Chapter 7
7
D uncan had met many a father over the years, and no single one intimidated him like Dr. Jade. Duncan had no idea what it was about the man that made him want to run and hide under a rock like a little boy who’d just sloshed mud all over the house, besides the fact that Duncan had friends about the same age.
He sucked in a deep breath and held out his hand. “Dr. Jade,” he said, hoping his tone sounded confident and worthy of being the man for Chastity in her father’s eyes.
“You must be Duncan. Thanks for bringing my daughter home.” Dr. Jade gripped his hand, perhaps a little too firmly.
Duncan did his best not to wince. “My pleasure and I’ll do whatever it takes to find Serenity.”
Lilly had jumped up on Chastity, wrapping her legs around her waist. “How long are you home for?” she asked.
“I only have a couple days off work.” Chastity gave her sister a butterfly kiss.
Duncan smiled, remembering his mother doing the very same thing every night after bedtime prayers.
“We might be able to get a few more if we need them,” Duncan added, and quickly wished he hadn’t when Chastity glared at him.
“Lilly, why don’t you go get some tea and some of Mom’s banana nut muffins,” Dr. Jade said.
“Sure thing, Daddy.” Lilly raced off into the house, letting the front screen door slam shut.
Her father offered one of the rocking chairs and Duncan eased back, squirming a little as Chastity sat down next to him, with her father next to her, his emerald orbs eyeing him suspiciously.
Duncan couldn’t blame the man.
“I can’t believe how much she’s grown since I was home last,” Chastity said.
“I’m just glad she’s still daddy’s little girl. I’m dreading when she blossoms into a young woman,” her father said, wiping his brow.
“It happens to all of us,” Chastity said.
“Well, you wait. Someday you two will have kids?—”
“Dad. We’ve been dating a month. Really.”
Duncan felt his cheeks heat, remembering the two times they had been together. Their naked bodies tangled up against her counter.
And then in his bed.
Hearing her call out his name as she orgasmed in his mouth. Nothing had ever felt so right as being with her, but he’d screwed that up.
And if he didn’t get his mind out of her pants, he’d end up making an ass out of himself in front of her parents.
“Chastity tells us your family’s roots are actually Quaker.”
“Well, my great-grandparents were Quakers. My grandfather received a recommendation for the Air Force Academy and left, though he never really left the church. My dad also went to the Academy, met my mom, who is Lutheran, and that’s how I was raised.”
“You still go to church?” her father asked.
“Dad, can we save the twenty questions, please?”
“It’s okay. I don’t mind,” Duncan said, taking in a deep breath. From the get-go, his religious upbringing had been a bone of contention with Robin. He didn’t expect her to believe, but he at least wanted her to respect his family and their lifestyle. Answering her father’s questions was the least he could do to help ease the man’s mind.
Even if he was the fake boyfriend right now, it was something he intended to remedy.
“My work often prevents me from attending every Sunday, but it doesn’t prevent me from staying close to my roots or having a relationship with God.” His mother would be gushing with pride if she’d heard him. She’d always worried he’d become hardened, but truth be told, religion and God gave him a sense of being grounded. A purpose bigger than himself. “Chastity and I have gone a few times together.” That hadn’t been a lie, and he'd been grateful for her company.
Chastity’s thick lashes fluttered over her blue-green eyes as she folded her hands in her lap. It wasn’t a gesture of shame or even embarrassment. More like sweet innocence. She glanced up and smiled.
“I’m grateful that she had someone to go with,” her father said.
Duncan let out a long breath. His heart thumped unevenly in his chest.
“Did you know Lilly wants to be a firefighter like her big sister? There was a fire in town last week while we were all there, and Lilly couldn’t wait to go talk with the firemen,” Dr. Jade said with a sense of pride as he puffed out his chest.
“I bet that really upset Mom,” Chastity said.
“Actually, she told Lilly that she thought it was a great idea if maybe she stayed close to home to do it.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Chastity said with her mouth gaping open. “Mom is encouraging such a male-dominated profession for her little girl?”
Duncan couldn’t help but smile. It was rare that anything shocked Chastity, and he enjoyed how her sweet eyes grew wide with surprise.
“Your mother is very proud of you. Neither of us liked how you did it, but we’re trying to be a little more supportive of Lilly and her dreams. She’s so much like you that it’s uncanny. She’s not afraid to be herself, and honestly, that’s a breath of fresh air after dealing with Serenity. She’s so busy trying to shock us that she’s never had the chance to find herself.”
“Dr. Jade?—”
“You’re a grown man—older man—who happens to be dating my daughter. While I appreciate the gesture of respect, please call me George.”
“George,” Duncan said, swallowing, trying not to cough on the word dating . “Chastity told me a little bit about what is going on, and we’ve got a friend helping us who is a former member of Delta Force and is the best at finding people. He’s already got some information on the young man you believe Serenity left with.”
George ran a hand down his face, scratching at his beard before bringing his thumb and forefinger together at the tip. “We thought what Chastity went through was some serious rebelling, but Chastity was never disrespectful. She did everything she was supposed to do. She got good grades, did her chores, worked the farm or at the store. She just had dreams that weren’t part of our lifestyle and we didn’t listen.”
“And I up and left in the middle of the night, setting a bad example,” Chastity said.
“You did what you had to, and we know now that we were wrong in trying to get you to be something you’re not.” George’s eyes glazed over. “Just a few months ago, Serenity said she wanted to be a lawyer. We decided we needed to encourage that, and then she met Joey and things got worse.”
“It’s not your fault,” Chastity said, leaning over and resting her hand over her father’s.
“It’s hard not to blame ourselves for Serenity’s problems. For not seeing them soon enough.”
“I spoke to Serenity before she met that jerk, and it was just normal teenage angst. I think she was scared she wouldn’t get into college or that you wouldn’t let her live on campus. When I talked to her last month, after she started dating Joey, she barely even spoke of college.”
Duncan glanced around the farm that stretched on forever. It was a beautiful piece of land, something he had no concept of growing up north of New York City, except for the few summers he’d spent in Lake George. But otherwise, his youth was filled with houses on top of one another, street ball, and he never lacked for a neighbor to play with.
It was both good and bad because half the neighborhood was nothing but trouble. The other half, like him, was trying to walk that fine line between being good and being a kid.
He imagined this lifestyle was both good and bad as well.
“I forbade her from seeing that man, and she thought it was just because he wasn’t a Mennonite, but he’d been busted selling drugs to kids near the school.”
“Dad, you did the right thing there. What our friend found out isn’t good,” Chastity said.
“That doesn’t make me feel better.” George continued to finger his beard.
“Someone want to open the door, please?” Lilly yelled, breaking the growing tension and fear that filled the air like a thick fog.
Duncan leaped from his seat, helping the young girl with a tray filled with a pitcher, glasses, and muffins that smelled as if they just came out of the oven.
His mouth watered.
“He’s handsome,” Lilly said, giggling in her sister’s ear.
“Yes, he is,” Chastity whispered.
Her smile sucker-punched Duncan. He took a sip of the sweet tea, glancing down the road as a brown SUV came into sight.
“Here’s your mother.” George pointed down the long windy driveway.
“Mom is driving?” Chastity’s voice screeched.
“You haven’t been home for a while,” her father said with a tinge of a smile. “Things change.”
“I can’t believe it.” Chastity rocked back and forth on the rocking chair with her little sister on her lap. “When did she get her license?”
“About a year ago, but it’s only been in the last six months that she’s been going off alone.”
“Go, Mom,” Chastity said, pushing her sister off her lap. She stood, took one step, and tripped, though Duncan had no idea on what.
Her arms flapped about wildly.
He reached out to catch her, but it was too late. She face-planted on the porch with a thud and a groan.
George burst out laughing.
Lilly plopped on the wood floor beside her sister, brushing back her hair. “I hope you don’t do that when you fight fires. That would be bad.”
“You okay?” Duncan asked, trying to bite back a laugh.
“I’m fine,” Chastity muttered. “Just another day on the farm.”
A tall boy—no, man—no, wait—a boy, stepped from the vehicle. He looked just like George, only scrawny, sort of. His hair was lighter, and he had no beard, but he was still a force.
“Hey look, it’s klutzbutt,” the boy said, pointing. He wore a short-sleeved blue button-down shirt with dark slacks.
“Don’t call your sister that.” A woman with long blond hair, much like Chastity’s, emerged from the driver’s seat. She wore a modest, long plaid dress. She carried herself with style and grace.
“Well, she is a klutz,” the boy said, jogging up the stairs, carrying a couple of bags. He dropped them by the door.
“Doesn’t mean you should call her names,” George said. “Duncan, this is my youngest son, Neal, and my beautiful bride, Laurie.”
“Nice to meet you both, though I’m sorry for the circumstances.” Duncan helped Chastity to her feet, looping his arm around her waist, resisting the urge to kiss her.
Laurie pulled Chastity in and hugged her tight. She squeezed her eyes closed, and Duncan wondered if she would ever let go.
“So, you’re the guy my sister is dating these days? I should warn you, she falls down a lot,” Neal said. “Like all the time. It’s embarrassing. For all of us.”
“I know. We had a birthday party for one of our co-workers, and she face-planted right into the cake.”
“Classic klutzbutt.” Neal laughed.
“Neal Michael Jade. What have I told you about picking on your sisters?” George said with a stern voice that made Duncan stand up straighter.
“Sorry, sir,” Neal said.
“Why don’t you and Lilly go out to the barn and finish your chores.” George pointed to the barn.
“Now?” Neal protested.
“Now,” George repeated.
Neal took Lilly by the hand and scoffed off down the porch steps.
“How old do you think Duncan is?” Lilly whispered.
“Close to forty,” Neal said.
“Stop that whispering. It’s not nice.” George planted his hands on his hips. “Sorry about that, but it’s a question we’re all wondering.”
“Dad, really?” Chastity lifted her chin off her mother’s shoulder. “That’s rude.”
Duncan swallowed. “I’m almost thirty-nine.”
“I’ll try not to hold that against you,” George muttered.