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“Your daughter comes across as someone who knows what she wants in life. Just like she won’t ask for help or tell you what is going on.”
Stan sighed. “She’s always been headstrong like that. Too bad she couldn’t stand up for herself more though. She’s tender and nice and sweet and gets walked over and taken advantage of all the time.”
“I’m not that way,” he said firmly.
“I know you’re not,” Stan said. “Our business dealings have been more than fair on your end. We have enjoyed working with your sister also.”
“I’m not sure if you are here to warn me or what?”
“I don’t even know myself what I’m doing other than you need to know. Hadley has to come first for me. I can’t see her like she was when she came home a month ago. Getting in a relationship with someone, whether it’s one date or not, might not be the best thing for her, as I said already.”
“Are you going to tell her that?” he asked. “Or are you asking me to back away?” He wasn’t about to do that.
“I wouldn’t do that.”
“Good,” he said. “Because I’m not. I think Hadley would be livid if she thought I was doing that. Why hurt her? If things don’t work out I’ll be honest with your daughter.”
“Meaning I should be honest and let her know I told you what I did?” Stan asked.
“That is up to you,” he said.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do yet,” Stan said.
“I’m not keeping it a secret if you think to ask me that,” he said. “It’s not how I operate.”
“Then I guess I’ve got no choice but to tell Hadley that you are aware of Eddie.”
“I guess you don’t.”
Stan left a few minutes later and Duke stood behind his bar wondering what the hell he was getting himself into.
What he found out though did explain a lot about Hadley.
But he still wasn’t going to back away unless she wanted him to.
He hoped she didn’t, but then wondered what he was setting himself up for, knowing the last person she was with wasn’t a bad break up like he thought, but that she’d loved him and he’d died.
17
The Whole Story
Hadley was looking forward to going and seeing Duke. Not just because she kept fantasizing about the kiss they’d shared days ago but also because she wanted more of it.
She’d thought Eddie made her feel alive, but she realized that wasn’t the truth. She’d thought she felt more alive with Eddie, but it wasn’t the life she wanted rather what he wanted.
With Duke, he made her more awake in her own life. In her own skin.
He encouraged her rather than told her what to do. He let her make her own decisions rather than persuade her.
She felt she had a voice and her voice was being heard.
That was what she wanted out of her life and she just was looking for it the wrong way before.
He’d texted her on Friday and asked if she wanted to have brunch at his house on Sunday. She wasn’t going in until noon and didn’t have to make desserts either because Duke told her to double up on Saturday so she could have some time on Sunday to see him.
She’d thought that was the best suggestion ever and was thrilled he was willing to make it happen. More so since she hadn’t seen him in days with him working at Duke’s and her pulling a double at Southside on Saturday. She worked a long shift on Friday too.
She didn’t have a problem with it and was loving the fact she was making so much money and had very few bills to go with it.
