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“Yeah, whatever.”
“Don’t you dare hold back with Brock just because you think it’s making Mom happy. You doyou. If Brock is the one who makesyouhappy, hold on to him. You deserve happiness and more, Ror.”
“Here’s the thing, Cal. IwantMom to be happy.”
“I know you do. You just want her to be just as happy either way.”
“Is there anything wrong with that?”
“There’s nothing wrong with that, and you know Mom would be happy either way. Just slightly happier one way.”
I sigh and hang the dish towel on the rack. “I know. And you know what I’m going to do right now? I’m going to join my boyfriend, your fiancé, and our father out on the deck. For a brandy. Or rather, for some water. Because women don’t always need to be in the kitchen.”
Callie laughs. “You’re telling me? I’m the one who’s going to be a freaking lawyer. Let’s go.”
We run into Dad going back out.
“You two done in the kitchen already?”
“Yeah,” Callie says. “We definitely are.”
Dad grins at us.
He knows Mom, and he understands.
“You all go on out. I’ll finish up in the kitchen with your mother.”
“How did we get such a great dad?” I kiss him on his cheek.
“Same way I got such amazing daughters. Go on out and talk with your boyfriends.”
I jar at Dad’s use of the termboyfriends. Donny is so much more than Callie’s boyfriend, and Brock… What are we, exactly? Boyfriend sounds so juvenile. We’re in love, but it’s still so new. Is there a correct term?
Or does it matter?
Maybe all that matters is that we’re happy.
That’s all that matters to my father. And to ultimately my mother…in that warped way of hers.
The four of us laugh and chat about nothing in particular, until Donny’s phone rings.
He regards it. “It’s Dale.”
“You should take it,” Brock says.
Donny nods. “Yeah, Dale?” he says into the phone.
Pause.
“I’m not sure. Brock’s with me now. We’ll be right over.”
“What is it?” Brock asks when Donny ends the call.
“Dale says we need to talk to my dad. Now.”
“Is everything okay?” I ask.
“Yeah. I mean, no one’s hurt.” Donny shoves his phone in his pocket.
