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“And so should you. You want to push me away?” I gave him a hard stare. “You want to drive us apart while I’m right here in the same town? This is how.”
“Knox…”
“I’m serious.” I handed him a glass of milk to accompany the cake because I knew him that well. And it was because I knew him that I could be firm here. “I was happy to help out with the girls today, but unless you can welcome Monroe here along with me, I’m done with the favors and gatherings and pretending like you respect me when clearly you don’t.”
“I love you.”
“Yes, but do you respect me?” I went to the opening from the kitchen to the TV room, lowering my voice as I gestured at the couch. “Look at Monroe, Dad. Really look at him.” On the couch, Monroe snoozed on, one hand holding tight to the book, the other on the blanket I’d laid over him. “He’s exhausted from chasing the girls. He went so far outside his comfort zone today. Baked that birthday cake with the girls. Scrubbed your counter after. Read to the girls until he was hoarse. That’s the guy I love. The one who does the right thing, the best thing, even when it’s hard.”
“I understand—”
“No, you don’t. This is Monroe.” Even in a whisper, my voice still wavered. “He put twenty years into serving his country. Maybe he would have rather been an English major somewhere, but he put his all into NCIS, and he’s a hell of an investigator. He’s determined to do right by Worth and the Stapletons.”
“He is.” Dad nodded, so I plowed ahead, not nearly done yet.
“He’s been hurt before, and he’s scared to reach for the connections he craves, but he’s here doing it. He says I make him brave, but he makes me whole. He inspires the hell out of me, the way he pushes past fear to love me anyway.” I had to pause to swallow hard, try not to swipe at my burning eyes. “This town is damn lucky to have him decide to stay, honestly. I wish you could see that. And I know you’ll say they’re lucky to have me too and how I could do better, but I’m lucky to have the town.”
“I know you love it here.” Dad sighed, not exactly resigned but definitely more deflated than a few moments ago.
“I don’t think you’ve ever quite grasped why though. Growing up, I bounced between two houses, had rooms at both places but never really belonged at either. The years you and Jessica were focused on dating, then the wedding, then IVF—”
“I’m sorry.” His face creased with emotion.
“I’m not blaming you. My point is that I still loved coming here, no matter what was going on with you or Mom or anyone else. People like Frank and Leon, Sam and his family, others always made sure I felt like I belonged.”
“You did belong. You do belong.” Dad’s voice came out all thick.
“I do. And I belong with Monroe.” As I said the words, I truly felt them. We belonged together. We did. And nothing my dad could say would convince me otherwise. “Monroe says I give him a home, but he’s that for me too. He’s where I truly belong, at last. No more bouncing around. I’m happy, so happy.”
“I’m glad,” Dad whispered, but I wasn’t quite done pushing.
“Are you? Are you really? Because if you were happy for me, truly happy, you’d stop treating Monroe like some kind of criminal and me like a child. I plan to keep him around a good long while, so you better get used to us being together.”
“I’ll try.” His jaw hardened along with his eyes, and I wasn’t sure how convinced I was.
“What is that you’re always telling me? Saying you’ll try without actually putting effort and action in is meaningless. Something like that?”
“God, you’re definitely your grandparents’ kid. I can hear your grandpa in every damn word. I’ll…” He moved his jaw side-to-side. “I’ll try to make an effort.”
“Without looking like I’m asking you to eat gravel instead of cereal?”
“Knox…” Dad groaned, then gave me something approaching a smile. “I love you. And your stubbornness. And I can’t wait to watch you be amazing with the new baby. Your brother.”
“Who needs a name.”
“He’s got one. You’re Knox Robert because you get a part of me. And he’s Keller Glenn. Grandpa’s middle name and the same first initial as you. Wanted my boys to have that bond.”
“Oh.” All the fight left me in a single breath.
“Give me time? Please?” Setting his cake aside, he touched my upper arm. “I’m not gonna be able to move at the speed you want, but I mean it. I’ll try to see things from your perspective.”
“And Monroe’s. You owe him an apology.”
