife drive him around.”
“Mom, look! We got new bathing suits for swimming. We got goggles, too.” Eva and Tim bring their gift bags to their mom. “This one’s for the baby,” Eva adds.
“Dinner’s almost ready, everyone,” Serena Rose shouts from the kitchen.
We’ve been here since ten o’clock this morning, and Sheriff Rose has had a beer in his hand since noon. I don’t know how he can stand to drink that disgusting beverage.
He approaches us, and I tighten my arm around Eden.
“Dinner is casual around here,” Sheriff Rose says. “Grab a plate and find a seat. Dandy, why don’t you go fix him a plate?” He pulls her away from me.
“I’ll help. I want to eat what Uncle Rip eats,” Tim says.
“Me too.” Eva and Tim follow my wife to the kitchen, and I’m left alone with Rose.
“You’re quite popular with the kids,” he says.
“They need a real man to look up to.” I side-eye his beer, aching to take it from him and pour it down the drain.
“Is that what you call it?” Laughing, he puts a hand on my shoulder. “By the way, when is the hot tub getting put in?”
“Why?”
“Because I’m going to come over often to use it. It’ll be a good way to relax and loosen my sore muscles.”
“It’s not for you. It’s for my wife.” And I’m sure she’ll have her friends come over, but I’ve learned to tolerate them. I still can’t stand this beer-guzzling man who sired my wife.
“My daughter will love having her father around.” He gets closer. “I told you that you’re going to be just as miserable as you’ve made me, asshole.” He walks away, takes a plate fromhis daughter, comes back, and hands it to me. “Come on. Sit down.”
We sit in the kitchen and are joined by Serena and the kids.
“I’m so glad we can all find a middle ground,” Rose announces, but his words are fake. He couldn't give two shits about finding middle ground with me, and that’s how I prefer it.
“Me too, Daddy,” Eden says. She smiles at me. I know she’s relieved about this truce between me and her parents because I overheard her telling her friends how happy she was about it.
“Ripley, this is for you.” He pulls an envelope out of his pocket and hands it to me.
Sure that whatever is in it isn’t anything I’d want, I freeze.
“Open it, honey,” Eden says.
I unseal it and pull out a plane ticket receipt.
“I’d like to invite Ripley to go fishing with me and your uncle next year. I’d love to have you.”
He holds my stare while he sips his beer. This man knows I hate the ocean and everything in it.
“Daddy, really?” Eden asks.
“Sure, baby. I’m letting all the hard feelings go.”
He’s not. He thinks he’s going to make me miserable, but I have nine months to think of a way to get out of this.
“That’s nice of you, Dad, but Ripley doesn’t like fishing or the ocean,” Eden says.
“Oh, Dandy, it’s not about the fishing. It’s about the bonding.” He puts a hand on my shoulder. “I’d like to get to know your husband. I admit, I wasn’t happy about the two of you, and I want to make it up to him. We all see how much he loves you.” He taps my shoulder, and I resist the urge to shrug it off. “Oh, and one more thing.” He gets up, leaves the kitchen, and returns with two fishing rods, each with a big red bow. “For you.”
