“Never mind,” she muttered and started to get up off the couch.
“Wait a minute, you didn’t let me finish.” He gestured for her to stay seated. “I want to help, if I can.” When she was seated again, he said, “Why do you think you’re in love? Or like?”
“No clue. I’m so confused.”
“Is he the reason you’re hiding out at home?”
“I’m not hiding,” she started, then sighed and told him about Rusty, her car, the house hunt, the gala, the makeover, and their stargazing. Then she told him about Jack, the Miles Road property, her job tanking, her goal to buy a building and open up a second office in Maple Falls, and finally, Brielle.
“Wow,” he said, his brows lifting. “You’ve got a lot on your plate.”
“I always do.” She sighed. “I’m tired, Dad. When Jack told me about Brielle’s sabotage, I was upset. But I knew I could rebuild my business if I wanted to.” She looked at him. “I’m not sure I want to anymore. At least not to the way it was. Then again, maybe I just need a vacation.”
“Or you’re reevaluating things. You get that workaholictendency from me, by the way. I wish I’d taken a step back when I was younger and organized my priorities better. But I liked being a hotshot pilot and making money more than having a balanced life. In the end I had money, but it cost me my marriage and a relationship with my daughter.” He paused, not looking at her now, seemingly lost in his thoughts. Then he turned to her again. “Where does Rusty fit into all of this?”
“I don’t know. I’m not sure about anything right now.”
“Well, you don’t have to figure it all out today. Take some time to rest and relax. That will help clear your head. Trust me, it works.”
“It’s weird hearing you talk about relaxing,” she said. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you do that.”
“One of my many mistakes.” He finally picked up the coffee and took a sip.
She watched him, feeling a connection between them she never had before. “Do you want me to talk to Mom?”
“Yes. But not about us.”
Harper frowned. “Then what about?”
“She misses you very much. It was hard on her when you went away to college, and you’ve been gone ever since.”
“I’ve been around. Just not much lately.” But when she stopped to think about it, she had been more absent than present. While she’d been better at juggling her priorities in her past, spending time with Madge had been pushed farther and farther down her list over the years. Her father was right. They needed to talk. “I’ll call her,” she said, determined to keep that promise. No more procrastinating.
Her dad smiled. “Great. Just don’t mention the divorce. You were right about not wanting to be in the middle.”
“You really are sincere,” she said softly.
“Yes, I am.” He set down the coffee. “Guess I’d better be going. Thanks for listening.”
She got up from the couch. While she wasn’t ready to trust him completely, she was glad they had both shared something so personal with each other. “What’s your hurry?” she asked, pushing up her glasses. He looked on the thin side, as if he hadn’t been eating lately. “I can fix us some lunch, and we have plenty of dessert.”
His eyes softened. “That sounds wonderful, sweetheart.”
“How about tomato soup and grilled cheese? That was always my favorite on a cold, rainy day.”
“Mine too. I used to get it even when I was out of town, if I could find it.” He stood with her. “I make a mean grilled cheese, if you don’t mind me helping out.”
Without saying anything, she gave him a hug. “You already have, Dad,” she said, squeezing him tight.
***
Wednesday morning, Madge ran a brush through her newly shorn hair—a spiked pixie with streaks of pink threaded through the gray. She smiled. She’d always wanted a super-short hairstyle but thought she might look too boyish. Don had always complimented her on her sensible, classic haircuts. But on her recent visit to the salon, she had conferred with her stylist, and they’d decided on this hairstyle, Madge acquiescing to the pink at the last minute. When Vincent was finished with his handiwork, she’d loved it.
The time she’d spent with the BBs last week had been healing. They had stayed late, even breaking out the cards and playing Uno with two decks. It was the distraction and comfort she had needed, and she’d promised the BBs she wouldn’t miss the next meeting. And she hadn’t, showing up a little early and purchasing several skeins of yarn before they’d started working on the joke wigs they were making for the fall parade. The project was fun, and while it wasn’t knitting, there was still the repetitive task of attaching hair to the wig base, and she’d realized how much she missed knitting and spending time at Knots and Tangles. But she’d balked at going to the parade. She wasn’t up to mingling with a crowd yet. Her friends understood.
And then there was Harper. That was more complicated. Her daughter had called three times since Sunday night, but Madge didn’t answer—or check the three messages she left.Let her know what it feels like to be ignored.She was being childish, but she couldn’t help it. Despite the comfort she received from the BBs, her heart was still raw.
She glanced at her watch. She had to be at the lawyer’s office in three hours and had planned some retail therapy as a distraction at the Hot Springs mall before she went. A new hairstyle required a few new outfits, and she had pored through Pinterest to find some that fit her updated look—slim jeans, oversized sweaters, deconstructed jackets. If she felt a little crazy on her next shopping trip, she might buy—gasp—a pair of leggings. She grabbed her purse and left the house, then realized she’d forgotten her earrings again.
