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Leaning down, I kissed Becs before pulling back and gesturing toward the track. “What do you think?”
“It looks good. Bigger than I thought.”
“It’s almost a quarter mile.”
She put her hand on her forehead to shield her eyes from the sun. “Where will the dirt track be?”
Lifting my finger, I pointed into the distance. “Back there, I think.” Gesturing to the right, I continued. “Ben wants the hotel far enough away that the noise won’t be as much of a problem. It’s gonna be loud, but with enough distance, it should be muffled at least. With almost eleven acres, we’ll be able to spread out some.”
“Anyone staying at that hotel will be here for the racing, so they won’t mind the noise.”
I nodded. “True.”
When my phone rang, I dug my hand into my pocket and pulled it out just as Wyatt laid his head on my shoulder. Glancing over, I saw his eyes were closing and grinned. Lifting my phone, I saw my dad’s name, and for a moment, I felt anger. He hadn’t come. His probation was up a month ago, and he hadn’t come. I should’ve known he wouldn’t.
Hesitating, I almost ignored it, but then decided not to. I’d never forgive myself if something happened, and I didn’t know because I hadn’t bothered to answer the call.
I hit accept and lifted the phone to my ear. “Hey.”
“Hey, kid,” he said loudly, and I heard noises in the background. “Where are you?”
“What are you talking about?”
“I’m sitting outside your clubhouse, but the kid at the door said you aren’t here.”
I spun quickly and looked toward where I knew the clubhouse sat even though I couldn’t see it through the trees. We’d decided to keep the trees to provide a barrier between the businesses. “You’re in New Hope?”
Becs’s eyes lit, and she smiled before mouthing, “Your dad?”
I nodded but listened while he continued talking. “Yeah. Got in a little bit ago and stopped to get a cup of coffee at some little place. What the hell was that called?” I knew he’d pulled the phone from his mouth when his voice became a little distant. I smiled even wider when I heard my uncle Theo answer. “Joe’s.”
“Yeah, that’s right. Joe’s,” he said loudly. “Good-looking girl who owns it told us how to get here when I told her your name.”
I laughed. “I’m on the property we bought right beside the clubhouse. Come out of the parking lot and make a left. You’ll see a gravel parking area. Just turn in there.”
“Alright.”
He didn’t say good-bye before I heard dead air, but that was my dad. He was a quick and to the point kind of guy.
“He came.” Becs smiled and pushed on to her tiptoes to kiss me. “Told you so.”
I laughed and kissed her hard before reaching down and grabbing her hand. We slowly made our way to the parking lot, getting there right about the time I watched my uncle Theo drive in a U-Haul towing his car behind. He parked and they both got out while we made our way to them.
Dad looked nervous, which made sense. We hadn’t had the best relationship over the years, and he was taking a big chance that I would welcome him with open arms.
“You came.”
He glanced at Wyatt who was sound asleep on my shoulder and grinned slowly. “Told you I wanted to meet my grandson.”
“Sorry.” Becs smiled. “He didn’t get his nap today.”
Dad’s attention shifted to Becs, and his smile grew when she held out her hand. “I’m Becs.”
He shook her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Becs. You can just call me Walt.”
I pointed beside him. “And that’s my uncle Theo.”
She smiled. “It’s nice to meet you too.”
