40. Clover
FORTY
Clover
Five days later…
“Why am I nervous? I’m so nervous! I think I’ve changed like four times and peed three!”
Brooks rubs his hand down the center of my back as I stand in front of the bathroom mirror. I’m in his room now, and we’ve told Darby that we’re an item.
He loudly proclaimed, “I knew it!” It was adorable.
“Honey, you need to chill. It’s going to be fine. We’re just going over to your dad’s for dinner.”
“I know!” I throw up my hands and sigh, hanging my head as I continue to remain stuck in the bathroom. “It’s just…this is the first family dinner we’re all having. We’re going over there as a couple. It’s…different.”
Turning me around, Brooks holds my shoulders and forces me to look at him. “Hey, you’re going to be fine. All this is going to be fine. We’ve faced Kyle. I think we can handle dinner with your dad.”
He’s not wrong. We did face Kyle, and he’s safely locked behind bars with a lengthy trial ahead of him. One I’m not looking forward to in the slightest. Still, the evidence is pretty damning.
“I know, I know. I just…I want us to be okay. I want my dad and I to have the same relationship we had before.”
Brooks sighs, cocking his head to the side before walking me out of the bathroom and toward the bedroom door.
“I get that. I do. It’s…it’s going to change a little. I mean, your dad is really seeing you as an adult now, and based on what we talked about, it feels a little different for him to see you with me. Because it’s even harder to deny the fact that you’ve grown up, that you’re…”
When his words trail off, I turn over my shoulder to eye Brooks. “I’m what?”
He cringes slightly. “That you’re ‘in a sexual relationship.’ His words, not mine.”
Swallowing that down, I grimace a little, shaking it off. “Okay, yup. That’s not what I want to be thinking about, either.”
“Exactly. That’s why it’s a thing for him. Leo can’t help but know that we’re having sex when he looks at me because when we were friends…we joked about our sex lives, you know?”
“Okay, I can understand that. And yeah…let’s not bring that up with my dad . Like ever.”
“I can very much get behind that.”
Nodding, I hesitate in the doorway, turning toward Brooks and putting my hands on his chest.
“Did he say anything else when you talked to him? Anything I should be prepared for?”
With a sympathetic, if knowing, grin, Brooks shakes his head. “Just the classic ‘if you hurt my daughter, I’ll end you.’ Which I understand entirely and assured Leo I would not do.”
“Well, that’s okay, I guess. So, he really does seem okay? I don’t want to rush anything, you know. We can reschedule for another time.”
I’m stalling. We both know I’m stalling, and Brooks eyes me, the corner of his mouth lifting in a smirk.
“Your father seems fine. If you’re not ready to go have dinner, that’s another thing, though.”
Shaking my head, I duck my head down before meeting Brooks’s eyes again. “No, no. I don’t want that. I just…let’s keep the conversation above the board, right? I don’t want to be getting the third degree, either.”
“I hear you, babe. But,” Brooks drags me through the door toward the stairs, “we still have to have dinner with him. You don’t want to lose the relationship? Well, then don’t.”
Narrowing my eyes at him, I frown. “I hate it when you’re right.”
“I know, babe. I know. Now, let’s go. I’m sure Darby is going to be?—”
“Dad, Clover! Can we please go already!”
“Calling for us soon.” Brooks smiles, gesturing toward the stairs, and I smile, following him down.
It’s time to face the music.
As we pull up to my dad’s new farmhouse, I’m feeling better. Brooks—and even Darby—has a way of helping me to calm the chaos in my brain when I’m feeling overwhelmed, and damn, has that been useful this week.
Nothing like uprooting your life to fill your week with endless to-dos.
Still, I’m not complaining. It’s all more than worth it.
I’ve sang for Rosie a few times, which has actually been a bit of a break for my brain, and managing my client list as I begin the process of going remote.
It’s been fucking stressful, but it’ll all be over soon, my life better for it. And I can live here in Red Lodge comfortably with my grumpy cowboy.
Darby continues to be his amazing self, and helping him through the usual school week stuff has been a welcome bit of a familiar routine. It’s nice to have that piece of my life that I can count on.
Sheep and shit shoveling included.
It’s even better that Brooks and Darby are in my life full-time now. They’re my family as much as my dad is, and I’ve even started to see myself as something besides Darby’s nanny.
Though I don’t necessarily have a name for my role right now.
Still, I’m Clover, a businesswoman starting her own remote marketing firm, a singer who enjoys modest crowds at the local bars, Brooks’s girlfriend, and Darby’s pseudo-step mom, if not officially.
All in all, life is pretty damn good.
“Are you ready?” Brooks looks over at me from across the hood of his truck, and I smile.
“With you two by my side,” I glance back at Darby, “I’m set.”
Both of them grin at me, and my heart warms just that little bit more.
“Hey, everyone!” My dad calls out from the front porch, waving after he wipes his hand on a kitchen towel he’s brought out. “Come on in!”
The three of us walk up the steps of my dad’s house and go inside, ready to enjoy a nice dinner, which smells fantastic, going off of the scents that waft out of the kitchen. And much to my surprise, that’s exactly what we get.
Sure, there’s some awkwardness, but I swear, if anyone is ever worried about that, they can bring Darby along because he’s an incredible icebreaker.
Leave it to ten-year-olds to be hilariously blunt.
“Ooh, this is really good, Mr. Joy!” Darby digs into the heaping plate of pasta, not caring about his shirt or face in the slightest. “Clover, make this for dinner this week. Please? Oh, and make sure your dad buys tickets for the school fair ‘cause he’s got to be there, too. Right, Mr. Joy?”
And just like that, our lives are mingling. We’re a little family, and my dad is tagging along to school events like he’s Darby's grandfather.
It’s almost enough to make you cry.
But I hold it together. I’ve had more than enough crying for at least a few days. My dad chuckles, looking up at me with his brows up.
“Oh, well, alright then. So I take it this means that you’ll be staying in town then?”
It occurs to me that my father doesn’t know my plans yet. He wasn’t there for the “big talk,” after all, and it actually makes me really excited that I get to deliver a bit of good news.
I wipe my mouth with a napkin as I swallow down a bite of pasta, taking a drink to make sure I’m good to speak. When I glance across the table at my dad, he’s waiting on eggshells for my response.
“That’s right. You don’t know.” I look over at Brooks, who’s seated to my left, and take his hand. “After much deliberation and thought, I have decided to make my marketing business remote.”
There’s a pause, and my dad leans forward over the table as his eyes widen. “I…don’t know what that means.”
Brooks and I burst out laughing, and when I’ve regained my composure, I smile at my dad, wiping the tears from under my eyes. Looks like they were coming no matter what.
“I’m staying in Red Lodge. I’ll work with my clients remotely—or online .” The lightbulb goes on in my dad’s head, and he raises his brows, nodding now that he understands. “I have plenty of clients who will be fine with the adjustment, and I’ve already started reaching out to local businesses that might need the help. I’ll get to sing while I’m here, and who knows, maybe something fun will happen there, and I’ll be able to take another step back from my consulting work. Rosie is thrilled to have me at her beck and call. I’ll tell you that much.”
When I’m finally quiet, Dad’s expression softens all the more, and I see him roll his lips up tight as he fights back the emotions.
“So you’re staying? My little girl will be right here?”
I nod, my throat tight as I deal with my own tears. “Yes, I’ll be here. I loved my job in New York, but I’m going to be able to do most of it in Red Lodge. And I like the pace here a lot more. I like the company a lot more, too.”
Gazing at the people around me, I smile at them in turn. Brooks, Darby, my dad, I have my family gathered all in the same place, and there really is nothing in the world quite like that.
“Oh, honey, I’m so glad!” Dad claps his hands together, and then he’s up out of his chair, coming over to give me a hug. “Having you in town is all I really wanted. Aside from you being happy, of course.”
I pat him on the back, laughing as we embrace. “Of course.”
As we part, I look up at my dad, still misty-eyed. “I think Mom would like it too. She always said the country would be the place for us, and look at that, it is.”
My dad’s eyes can’t contain the tears at that, and I let him lean into me. We take support from each other, and I sigh happily as I consider all the time we’ll have together now.
It’s strange, but I’m almost grateful that Kyle turned out to be a piece of shit. Because of all that, I moved to Red Lodge. And being here allowed me to meet the two loves of my life—Brooks and his son, who I am so proud to care for.
Fate is funny, but it does appear to know what it’s doing, so who am I to judge how we got here? The thought makes me laugh because it’s so well-adjusted of me.
My old New York therapist—which basically everyone has there—would be impressed.
Sighing, I hug Dad again, taking in this moment and letting it become a part of me, ingrained in my blood.
For the first time in forever—longer than I can remember—I feel at home, at peace with my life and who’s in it. I belong here—with my family, with the men who’ve shown me that I can have the best of both worlds and live out my dreams.
“You know,” my dad and I look over at Brooks as he comes to stand by us, “I never got the pleasure of meeting Beth, but I can tell that she left the best mark on you both. And I’m so grateful that she was there to help you become the incredible woman you are. The woman I love.”
A sob breaks free, and I shake my head. “I’m fine. I’m fine. This is your fault.”
I glare playfully at Brooks, who grins back, his head tipping in the way it does when he’s wrapped up in staring at me. For a moment, it’s just the two of us in the entire world.
“You’re a good man, Brooks,” my dad offers. “I expect you to prove it every day, but I’m certain you will.”
My father claps Brooks on the shoulder, and I’m an absolute mess. Laughter through tears, isn't it? Like that old movie?
Well, whatever this is, it’s the happiest I’ve ever been, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.
Leaning over me, Brooks gets our drinks from the table and holds up his beer. “To new beginnings and the woman who showed me that love isn’t dead. I just needed to break my arm to find it. I love you, Lucky.”
I tip my head to the side, feeling overwhelmed with love and support and gratitude, chuckling because my boyfriend here has a hell of a way with words.
“And to you, Ace . Thank you for showing me that sheep feed makes an excellent projectile and that love can be found in the strangest of places, like a smelly, old barn.”
“Cheers!” everyone calls out, even Darby, and then he adds, “Can we have dessert now?”
We all laugh, and my dad walks over to the kid, who’s much more concerned about cake than toasts, and pulls him into the kitchen. I can hear them talking about cookies as they trail off, and Brooks comes over to me, wrapping his arms around my waist.
His shaggy hair is catching the light, and his classic button-down, plaid shirt is in place, making him look exactly as good as the day I first met him.
“Pretty good dinner, I’d say.”
I smile up at him, taking in how good it feels to have Brooks’s arms tight around me. “It was. I never should have doubted it. Because, apparently , things really will work out for the best.”
Brooks grins, mischief lighting his eyes. “Told you.”
“Yes, you did.” I lift up onto my tiptoes and kiss him, lingering in the perfect moment between us.
Kisses with Brooks are never long enough, and I will savor every single one of them.
After a few seconds, Darby shouts for us from the kitchen.
“Guys! There are cookies! And Pop says we have to help with dishes!”
I glance up at Brooks. “Pop?”
“I think your dad gave himself a nickname.” He grins, kissing me once more.
Smiling, I lean back. “I like it.”
As we grin, laughing at the amazing, goofy kid and my dad, who’s become a grandpa in just a handful of seconds, Brooks takes my hand and leads me into the kitchen.
I follow, and the truth is, I’d follow him anywhere.