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Cal nodded.
“Like you thinking it was in our best interest to move us to White Oak Creek?” I asked with a hint of sarcasm. The wounds were still hurting from this move.
Dad rolled his eyes at me. “You met
Cal,” Mom suggested as consolation. “Quit complaining.” She had entered behind us from the hallway that led from the kitchen. My mother walked softly not like my dad or Tyson, so we hadn’t heard her coming.
“Hi Mrs. Cooper. Nice to see you again.”
“Kat,” she corrected Cal. “Good to see you too Cal. I hear your Dad is home.”
“He is. The entire family is at my house waiting for us so we can have breakfast together.”
He hadn’t mentioned the entire family. Now, I was terrified. Cal looked at me and squeezed my hand. “I’ve got your back. No need to be afraid. I won’t let them eat you.”
I laughed although nervously at his joke. “You didn’t say anything about the whole family.”
Cal looked at my parents. “I’m one of seven kids. Only my sister Blythe isn’t dating or married to someone.”
“That’s a lot of people,” Mom said knowing that I would feel insecure being around that many new people this morning. It was hard enough thinking I had to meet Mr. Cooper this morning.
“It is,” Cal agreed. “I’ll take care of Abby, though.”
Mom smiled at him and I knew that she liked him. “Thank you for that, Cal. She’s painfully shy around new people. Tyson has always been her protector probably to her detriment.”
I had to agree. I didn’t have to come out of shell if Tyson was around. I could hide behind him. The last few years of him pulling away from me had been good for me if painful.
“We should go,” Cal said looking at me for confirmation.
I nodded then told my parents goodbye. Mom was doing my hair and make-up later, so I had to be back by one to give her plenty of time to make me up. I told her when I would be home. She shooed us out the door and shut it with Dad looking less than happy and I didn’t understand why.
We walked to the Impala; our hands still clasped. At the passenger door, Cal opened it and I started to release him. He held onto me tighter. His eyes boring into mine, I noticed. I wondered what he was thinking. Then he raised our hands to his lips and kissed the back of my hand.
“Are you okay?”
I was really worried about Cal.
“I just don’t know what to expect out of my Dad, Abby. That’s what is worrying me.”
“Come on.” I didn’t feel as brave as I tried to sound. I slid into the car and Cal shut the door. He went around the front and got behind the wheel. When he backed out, I could see that he was still troubled about this morning.
“Today is supposed to be a fun day for us,” I told him.
He nodded. Cal was quiet the rest of the way to his house. Cal was never quiet which unnerved me more. He parked in his driveway behind a line of cars of different makes and models. My hands were trembling when he came to my side to open my door.
I was even more surprised when we walked through the front door and Aiden and Luke were there, smirking at me. I knew from the look on their faces they thought they belonged here more than I did. Cal was not happy that they were there either.
His dad appeared in the doorway to the kitchen. A surprise for sure. He was tall like Cal and I could see someday Cal being filled out like him but there the resemblance ended. His hair was dark like Rhonda’s. His eyes were pale blue, which was a strange contrast against his tan, weathered skin. He spent a lot of time outdoors, you could tell.
Mr. Cooper didn’t smile at first. He was taking in the situation, I could see. Then he approached Cal and me. “I’m Dan Cooper, Abby. Nice to meet you.” His voice was soft and deep. He was trying to be inviting, I could tell.
I extended my hand to him and he grasped it with both hands and tugged me to him. “It’s a pleasure to have you in our home,” he said to me, surprising me and I assumed Cal by the look on his face when his dad released me.
I hadn’t expected this warm welcome. “Thank you, sir.”
“Call me Dan. All my girls call me Dan or Dad.” He stepped back and gave me a wink. “Breakfast is almost ready. I’m just helping Dana finish up.”
He turned and headed to the kitchen. I looked at Cal who was speechless. He shook his head at me. “I don’t know him,” he said.
