Starting the truck, I steer us toward the main road.
“Why’d you let me go into marketing? No one is looking to hire someone with a marketing degree.”
I wince. “Lenny, if I told you not to go into marketing, what would you have done?”
She smirks. “Gone into marketing.”
“Exactly. You’re as stubborn as your mother.”
“Maybe she could’ve talked some sense into me.”
“I doubt it.” I laugh. “You probably would have yelled at either of us for trying.”
“Maybe.” Lennox rolls her eyes. “Or maybe I just need to move.”
“There’s always that possibility, but maybe wait until you’ve exhausted all your options here.”
I love having my daughter in town. Even though I don’t see her as much as I would like to—she has her own life—I love that she can pop by to see me when she wants.
“We’ll see.”
“Can you try for your old man? He likes having you around.”
She laughs. “Ugh. Hanging out with my dad? I’m so cool.”
“Ouch. You wound me.”
“I’m kidding. Someone has to make sure you’re taking care of yourself since you don’t seem to want to settle down.”
I shift in my seat. It’s getting harder and harder to dodge the questions about my love life. After Casie died, I never worried about someone taking care of me. But now that I have Joey, I like being able to take care ofher. To help her outwith things, like her car and taking care of them when they were sick.
“You know me.” I clear my throat. “I’m fine on my own.”
“Are you though?” she asks, turning in her seat to face me. “You haven’t had a real relationship since Mom died.”
“What’s with the sudden interest in my love life?”
“I don’t know. If I do move, I want to make sure you’re happy too, Dad.”
“I am.” I pat her arm. “I have you.”
“I mean more than just me. You’re allowed to have someone,” she says.
“Are you trying to parent me?” I cast an eye her way.
“Someone has to.”
“I’ll think about it, okay?”
“And you say I’m stubborn.”
I laugh and let the conversation end there as we get to the main road in town. I wish I didn’t have to lie to my daughter about who I’m seeing. The last thing I want is to put any kind of strain on our relationship, and I don’t know what she would say if she knew I was dating someone only a few years older than she is.
It hasn’t been easy on her, losing her mother. But I don’t know if I could handle losing what we’ve gotten back.
I flip my blinker on and turn into the long drive at Greg and Nina’s. Kids are running around the front yard as I pull to a stop behind a few other cars.
Hopping out, I grab the covered bowl and am attacked by someone around the legs.
