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“It figures.” Dad came to a stop a few feet away from them. He took his time looking them over.
Coop knew what he’d see – a collection of weary people with rumpled clothes and bags under their eyes. Simon with his food-stained T-shirt. Kelcie with her exercise clothes, faded make-up, and flyaway blond hair. Dotty, also in exercise clothes and with gray hair that practically stood on end. Vivi with her tangle of brown hair, wearing a pair of borrowed flip flops and carrying her high heels.
“You think I arranged this party?” Coop shook his head, trying to shake off the need to defend himself because it would only be a lost cause.
“Are these your parents, Coop?” Dotty asked in a worn-out tone. “I’m not sure I approve of your father’s manners.”
“Of course, it was you.” Dad scowled at Dotty, and then Coop. “Who else would have done it?”
“Me.” Coop’s mother walked past Dad and hugged Coop. She wore casual, white slacks, a bright red silk blouse, and smelled like roses. “Good to see you, honey. I’ve been waiting two months for your call.”
“Don’t make excuses for the boy, Ellie,” Dad practically howled. “You weren’t even here last night. And he’s been here for two months. I can only imagine what the inside of the house looks like.”
“Is this going to take long?” Dotty sighed and came to lean on Vivi. “I’m beat.”
Coop felt a responsibility to get the elderly woman home. But he still had to defend his honor to his father. He stepped out of his mother’s embrace. “I may have been here two months, Dad, but this is the first time I’ve been to the house. I didn’t host a party.”
“A likely story,” Dad snapped.
“Charles, do you think I need to attend the parties that happen here?” Mom patted Coop’s shoulders before turning to face his father with a proud smile on her face. “When we bought this place, you said we could keep it as long as I made the payments. Well, I’ve never missed a payment yet. I rent out the house and the grounds and I’ll have you know, I make a good profit.”
A white van with a big sign painted on the side—Hampton Maid Service—pulled into the driveway.
“Yourented the house?” Dad was flabbergasted.
“Yes. We’ll talk about this later, Charles.” Coop’s mother headed toward the front door, digging in her purse, presumably for the keys. “Coop, I’ll be expecting you for dinner.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Coop grinned.
“But he… But you…” Dad was having a hard time finding his bluster. “Coop, I told you to make your own way in the world.”
“Hi. Sir?” Vivi waved her hand to get Dad’s attention before Coop could continue to engage in the no-win argument. “We had a rough night. Someone stole my grandmother’s anniversary ring and it took us until the wee hours of the morning to get it back. We couldn’t have done it without your son because it was like the thief vanished into thin air.”
That was a Shakespeare quote. Wise move on Vivi’s part.
“And I think it was fate that brought us to your house,” Vivi continued. “We certainly didn’t plan to be here.”
“Is that so?” Dad’s eyes widened, perhaps because Vivi was dropping hints that she and Shakespeare were good friends.
“I don’t know why you insist upon berating your boy.” Dotty heaved another weary sigh. “He’s been taking care of me all week, working as my chauffeur. He’s very responsible and considerate, not to mention patient. I’m told I’m a handful.”
Coop and his friends all rushed to reassure her that wasn’t true. And then Vivi, Kelcie, and Simon talked on top of one another, each trying to vouch for Coop.
“The door is open, Charles.” Mom came back down the steps and hooked her arm through Dad’s. “I’m sure there’s still a lot to say, but we took a red eye flight and Charles needs his rest.”
His father let himself be led toward the door.
“Dad, we have a lot to talk about. But right now, I need to get everybody home and drop off the car to my boss.” Without waiting for his father’s reply, Coop led his silent band of friends to the Town Car.
“Why do I feel like I’ve been caught doing something wrong?” Dotty asked as they drove away.
“I’m sorry, Dotty.” Coop felt the need to apologize. “My dad has high expectations for me while also having a low opinion of me.”
“Don’t apologize for his misconception, dear.” Dotty had her head hanging out the open rear window. “I enjoyed his surprise when your mother lay claim to the party. His reaction reminded me of my son, Tim. He’s a stuffed shirt, too. No offense.”
“None taken,” Coop reassured her. He reached across the center console for Vivi’s hand.
“I should apologize,” Vivi said, quietly. “Last night was my fault. If I’d put Grandma Dotty’s ring in my purse, our evening would have ended with the first party.”
