Chapter 20
20
Tracey sat with her new office manager, Debra, to go over the various upcoming activities at the inn. It was going to be a busy weekend with two couples, a family and several ladies on a trip to Peachtree Cove to check out the local winery. The last group brought home Mikayla’s point that she could cross-promote with the local wineries and breweries to offer tastings at her inn.
Debra was turning out to be even more of a help than Tracey had anticipated. Within a month she’d helped streamline the check-in process, was great with guests and had taken over the social media pages. Instead of the random posts Tracey put up when she’d had time, Debra posted updated pictures and information on the inn almost daily. Which freed Tracey to focus on her plans for expansion.
“I’m inviting my brother over tomorrow to look at the peach field and see if we can add some small cottages there,” Tracey said. “Can you make sure the housekeeping staff gets the rooms cleaned and turned over before the next guests arrive?”
“I’ve got that,” Debra said. “You don’t have to worry about it. I’m excited to hear what your brother says.”
Debra’s enthusiasm for the project was the same as Tracey’s. Her face had lit up as soon as Tracey had told her about the idea. Shirley felt the same way, and so had her brother when she’d asked him to help her. The support Tracey had for the project was overwhelming. The only person who’d shown any doubt had been herself. Her doubt was eroding with each word of encouragement she received along the way. Her talks with Mikayla as she finished her business plan made the process seem challenging but not impossible to overcome.
“I am, too. I like the way you’ve stepped in and handled the day-to-day while I work on this. I couldn’t have done nearly as much without your help.”
“That’s what I’m supposed to do. When do you think construction can start on the cottages?”
Tracey shrugged. “I have no idea. Tomorrow is just to talk about my vision and what would be involved. I want to get an idea of the cost of what I’m thinking so I’ll know how big of a leap I’ll be taking.”
“I can’t wait to see what you two come up with. The rest of the fields are so beautiful. I can imagine them being home to some cute little spaces we can rent out.”
Tracey grinned as the image of small rentals nestled between the peach trees entered her head. The scene would be even more beautiful when the trees were filled with peach blossoms.
“Me, too. When I’m done with him, let’s talk about hosting a wine tasting.”
Debra nodded. “I’ve already pulled together a list of wineries nearby, and I’ve got a call in to my friend who helped plan the wine and food festival in Augusta last year. She can give us some ideas.”
Tracey clasped her hands and wiggled in her seat. “Oh my goodness, Debra, you’re turning out to be even more amazing than I expected.”
“When I said working at a small boutique place like this was my dream, I didn’t lie. Stick with me, and we’ll make this place thrive.”
Tracey held out her hand. “Sounds like a deal to me.”
A few minutes after their meeting ended, Tracey pulled out her cell phone as she nearly skipped to her car. Not only was she excited about her plans for the inn, but it was Thursday night. Her night with Brian. She wasn’t even going to pretend she wasn’t looking forward to her time with him. In the month that passed since they’d added the benefits to their friendship, she’d gotten better at saying what she wanted and learning to relax and enjoy sex.
She hadn’t been this excited about sex since she and Bernard had first started dating. Their sex life hadn’t been the sad, dried-up disaster that it was at the end of their marriage. She now recognized that her need to be the perfect wife had turned into an anxiety and overanalyzing that made her hyperfocus on his wants and be less focused on what she wanted. She’d let go of the pressure to be perfect with Brian. She wasn’t trying to be his perfect anything. Sure, they were cool and she enjoyed his company, but she wasn’t looking for a boyfriend or long-term relationship and definitely not a husband. She could just be and enjoy, knowing the only thing he expected of her was to be herself and tell him what she liked.
She got in her car and then shot him a quick text before turning on the vehicle.
Going to my dad’s first.
His response was quick. Everything okay?
Yeah. It’s his bday.
Do you need to cancel?
Birthdays were not a big deal in her family. Growing up in her home a birthday was just another day. They didn’t do cake and ice cream or get together to celebrate. She’d be lucky if her dad was sober enough to remember his kids’ birthdays, and her mom would kiss them on the forehead, hand them a card and say, “Be grateful you made it another year. Some people didn’t. That’s your present.”
Those words stuck with Tracey. Making it another year was the best present, but she still tried to acknowledge her family’s birthdays in small ways. Which was why she was going to see her dad and drop off a card.
Nah. Popping in real quick then heading over , she texted back.
Cool. See you soon.
Can’t wait.
She frowned as soon as she hit Send. Damn, did she sound overly eager? She was excited about sleeping with him, but she didn’t want to sound clingy.
Same. I’ll be waiting.
She saw the words and relaxed. He wasn’t freaking out, so neither would she. This thing with Brian was so chill, she loved it. She dropped her phone in her purse and turned on the ignition.
She got to her dad’s apartment a few minutes later. He still lived in the same complex they’d moved into when Tracey started high school. The low-income units were decent enough when she was growing up; they barely brushed decent now. Multiple changes in ownership over the last decade combined with a lack of maintenance, and the buildings appeared worn down. The playground area had the same swing and play equipment it had when they’d moved, and the shrubs in front of the buildings were thin and worn from overshearing.
She trudged up the steps to the second-floor apartment they’d all shared, took a deep breath then knocked on the brown door. She braced herself for seeing her dad. The one birthday he’d always remembered when she was growing up was his. He celebrated hard. Meaning she’d never seen him ring in a birthday sober. He hadn’t had any other outburst with her mom since that night several weeks ago, but she still doubted she’d find him without a drink in his hand.
The door opened, and her dad stood smiling on the other side. His hair looked freshly cut. His shirt was clean and neat along with his pants. His eyes were clear.
“Hey…Dad. Happy birthday.”
“Tracey, baby, come on inside.” Her dad stepped back to let her in. Once she crossed the threshold, he opened his arms and pulled her in for a hug.
Tracey breathed in as he hugged her, expecting the familiar smell of musk and alcohol. Instead, his clothes smelled like laundry detergent and his skin like soap.
She pulled back and eyed him. “You’re not drunk.”
The words were blunt, but that’s how she was with him. She and her brother realized around the age of ten that trying to coax a drunk dad wouldn’t get them anywhere. Being blunt and straightforward worked best most days.
Her dad laughed and waved her words away. “I told you I’m sober now.” He walked farther into the apartment and sat on the worn gray sofa in the living area.
“But you showed up at Mom’s place not sober not too long ago.” Tracey sat next to him on the couch.
He frowned and nodded. “Not my best day.”
“Not your worst either,” she replied. No judgment, just stating facts.
He winced. “No, not my worst. But I meant what I said. I had a slipup, but I’m fine now. I haven’t had a drink since that day.”
“What makes this time any different to previous times?”
He shrugged. “It just is.” He leaned forward and picked up the remote control. “Want to watch something?”
“Nah, I can’t stay long. I came by to give you your birthday present.” She reached into her purse and pulled out a yellow envelope. “Here.”
“Aww, thank you. You didn’t have to get me anything.”
“It’s your birthday. I know the present is making it another year, but I still wanted to give you something.”
He opened the card. Read the words quickly before stuffing the fifty-dollar bill into his pants pocket. She always gave her dad cash on his birthday. He had no hobbies other than drinking. When she was younger, she would get him gift cards to home-repair stores or tools, hoping that he would use them to work and straighten up his life like he always promised. He never did, so she got him what he wanted instead. Money to buy the whiskey or gin he loved so much.
“I appreciate that. Your brother said he was coming by later.”
“I know. I spoke with him earlier. He said he would drop in after he finished with a job.”
“Maybe you can stick around, and we can all have dinner together,” he said hopefully.
The offer surprised her. It was the first time he’d suggested spending his birthday with his family. When she was younger she might have said yes, but she understood this moment of clarity with him might turn out to be just another broken promise later. “I’ve got plans tonight.”
He nodded and glanced away. “Oh, I understand.”
“You never really wanted to hang out on your birthday. I thought you’d be with your friends.”
“Yeah, the fellas did call, but you know, I’m not into all that now.”
“Why not?” she asked, not believing him for a second.
“Because I’ve got to get your mom back.”
Tracey sighed and shook her head. “Let it go, Dad. You two are not together. Mom’s moved on.”
“She won’t really move on. It’s all a phase. She still cares about me.”
“She’s happy with Raymond.”
He scowled. “She’s happy with his money. That’s all. I realized that after going over there. Now that I’m clean, I’m going to start working again. I’m going to ask your brother to let me help on some of his jobs. Once I make some money, I’ll clean this place up. Hell, maybe I’ll move into a nicer place. Then she’ll see and come back where she belongs.”
Tracey believed her mom would come back about as much as she believed her dad was going to clean up his act for good. She’d stopped hoping that her parents would be typical, normal, loving parents. Stopped hoping her mom wouldn’t sleep around and that her dad wouldn’t drink anymore. She was too old to believe in fairy tales. She usually shook off when the hope tried to creep up, but now she was irritated.
“Dad, just stop, okay? You and Mom are done.”
“Don’t say that. Don’t you want us together? A family again?”
“No, Dad, I want you two to stop with the drama. Stop pulling me and Devante back into your whirlwind, okay? If you’re going to be sober, then just be sober and work for you. Let Mom do her thing, and leave well enough alone.”
“Stop talking like that. We’ll work things out. You just wait and see. I’m not giving up on my marriage like you did with yours.”
Irritation turned to anger. This wasn’t the first time he’d accused her of not trying hard enough to make her marriage work. She hadn’t given up on her marriage, and she’d long stopped caring about getting her dad’s approval. Too bad his words still could kill her moods. She’d been happy before stopping by, and now he was bringing her down with his accusations, unreliable promises and delusional dreams.
“You know what? I’ve got to go.”
His cell phone rang. They both looked at the scratched screen on the surface of an even more scratched coffee table. She saw her mom’s number, and her frustration intensified.
“See, what I tell you? She can’t forget me.” He picked up the phone and answered. “Hey, baby.” He grinned and then laughed. “Oh yeah, happy birthday to me.”
Tracey rolled her eyes and stood. Her dad didn’t even notice as she walked to the door. He was so wrapped up in bliss that her mom had called when Tracey knew her mom was just doing what Tracey had done. Checking in just to make sure he hadn’t drunk too much and stumbled into a ditch. She was so sick of them and this game. She wished one of them would finally stop this roller-coaster ride of misery they kept putting the whole family through.