Emma laughed. “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory certainly seems to be a popular Christmas gift for friends this year.”
Once he was done at the bookstore, he headed next door to the hardware store to see if Boone had any good gift ideas for Cheyenne. He thought he’d have to be sneaky about it because Cheyenne was working at the store during the holiday break. But it turned out Cheyenne had left early.
“She said she didn’t feel well,” Boone said as he rang up some Christmas lights for Sawyer and Maisy Dawson.
Cal grew instantly concerned. “She doesn’t feel well? She seemed fine this morning.” At least, hethought she’d seemed fine. He turned to Maisy. “Was she okay last night at rehearsal?”
“She wasn’t at rehearsal last night,” Maisy said. “She called and said she was sick and would be staying home.”
Cheyenne hadn’t stayed home. Cal had watched her and Nathan drive away in Nathan’s truck on their way to rehearsal. Obviously, that wasn’t where they’d gone.
His face must’ve shown his anger because Boone quickly figured out what was going on. “Now, Cal, don’t be getting mad. Teenagers tell little fibs all the time. She probably went to Joey Mac’s Christmas party. I heard most of the high school was there.”
Maisy jumped in to defend Cheyenne. “And it’s not a big deal that she missed one rehearsal. She knows all her lines and has been such a big help with the younger kids when she’s there. She probably just needed a night off. Believe me, I could use one. I didn’t realize how hard it is to direct a Christmas pageant. It’s like trying to corral a bunch of greased pigs. You get one quieted down and where they need to be and another one starts squealing and racing around.”
Sawyer brushed a kiss over her lips. “You’re doing great, honey. And just think, when we have some little piglets of our own, you’ll be all prepared.”
“Nothing prepares you for dealing with teenagers,” Cal said dryly. “I’ll see y’all later. I need to go find my fibbing daughter.”
“Don’t be too hard on her,” Boone called asCal walked out the door. “She’s a good kid.”
Cal knew she was a good kid. And if she’d stayed home and played hooky, it would be one thing. But she’d gone to a party he’d told her not to go to. He remembered what high school parties were like. Cheyenne was too naïve to handle drunk, horny high school boys. If Joey Mac had forced her into something she wasn’t ready for, Cal would beat the kid’s ass. Not that Cheyenne would ever tell him. She obviously had taken to keeping secrets.
He didn’t have much room to talk. He’d been keeping his own secret. Maybe his secret affair was the problem. He’d been so wrapped up in finding time to be with Jolene that he hadn’t found a lot of time to be with his daughter.
Guilt took away some of his anger. But it came right back when he got to their apartment and Cheyenne wasn’t there. Since Nathan seemed to be in cahoots with her, Cal drove to the garage to see if he knew where she might be. If she was with Joey Mac, she would be on restriction until the cows came home.
She wasn’t with Joey Mac. She was at the garage. She was sitting on the worktable where she always sat, looking like she’d lost her best friend. Nathan sat on a caster stool, watching her with adoring puppy dog eyes. Neither one of them seemed to notice when Cal stepped through the open bay door.
“Hey, you two.”
Both of them startled, but only Nathan jumped up and answered. “Hey, sir. I was just taking alittle break. I’m almost done with rotating the tires on the Jeep Wrangler.”
Cal nodded. “How was rehearsal last night?”
Nathan dropped the lug nut drill he’d just picked up and it clattered onto the cement floor. He quickly picked it back up. “R-R-Rehearsal was good, sir.”
“And you got Cheyenne to the church on time?”
Nathan’s flushed face said it all. The young man swallowed hard and was about to speak when Cheyenne cut him off.
“He didn’t take me to rehearsal, Daddy. He took me to a party at Joey Mac’s house.”
Cal only spared his daughter one glance before his gaze returned to Nathan. “You’re fired.”
Cheyenne jumped up from the table. “Daddy, no! It wasn’t his fault. It was mine. I made him take me. Nathan tried to talk me out of it. He didn’t even stay. He went to rehearsal.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Nathan said softly. “Your father trusted me to get you to the church and back home. I let him down. And I let myself down. I know better.” He turned to Cal. “I’m sorry, sir. You don’t have to pay me for this week. I don’t deserve it. I’ll leave my key on the desk.”
“Nate!” Cheyenne said, but Nathan ignored her and walked into the office. Once the door slammed behind him, Cheyenne looked at Cal with tears in her eyes. He’d always been a sucker for his daughter’s tears. It was hard to keep a stern face and not pull her into his arms. Of course, her angry words made it easier.
“How could you?” she snapped.
“I won’t have an employee I can’t trust. It’s bad enough that I can’t trust my own daughter.”
Cheyenne swiped at the tear rolling down her cheek. “Okay. So I lied. But you just don’t get it, Daddy. You don’t understand what it’s like to be a teenager. You don’t remember anything about being young. You’re like this crotchety old man who doesn’t remember what it’s like to fall in love for the first time. Even Jolene remembers what it’s like to be in love.” Cal blinked. When had Cheyenne talked to Jolene about love? He didn’t have long to ponder the question before Cheyenne continued her rant. “And I get it. Mama broke your heart and made you afraid of falling in love again. But I’m not afraid of love.”
“You’re not ready for love, Cheyenne.”
