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She flashes a deer in the headlights look, then drops her head. “Yeah. They are. But we’re not really on speaking terms.”
“Oh?” I probe, trying to look her in the eye.
She shakes her head, averts her gaze. “Long story,” she exhales.
Just then, the waitress swoops in. “Our kitchen will be closing soon so if you want to go ahead and get your lunch and dessert orders in, that would be highly advised.”
Seemingly relieved, Greer sits upright and presses her blouse down. “I know what I want. I’ll take the brisket sandwich, extra sauce, salad instead of fries. And a diet coke.”
“And for you?” the waitress asks, tucking Greer’s menu under her arm.
“I’ll have the tuna melt, no dessert. Large iced tea.”
“I’ll get those in right away.”
Once the waitress is gone, I shift my attention back to Greer. She’s rolling a straw wrapper between her fingers.
“Is there anyone you can spend Thanksgiving with? If I’m not here and Daddy isn’t back?”
“I’ll be fine. I have a few friends close by. They’ll be happy to host me if Stig gets held up out there.” She rubs her lips together, tilts her head to the side, flashing a forlorn look. “To be honest, I’m a little jealous that he got to leave. I wanted to go with him but he said I needed to stay put.”
“Oh really?”
She nods. “I miss him when he leaves.”
Damn her. She’s activating my sympathetic side. Am I going to end up liking her?
“I miss him too.”
“It’s almost like he doesn’t want me around.” When she lets out a nervous laugh I detect something … familiar. Probably because I do the same thing, laugh when I get nervous.
“He’s like that with me too so don’t take it personally. It’s because he loves us.”
“Yeah, I know,” she says, almost like she’s trying to soothe me now. “He really is just a big old protective grizzly bear. Or, more like a sweet cuddly bear who wants to keep us locked up in a cave where no one can see or hurt us.”
Hurtus? Interesting choice of words for her to use.
“He is rather protective. Has always had reason to be that way with me given what happened to my mom. But with you? You have a jealous ex or something?” I smile, winking at her to lighten the question.
“No, nothing like that.” She answers with total seriousness. “It’s just his nature. And one of the reasons I love him so much. Though it’s also the reason I get so frustrated with him. Last week I sprained my ankle and you’d have thought I was recovering from open heart surgery. I had to sit on my ass for two whole days while he fetched this and that for me. Even bathed me like a child. Although,” she says, pausing and eyeing the ceiling with a twinkle in her eye, “that did turn out to be the most enjoyable bath of my life.”
“Umm…” I lift a brow.
She sees it and throws a hand over her mouth. “Oh my god, I’m sorry. I forgot I was talking to his daughter. I’m such an idiot at times.”
I smile and drink some tea. “Don’t worry about it. Like I said I just want him to be happy. And it sounds like he is. But don’t expect him to change in the protective department. He’s always been that way and it drives me crazy too.”
“Well, now that he has me to hover over maybe he’ll back off of you.”
I sigh. “Yeah, doubtful. If anything, it’s gotten worse.”
“Oh no. How so?”
I flick my eyes at her and she’s staring at me with morbid curiosity as she pulls some diet coke from a straw. “I don’t know if my dad has told you but I just found out that I have a half brother or sister.”
Her face seems to pale. “He mentioned it. I hope that’s okay.”
“I would expect him to. He swears he didn’t know. Crazy that Mom kept a secret that big from him.”
