"Then let her know you," I said. "Little bits at a time, Faith. You don't have to do it all at once, because that might be too much. Just tell her one new thing each time you visit. Clothes, dreams, or anything you want her to know about you. One thing each weekend."
Faith nodded again. "Ok. And it's only every other weekend, so I'll try, because I don't want to go to court again."
"God, can you imagine if you still had to live there?" Zeke asked. "Yeah, I think it's worth being cool for a few days."
Which was when Ash leaned around me. "And I missed you this weekend."
"I missed you entertaining Sissy," Cy teased. "She ate a pair of your dad's underwear."
Faith smothered a laugh. "You have a laundry hamper, Dad. Isn't that what you always told me?"
"We're not talking about that," Luke said, shooting Cy a dirty look.
"Because his underwear wasn't in his room," Zeke added. "Berto's in there."
"They have hampers too!" Faith insisted. "Dad..."
I was struggling not to laugh even as Luke looked over at Cy. "Yes, we will make sure we put all of our laundry in the hampers from now on like respectable adults."
"No rushing," Ash mumbled under his breath. "Stop everything to get the clothes in the basket. Yep, I believe it."
Which was more than I could take. I pressed my hand over my lips to stifle the giggles, but it wasn't helping. When I heard Berto chuckle behind me, it was more than I could take. The first giggle slipped out as David made his way to the front. Then Emily tittered softly.
"Quit," I hissed, looking back to see them. "You're not helping."
"The mental image," Berto mumbled.
Faith spun in her seat to shoot him a dirty look. "Eww! That's my dad!"
"Exactly!" Berto laughed, reaching up to slap Luke's shoulder. "Great conversation for church, Emerald. Good job."
Luke just sighed and leaned back on the bench. "And here I was worried about what everyoneelsewould have to say. Should've known it would be my own daughter." Then he pulled her against his side in a half-hug. "I missed you, cupcake, even if you are a pain in the behind at times."
"Love you too, Dad," Faith told him.
Chapter Forty-Two
The service was nice. I was starting to get used to that, actually, because almost all the services David held were nice. Some were boring, and a few felt like they weren't directed at me, but Ash was right. There was something different about this church. I had a feeling it was all the love and acceptance. Sadly, there was far too little of that in the world.
When the service was over, everyone began milling around as they made their way out of the building. Friends met up, acquaintances greeted each other, and names were called across the room. Then there were the dirty looks sent our way. First, an older couple. Next, it was a young man. Thankfully, no one stopped to say anything, but the looks spoke volumes.
Luke's secret was out, and I knew it hadn't been spread by friends. I knew Meredith had to be the source of it, but I didn't think she was dumb enough to spread it herself. April, Jodi, and anyone else that they could convince were the ones doing it - and gossip spread fast in a small town.
Then, of all people, Maisie stopped to say something to Ash. He made a point of introducing her to Cy, then leaned back to gesture at us. I lifted my hand in an acknowledging wave, but Maisie already knew us. That made me think Ash was explaining our relationship. Yeah, I couldn't wait to see what she thought about that. Surprisingly, I didn't have to wait very long at all.
"Every woman's dream, right?" Maisie said. "Hey, Violet, you think that might be why Jodi is so jealous?"
"Huh?" I asked, moving closer to join the conversation.
"You have a rich boyfriend, a muscular boyfriend, and Luke Barrett." Maisie gave me a pointed look. "It's no secret that Jodi would stab Meredith in the back if she thought she had a chance of getting together with Luke. Before the rest of y'all moved here, Luke was considered the catch of the town."
"Well, well," Cy said, looking back at Luke. "Sounds like you're in high demand, cowboy."
Faith giggled at that, clearly overhearing everything. "I think that's why Mom hates Violet," she said. "Because she always bragged that she was the woman who had your child."
"Oh, don't even start that rumor," I warned her. "I am not pregnant."
"But you could be one day," Faith huffed. "Don't you know that a woman has to stake her claim on her man? And the more baby mamas he's got, the less loyal he'll be."
