Page 20 of Glacier

Tiptoeing back to the office hallway, I opened the door and deliberately shut it loudly.

“Dad!” I called as I walked briskly towards the front.

By the time I appeared, they were both smoothing down their hair, and Sam had strategically relocated to the other side of the counter.

“What’s up, sweetheart?” Dad asked casually.

“Well, first, that leg should be up on the chair,” I pointed out.

Sam snickered. “Told you so.”

Heaving out an aggrieved sigh, Dad lifted his leg onto the chair and waved his hands in a ta-da motion. “There, it’s up. Happy now?”

Laughing, I wrapped an arm around his shoulders and kissed his cheek. “Love you, old man.”

His expression softened instantly. “Love you too. Now what do you need?”

I moved back to lean against the counter and crossed my arms. “I’m doing the delivery this Friday and may not be back until Sunday.”

Dad narrowed his eyes, and I waited as he processed this information. “You sure you know what you’re doing?”

“Nope.” I smirked. “No clue whatsoever. But I do know I slept through the night while I was with him, and I want to see where this goes.”

Dad blinked. “All night?”

“All night.”

His surprise deepened.

“Yeah, surprised me to.” I nodded then continued. “I’ll go early Friday and come back on Sunday. I’ll keep my phone on me the whole time, and you can call me whenever you need me. That’s the first thing…”

“You want me to keep an eye on Fin this weekend,” Dad finished knowingly. “He already told me about the bonfire and party. Also told me you gave him the safe-sex lecture and asked if he needed condoms.”

His eyes twinkled with amusement.

Unrepentant, I shrugged. “Damn right. I’m too young to be a grandmother.”

Sam burst out laughing, and Dad cracked up.

“Anyway,” I continued, “that’s it. You good with all that?”

“Yeah, sweetheart. That's fine.” His voice softened with concern. “You’ll be careful?”

No wonder my son was turning into a good man. My dad was the best example he could’ve had.

Wrapping my arms around him, I squeezed tight.

“I’ll be careful,” I promised.

And I would.

I had too much to lose.

***

Me: Arriving at the barn in ten minutes.

Glacier: I’ll be there.