“Hey beautiful daughter of mine. When did you get here?” I set the spatula down and walk over to hug Aster.
“Just now. I called out but you didn’t answer. I figured you forgot about our dinner date.” She squeezes me tight around the waist and I rest my chin on top of her head.
She’s an adult but still so petite that I can pretend she’s my little girl and not a woman with a career and dreams of a future family.
“I would never forget about our dinners. They’re the highlight of my week. Come in and I’ll grab you some sweet tea.” I walk her to kitchen island, pulling back a stool for her to sit on.
“Dad. I can get my own drink. I’m very capable.”
“I know princess, but let your old dad feel like he isn’t completely useless.” She purses her lips and shakes her head at me.
“You didn’t answer my question. What were you mumbling about?” I open the refrigerator and stare at the pitcher of tea, debating on whether or not I should tell her the truth or leave out a few things.
The thing about lying by omission is that I have never lied to my girls.
That is one that Justine and I were in agreement on from very early on. We never wanted to tell the girls fallacies and would always tell the truth in a manner that they could understand at whatever age they were. The fact that I’ve been holding my financial dire straits from every one has been eating at me. I feel like I’m going to worry myself into an ulcer, and right now I can’t afford a medical bill.
I reach in and grab the glass pitcher and take a deep breath. “I ran into Serena Leòn today and, just like her father, offered a sit down about buying Steele Nuts.”
I spin around and set the pitcher and a glass on the counter in front of Aster. Pressing my hands flat to the marble I stare at the eyes that look just like mine. Aster ended up being the only one of my daughters to inherit the blue color as Maggie and Daisy took after their mother. Aster’s also the only one with blonde hair like me. Well, like me when I was younger and had a color other than gray.
“And what did you say?”
“Nothing. She didn’t really give me a chance to reply. She threw it over her shoulder as she walked away and left before I could tell her to go fuck herself.”
“Dad!” Aster gasps but I can only shrug. “I hope you wouldn’t ever say that to her.”
“Well not in those exact words, but that would be the basics of it. I have no intention of selling my company. It belonged to my parents and grandparents, and I could never sign away my family's legacy. You girls may sell it off for pieces after I’m gone, but while I’m kicking and breathing I’ll fight to keep it alive.”
Aster reaches across the cold surface and rests her hand on mine. “We would never sell it, Dad. Why would you think that way?”
“Because none of you want to work with me. At the end of the day, or rather my life, it will go to someone other than my kids so you three might as well get as much money from it as you can. Hopefully it’ll be worth more than it is now.”
She watches me and asks, “What are you talking about?”
I blow out a gush of air in a very dramatic fashion and explain. “I’m bleeding money, Aster. Last year’s weevil infestation really hurt us and I’m still trying to recover. I don’t know if we ever will.”
Pouring her a glass of sweet tea, I lay out all of the details from the loss to my current expenses and how I just can’t afford to lose anymore money or I’ll be knocking on her door and crashing on her couch. She chews her lip the entire time she listens and doesn’t say one word until I’m finished spilling every last secret. When I’m done, she gulps down a mouthful of cold tea and takes a deep breath.
“We’re not selling to Regal, but we are going to make some changes,” she says as if we sit in a boardroom.
“What do you meanwe? I’m the only one in the operation right now. Daisy and Maggie are still in school and you’ve got a great job that I couldn’t possibly ask you to leave for little to no paycheck.”
“You’re right. You couldn’t ever ask me and that’s why I’m volunteering.”
“No, Aster. That’s not the answer.”
“Actually it is. I was going to discuss this with you when I had a clear decision on what I wanted to do, but hearing this has made my choice easy.”
“What choice would that be? And do I need a drink for this?” I ask, already heading back towards the fridge.
“You won’t need one, but may want to have one on hand to toast what I’m about to propose. Also, please stir that saucebefore it burns.” She juts her chin in the direction of the stove and I abandon the beer for the saucepan.
When I’ve stirred the sauce and set the heat to simmer, I grab two beers and sit next to Aster to hear her out.
“I’m not happy, Dad.”
“What’s going on, princess? Is it Vince still? Do I need to grab my shotgun and pay him a visit?” She gulps and shakes her head.
