11. Clover
ELEVEN
Clover
“Dad?” I knock again, and this time, he answers it with a smile.
“Sorry! I was down the hall. Didn’t even hear ya knock.” He settles into himself now that he’s not surprised and reaches out for a hug. “Well, hey there, stranger!”
Chuckling, I enjoy the hug and then follow him inside his small apartment. It’s clean and functional, with all the necessities and a few homey things scattered around.
“What brings you ‘round these parts?” He plies on that fake accent of his, and I just laugh harder. “Not working the ranch today?”
“No,” I shake my head, decidedly sounding like the New Yorker I am, “not right now. Brooks took Darby out for a little father-son bonding, so I figured…”
“You’d come bond with your old man. Well, I will never turn down a visit from my favorite daughter.”
He hugs me again, and I pat his back. “I’m your only daughter.”
“Hmm, true. Well,” he claps a hand down on his leg, “can I get you something to drink?”
“Sure.”
Heading over to the fridge, Dad snags us two beers even though it’s only just past noon. But hell, after that text from you-know-who, I’m not about to turn it down.
“Thanks.” I take the drink, cracking open the lid and taking a much-needed swig.
“Welcome, sweetie. So, how’re things at the ranch? Is Brooks treating you well?”
“Yes, he’s treating me fine. He’s a good boss and a great dad.” I smile, thinking about Brooks’s assurance that I’m part of the crew now. “And Darby is wonderful. It’s easy to watch after such a well-behaved kid.”
“That’s great to hear, kiddo.” Dad still sees me as his baby girl. I can see it whenever he looks at me. “And how about that break from city life?”
“Haha,” I laugh, setting down my drink as I work hard not to spit it out all over, “oh, yeah. It’s one hell of a break. I’ll admit to liking it, though. Shoveling shit aside.”
It’s Dad’s turn to crack up this time, and he snorts as he finishes up his swallow of beer and nods at me.
“Oh, it ain’t easy, I’m sure. But a little hard work with your hands away from all that hustle and bustle will treat you well.”
“It’s treating me something,” I joke. “And hey, maybe I’ll finally have those ‘Sarah Connor’ shoulders I’ve always wanted.”
We both chuckle a little at that, remembering my obsession with the Terminator movies in college and how much I’ve always wanted to look like a badass, like Sarah.
“So you are liking it, yeah?” Dad eyes me, searching for any truth I’m not saying.
“I am. I swear. It’s just…well, it’s really different. Work back in the city was hard because it was mentally demanding. I was on my feet all day, sure, running back and forth from offices and office buildings, but this is true physical labor. I’m hauling feed bags and chasing after both animals and a rambunctious ten-year-old.”
“You’re right there, hun. It’s something else to be working so much with your body, and it can be taxing. But…I like to say that it gives your brain a break. You don’t have to be thinking about x, y, or z, using all this brain power because the task is simple.”
“Oof,” I nod, feeling those words in my bones, “a brain break. Yeah, that’s a damn good way to put it. Still, I admit to missing my job. You know how I feel about puzzles and finding the best way to market something, to show off its assets. I’ve always loved my job. You know, until…”
I don’t finish. Dad knows what I mean.
“I know, honey. I get that. But you said it isn’t forever, and when you’re able to get all this nonsense sorted with… him , you’ll be able to get back to it.”
“Yeah. Right back to it.” I drift my stare outside the window where the sunny, cloud-speckled sky is the brightest, purest shade of blue. “This place isn’t too horrible, though. I can see why you wanted to move out here.”
“Oh, darling,” Dad looks outside the window too, and I can see the longing on his face, the way he aches for that farm he’s searching for, “you have no idea.”
Seeing him like that, knowing that he’s still hunting down a place— the place—my words falter. I was going to tell him about the text from Kyle. But I just can’t now. I can’t give him any more to worry about.
Besides, it’s not like anything is really happening with all that. It was a text. And Brooks…Brooks was just doing the right thing. That’s all it was.
Keeping me safe, keeps his son safe. That’s all.
“Well, I’m glad to hear that bone-headed friend of mine is treating you good. He can be a stubborn thing. Took him a while to come around to me, city boy and all.”
I nod, my thoughts catching on his words. Brooks doesn’t like “city folk” for sure, but he’s been…I don’t know, more understanding about it as of late? He hasn’t been as standoffish, that’s for certain.
We talked quite a bit about the whole situation this morning. It’s weird, if appreciated, that he’s been less of a dick, but I can’t help wondering what’s really behind the sudden mood shift.
And I don’t think it’s male menopause.
Oh, and there’s the entire towel incident that happened, too. Not that I’m recapping my father about that little incident.
Well, it wasn’t little…
“He took a minute to come around to me, too. But we’ve been working great together.” That sounds off, and I watch Dad’s eyebrow twitch. “You know, around the ranch. I take care of the quick and dirty things and leave the heavy lifting to the one-armed professional.”
Dad laughs. “He still fighting with that cast?”
“Only every day that ends in y.” I roll my eyes. “That six-week mark he’s looking forward to is so not going to happen.”
We both giggle at the worst patient in history, clinking our glasses in a silent toast to the bet my dad is very likely going to win.
Man, I can’t believe he actually bet him about that. What guys.
“Well, Clover, this has been great. I’m glad that you stopped by.” He narrows his eyes at me, gesturing with the bottle. “You should do it more often.”
“Ha! Sorry. I’ll work on it.”
My thoughts are still swirling around Brooks, and I don’t know if it’s just dying to get out or if being around my dad loosens my tongue, but before I can stop myself, a question I’ve been wondering about flies out of my mouth.
“So, what’s Brooks’s deal? Why did he need a nanny instead of turning to any other person—or woman—in his life? Is he chronically single like myself?”
Watching my dad for any hint of an off reaction, I really hope that sounded as nonchalant as I wanted it to. He’s quiet, sipping on his beer, and my damn mouth just keeps going.
“Is Darby’s mom not in the picture?”
Dad coughs slightly, and I feel like shit. Clearly, that was not the thing to bring up.
“Oh, Clover, no. Umm,” he hesitates, rubbing the back of his neck as we sit in awkward silence for too long, “it’s not really my place to talk about all this. That’s for Brooks to tell you.”
I nod, my tail firmly between my legs. “Right, sorry. I was just curious.”
“I’ll tell you this,” he starts, and I perk up in my folding chair, “She’s no longer in the picture, no. Brooks has been a single father since the beginning, and I don’t think he sees that changing—ever. He…what happened was rough. I have to assume Brooks is…protecting himself.”
My stomach clenches slightly, and I feel that tug in my chest as I empathize with Brooks’s situation. I haven’t been left alone to raise a kid, but dating hasn’t exactly been smooth for me, either.
It gets quiet again, and I genuinely feel terrible for Brooks. That’s no way to live—cutting yourself off from the possibility of a future with someone—and I should know.
“Thanks,” I mumble, flicking my eyes up to my dad and then back down. “That really…sucks. I hope I’m helping.”
“I’m sure you are, kiddo. You’re doing a lot by just being there for Darby, so it doesn’t all just fall on Brooks’s shoulders.”
Nodding, I clear my throat, going for the last dregs of my beer. I’m still curious about what happened, but I burn with this need to know, not just because I want all the juicy details.
No, it’s more about understanding where Brooks is coming from. If I were to know, to understand what happened back then, I might actually gain some valuable insight into the gruff rancher I’m working for.
“Well, I need to head out and go back to the ranch. I’ve got shit and math homework to help with.”
Dad chuckles, and we both stand up from the little table in his open-plan apartment to give each other a hug. I really want him out of here and on that farm of his dreams.
He pats my shoulder, and when we pull apart, Dad’s brows raise like he forgot something. “Oh! I meant to tell you that I got a few weird calls the past couple of days, and it made me think of your situation with Kyle. Has anything been going on for you?”
My stomach drops once more, and I stutter as my jaw hangs open for a moment. “W-What did they say?”
“Nothing. It’s just dead air on the other end. I can hear someone breathing, but whenever I ask them to speak up, I get no response.”
Everything spins, and my pulse is so loud in my ears, so frantic, that I can barely make out my dad’s words.
“Honestly, it’s like some dumb horror movie. One of those slashers you like watching. I just wanted to be sure you weren’t getting them, too.”
I shake my head. “No.”
It’s the truth. I haven’t gotten the calls. What I have gotten are the texts and the weird feeling of being watched. I don’t want to believe that it’s Kyle. I don’t want to think that this is really that bad.
But…
“Well, let me walk you out so that you can get back to the farm.”
Shaking myself out of my head, I follow my dad to the door and give him another hug. He plants a peck on my cheek, squeezing me.
“You need to stop by more often, Clover. I’ve been excited to have you so close, and I still don’t feel like I’m getting enough of ya.”
I smile, but I know it doesn't reach my eyes. Dad seems to buy it all right, and I nod in a speedy bobbing motion.
“Totally. I’ll be better about coming over. I promise.”
“Good. Well, I’m glad to hear you haven’t been getting the calls. But if anything strange happens, I want you to tell me. Got it?”
“Of course,” I lie, with a smile and nod plastered over me. “I’ll let you know if anything happens.”
“That’s my girl.” I get another hug, and then we say our goodbyes, ending with me stepping through the door and down the hall.
I stand there for too long, and someone comes out of the apartment to my left. It gets me moving again, and I rush outside to my car.
For some reason, I need to be back on the ranch. I know it’s silly, but Brooks promised to protect me, and I’m starting to think I could really use some protection.