She found him in his favorite brown recliner in front of the TV, watching an old John Wayne western. He was only average height, but he’d always been burly, with big arms and thick shoulders. Recently, he had grown one of those horseshoe mustaches the guys were all wearing. Even though there were gray stripes around his mouth, it looked good.
“Hey, honey, what are you doing here?” He came out of his chair and wrapped her in a big bear hug.
Cassidy managed to smile. “What, a girl can’t just decide to come home and visit her old man?”
He snorted. “Old man, my ass.”
She laughed. It felt good after all the useless tears. He took a step back to look at her and she wondered if he had heard something in her voice. He had always been amazingly perceptive.
“Something’s happened. What is it?”
She should have known she couldn’t fool him. She shrugged as if it were nothing, when it was everything. “Ifell in love. It was stupid. It’s over and eventually I’ll be okay.”
“Was it him? The race-car driver? The one your brothers and I used to watch?”
“It was him.”
Her father’s jaw tightened. “That rat bastard. I can tell he hurt you. I ought to kick his ass.”
She actually felt a smile tugging at her lips. “It wasn’t his fault. He’s a great guy. He’s just in love with someone else. Someone who died.” She looked up at him, into his dark eyes. “You should know what that’s like. You still love Mom.”
He grunted. “I’ll always love your mother, honey. So I guess I understand. I still don’t like it, and I’d still like to kick his ass.”
She brushed a kiss on his cheek. “You’re the best dad ever.”
He sighed. “I’m glad you think so, because there’s something I need to tell you. I’m hoping it’ll be okay with you.”
Cassidy frowned, worry slipping through her. “What is it, Dad?”
“I met someone, honey. I really like her. I don’t know how it’ll all shake out, but I like being with her. She makes me smile and when she’s around, I’m not lonely anymore.”
Cassidy slid her arms around her father’s neck and hugged him, managed to ignore the thick lump swelling in her throat. “I’m happy for you, Dad. Really happy.” But somehow her dad’s newfound happiness made her heartbreak even worse. She forced herself to smile. “So when do I get to meet her?”
“Soon, honey. I don’t think Anna’s quite ready for the whole family thing yet, but soon. I promise.”
Cassidy nodded and turned away, hoping he wouldn’t see the wetness in her eyes. Of course her father noticed.
“The man’s a fool,” he said gruffly. Cassidy made noreply. Things were what they were, and nothing was going to change that.
She didn’t stay the night. Her dad was having dinner with Anna, and Cassidy was ready to drive back to Dallas.
Eventually, she’d get past this. She’d get over Beau Reese and get on with her life. She just hoped it didn’t take too many years.
* * *
Linc stormed into the office Wednesday morning. He’d been traveling all week. He strode up to Marty’s desk, his jaw tight, one hand balled into a fist. “Where the hell is he?”
When the kid looked at him and kind of flinched, Linc took a deep breath and stepped away. “Sorry. I’m worried about him, is all.”
“We’re all a little worried,” Marty said. “I think he’s home. He’s been coming in way early, working while it’s still dark outside, then leaving before anyone gets here. It’s not like him. Not at all.”
“No, it isn’t. Beau’s more of a nighttime guy.”
“You think maybe you could talk to him?” Marty asked, clearly hopeful.
“It’s the girl, right? She ended things. He told me the day after it happened. Then he just disappeared.”
“I really liked her,” Marty said.
