Backing away, I gasped on purpose. “You’re kidding me.”
“Oh, stop. You know I adore your father, even if he does drive me insane. That’s what men do oh-so well.” She threw a look behind her toward where his office was located in the house. “He means well, but he just won’t listen to common sense or anything else.”
“How did you know he was the right one?”
Her gaze matched her wistful smile. “For me, it was when he hijacked the announcer’s speaker system and asked me to marry him on a gorgeous fall day a million years ago.”
“What? When was this?”
“It was after he won one of the local rodeos. There was a packed crowd. He proposed in front of all the people in the stadium.”
I couldn’t believe I’d never heard that story. “So you told him yes?”
“Oh, heavens, no. I was eighteen years old and my father would not have approved. Besides, I had two other boys I liked at the time. I made him wait four years until after I returned from college. My father only allowed him to visit me when I returned for Christmas break and summer. As you well know, your dad isn’t a patient man.”
“You’re kidding me?” No, he wasn’t. A trait I’d inherited.
“My dad, your grandfather, had a very hard head, but he wanted to make certain I had an opportunity to go away to college and experience all that life had to offer.”
“That’s why you encouraged me to go away to school.”
“I needed you to be certain what you wanted in life. Your father did too, no matter his blustery actions.” Her smile was mischievous. What was she up to?
“And Dad waited?”
“Not patiently, but he did. Granted, he was a little rough with a guy I dated while away at school, but I put him in his place. He never liked to follow the rules. Don’t tell your dad, but that was another reason I adored him. He was such a bad boy.”
“Mother!”
“Don’t you ‘Mother’ me,” she teased. “The time away was exactly what I needed to accept what I already knew in my heart.”
Nodding, I tried to remind myself he did have some redeeming qualities. “Daddy is pushing for rodeos in Missoula, hoping to fill the resort he invested in. Wade confided in me.”
“I’m glad he did. Wade is as worried as I am that your father bit off more than he could chew. I wasn’t happy at first with the idea, but I think he’s trying to recreate magic. Don’t be too hard on your dad. He does love you and the only thing he ever wanted was to have you working with him. I know. However, as I said to you before, you deserve to have your life so this must be your decision.” She squeezed my arm before moving toward the kitchen.
If I didn’t know my mother better, I’d say she was in on a little scam to try to keep me here permanently.
“Mom. Do you believe in love at first sight?”
I’d always adored her laugh. “Absolutely. I fell in love with your father at fourteen and even after all the crazy things he’s done over the years, I never really fell out of love. Getting close to another man allowed me to see just how much I cared about your dad. I think that’s a little bit like you. Now, isn’t it?” She tipped her head, even arching her eyebrows. “David was your testing ground.”
I laughed almost nervously. I’d never been able to keep a secret from my mother. “I know what you’re thinking and that was a long time ago. We’re both different people now. David helped with the loneliness.” The admittance was strangely easy. “Isn’t that sad.”
“That’s what happens when you fall hard for someone. You need to ask yourself a very important question. Did the eight-year absence make the heart grow fonder? If it did, I think you have your answer.”
She winked before disappearing into the kitchen. My mother was the instigator of good trouble.
As heat shifted across my jaw, I groaned and fanned my face. I wanted to make a strong appearance with my dad, but my mom was right.
After taking a few deep breaths, I headed to my father’s office. He was obviously waiting for me. How did I know? When he pulled out his office putting green, he was nervous.
“Hi, Dad.” My mother’s words about him reverberated in my mind, which tempered the anger.
He didn’t bother looking up, taking his time to take a shot, his concentration as if trying to win a competition.
That he missed.
“I’m glad you’re safe. I was worried about you, McKenzie.” My father was the only one who insisted on calling me by my given name more often than not.
