17. David #2
“I mean, it was our job, wasn’t it?” Charlie asks.
“We’re your family. Scott cared, and he was more than just a town cop to us, but he really had to give Mom and Dad a chance.
I know Mom was exhausted, and she felt like she had totally failed you.
Scott told her the intervention—giving you firm boundaries and consequences—would make her feel better too.
They got me, Henry, and Jack involved, too.
It had to be a united front. And trust me, Henry and I were just as worried as anybody.
Though I have to admit, I felt a little guilty that we hadn’t stepped in more forcefully.
” He sighs. “As your older brothers, we should have.”
I quickly shake my head. “By that time, you guys were off at college. Henry was doing an internship. I think he and Emma were pretty serious by then, too.”
Charlie shrugs. “Yeah. Trust me, we all gave ourselves all the excuses that we could. And honestly? We may not have known how bad it really was. I think it was bugging Scott to not be able to step in more, to be honest. He was trying to respect Mom and Dad, give our family a chance to come together and rally around you, but I think he very much wanted to throw your ass in jail and shake you until you woke up and realized that you were doing stupid, dangerous shit.”
I take a deep breath. I feel like I should be more shocked. That this should be a huge revelation, and I should be reeling from it.
But the truth is…this makes the most sense of anything.
This all feels very true. This sounds like the Scott Hansen I thought I knew. The Scott Hansen I wanted to be real.
“So can you get past all of this for Mia?” Jack asks.
That’s the question.
My feelings about Scott still feel muddled, but I do feel better.
“I think Scott and I need a chance to spend time together, maybe get to know each other again,” I say. “Without my attitude getting in the way.”
Jack smiles as if he’s proud of me. “That’s a good idea. It won’t be hard to show Scott that you’re a good guy who will treat his daughter well.”
Fuck. I run a hand over my face again. This would be easier if I were just trying to extend an olive branch to Scott for the sake of our jobs or the town or even my own peace of mind.
Involving Mia makes it a really big deal.
But… “Yeah, I need to try for her,” I say.
“I think I know the perfect thing,” Charlie says.
“He and a bunch of other guys in uniform—a couple of cops, firefighters, EMTs—are working down at the park to redo the picnic structure and skate park. They’re tearing down the old structure that has all the graffiti and stuff on it. The one no one ever uses.”
“That thing’s been there since we were kids,” Jack says. “I don’t think it’s ever even been painted.”
I know it hasn’t. It’s at the back of the park, past the baseball fields and swimming pool.
There are newer ones toward the entrance to the park that get a lot more use.
The structure they’re talking about hasn’t hosted a picnic in years.
But it’s hosted lots of drinking, smoking, and fighting. I know firsthand.
“Yeah, it’s pretty beat up by now,” Charlie says. “They’re taking it out and building a new one. They raised the money for it last fall.” He looks at me. “You should go help with that. Scott is heading it up. You’d fit right in.”
I automatically try to come up with a reason not to.
It’s my knee-jerk reaction, though, and I catch myself.
I nod. “Yep, that sounds perfect. A community service project means we won’t be alone and won’t have to talk a lot, but we’ll spend time together, and I can make that first move toward cooperation. ”
“There you go,” Jack says, looking proud. “Great idea.”
“Yeah, get down there and charm the guy,” Charlie says with a grin. “He’ll be begging you to date his daughter.”
I don’t grin. Or laugh. Or even nod.
Because this is going to require swallowing my pride and being nice to Scott. Probably even smiling at him.
And there’s a good chance he still won’t think I’m good enough for Mia.
But then I remember how she felt snuggled against me during the movie. How amazing she was telling me where and how she wanted me to touch her. How funny and sweet she is. How fucking much fun I’ve had since we’ve been hanging out.
And yeah…I can swallow my pride and be nice.
I’ll even bring the guy coffee.
“Just don’t go in there and start telling him how you think he should do things,” Charlie says. “Let him lead the project. Let him be in charge.”
I frown. “Of course. It’s his project. I’m cool.”
“It’s just that…” Charlie trails off.
“What?” I ask.
“There was just a lot of talk at the city council meetings about it. One side wanted to turn it into a big picnic pavilion with built-in grills and bathrooms and stuff.”
How had I missed this?
Oh yeah, I don’t go to city council meetings. Or read city council minutes. Or ask about city council meetings.
“That sounds awesome,” I say. “What’s the problem?”
“Other people wanted to preserve the skate park and…” He grimaces. “There is a feral cat colony back there that some people have been taking care of. Building the bigger structure will take up more area, take out the skate park, and displace the cats.”
I frown. “Which side is Scott on?”
“Didn’t they find a big beehive, too?” Jack asks.
My frown deepens. “What?”
“Yeah,” Charlie confirms. “They tore into the backside of the old building and found a huge-assed hive. They say they can be moved, but that’s obviously an ordeal.”
“You know about moving bees,” Jack says to me.
“Yes, I know I do,” I tell him. Why hasn’t anyone called me about this? There are other people in the area, but I’m from Sapphire Falls.
But I know the answer without asking. Scott didn’t want to call me.
“How do you know about all of this?” I ask Jack. “You just moved back and haven’t exactly been city-council-ready.”
“Mom and Dad go to the meetings and talk about it all at dinner,” he says with a shrug.
“No one’s asked me about moving bees,” I say. I lean in. “And they could move the cats, but that takes time. They should be working on that now.”
Charlie nods. “Yeah. And there’s a fox den back there. Which has some families riled up about putting a play area back there.”
“Healthy foxes very rarely interact with humans. They tend to flee rather than fight,” I say. “It’s extremely uncommon for a fox to attack. And there are also ways to move foxes, for fuck’s sake. We’d just have to have a plan. And people who know what they’re doing.”
“It’s been…a deal,” Charlie says. “All the more reason for you to get involved.”
“Why haven’t they called me?”
“It’s all volunteer,” Charlie says. “Maybe that’s why?”
But I think I know why. “Which side is Scott on?” I ask again, already knowing the answer.
“He thinks a pavilion will get more use than the skate park, and if they put in a new play area back there, families will use more of the park.”
I sigh. “So I’m going to go into this project already concerned about issues on the other side from Scott.”
Charlie shrugs. “It’s still the perfect way for you to spend time with Scott and show him what you do, know, and care about.”
“Yeah.” But it is probably not the best way for me to cooperate, let him lead, and keep my mouth shut.
I sigh. “Well, now I have to get involved and, I guess, if I’m going to date Mia, Scott will need to get to know the real me.
I’m not making trouble with beer and my fists anymore, but that doesn’t mean I won’t frustrate the hell out of him. ”
Jack grins. “Wow, you are definitely in love.”
Fuck. Yeah, I definitely am.