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When she got to the pool area, Carson and his parents were placing food on the table. His mother was fairly tall with brown hair cropped just under her chin. She was thick around the middle, proof of bearing four children, but besides that seemed to be in good shape. She was energetic and homey in a flowery top and a pair of tan capris.
Quite a few dishes were spread out over the table. Mongolian beef sat in the center, surrounded by fried rice, a green salad, a fruit salad, and asparagus flecked with almond slices. How had Mrs. Clark managed to whip this meal together on short notice? And she’d done it in a kitchen that only had the bare minimum of supplies. Olivia would’ve had to plan and stress all day over this sort of meal.
“Here’s Olivia now.” Carson waved her over and made introductions.
Let the judgment commence.
Mrs. Clark greeted her with a polite smile, and the group made idle chitchat while they dished up the food. Then Mrs. Clark started asking the pertinent questions. What did Olivia do for a living? How many siblings did she have? What did her parents do?
That question was a relief because it meant Mrs. Clark didn’t already know who her parents were.
“My father lives in Bozeman and does construction work there. My mother is a receptionist at a dental office.”
“Oh,” Mrs. Clark said. “Are they divorced?”
Olivia nodded. “They split up when I was in sixth grade.” She added the last part so his parents knew it wasn’t a recent thing or a sore subject.
Mrs. Clark tutted. “At such a formative age. That must’ve been difficult. Heaven knows, going through school is hard enough as it is.” She shot a pointed look at Carson.
He added some asparagus to his plate. “I’ve already apologized to her about everything I ever said or did when I was a teenager.”
Mrs. Clark returned her attention to Olivia. “But at least Bozeman isn’t far away. Do you get to see your father often?”
“Not often enough,” Carson said in a way that indicated he didn’t approve of her father’s choices.
Olivia sent him an I’m-trying-to-hide-my-family’s-white-trash-status look which he clearly didn’t understand.
He shrugged. “I’m just saying you’ve had to deal with a lot because of him.”
Mrs. Clark’s expression turned pitying. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
Olivia didn’t want to be pitied. She wanted to seem like a normal person from a normal family. She forced a smile. “My father was always busy working. You know how it is when you get behind on a project.”
“We know that feeling lately,” Mr. Clark said.
Mrs. Clark cut through her beef. “Tell me more about your parents. I’m sure I must have seen them around town or at school events, but I can’t picture them.”
As though summoned by Mrs. Clark’s words, Olivia’s father’s voice came from near the front of the cabin. “Carson Clark, I know you’re here! I can see your fancy, overpriced, rich boy truck sitting out front! Answer the door!”
Everyone in the group turned to the sound. Mrs. Clark cocked her head. “My heavens, who is that?”
Olivia tensed, biting down her dread. She hadn’t called her father and told him that Carson wasn’t cheating on her after all. It had completely slipped her mind. Her dad hadn’t returned any of her calls since she’d started working at the cabin, but now, now he’d driven up here to yell at Carson?
“Come out and face me like a…like a…” her father’s words had a definite slur, “face me man-like!”
“Whoever he is, he’s drunk.” Mr. Clark pulled his phone from his pocket. “Should I call the police?”
There was no good way to get out of this situation. Olivia put her hand to her eyes. “You don’t have to do that. That’s my father.” She slunk down further in her chair. “I called him on my drive to the paint store and left a message asking him to come up and take my place. I didn’t want to leave you shorthanded.”
Carson dipped his chin. “So you thought a drunk, angry father with a grudge would be a good replacement?”
Still near the front of the cabin, her father yelled, “You mess with my daughter; you mess with me!”
Mrs. Clark’s gaze shot to Carson. “What does he mean by ‘mess with my daughter?’”
Carson held up his hands. “Kissed. That’s all.” He smirked at Olivia. “And I refuse to mess with your father. I didn’t realize that was part of the bargain when we started dating.”
Carson could afford to find this funny. His father wasn’t up here making a fool of himself—of her.
