Chapter Twenty #3
There was a slight pause then, Charles said, “I’m sorry I haven’t called or texted you.
I let Fossy convince me that no contact would be best for us until the frenzy died down.
” Fossy was Gene Foster, Charles’s campaign manager.
The man had managed several successful campaigns in the late eighties and nineties, but his approach was as outdated as his wardrobe.
Rory had been skeptical of the man from the start, and the feeling had been mutual.
It didn’t surprise him at all that Fossy suggested radio silence where Rory was concerned.
“But I don’t want to go back to the way things used to be right after your mom died.
You needed me, and I was too suffocated by my own grief to notice you were slipping away from me.
After I saw your video, I realized the only way to attack this is together.
And…I realized you were right about other things.
I fired Fossy this morning, and I’m presently looking for a new campaign manager.
Know anyone up for the job?” Charles didn’t bother hiding the hopefulness in his voice.
Rory’s chest swelled with love and pride for his father, but he had zero desire to assume campaign manager duties.
He broke the news to his dad, but softened the rejection with, “I would be happy to interview some candidates with you and offer the odd piece of advice here and there.” In fact, he already had someone in mind to manage Charles’s campaign.
He’d known several political science majors but only one was actively trying to gain a foothold in the uber competitive field.
Rory passed the name on to his dad and promised to get his contact information after they hung up.
“You’ve got yourself a deal,” Charles said. “Hey, Rory.”
“Yeah?”
“Would you rather have an endless supply of ice cream or a plane ticket to anywhere in the world?”
Would You Rather was the game his mother had always played with him when tucking Rory into bed. He smiled because he knew they were going to be all right. “Is it my favorite flavor of ice cream or just ice cream in general?”
Charles laughed. “Your mama’s influence is powerful. She never took my proposals at face value, always probing.”
“You and Mom played this game?”
“Who do you think she learned it from?” Charles countered.
“She was gun-shy after her failed marriage to Nick’s father, and I had to take things slow.
She assumed I was just another corporate asshole who wanted to sleep with the sexy new secretary.
And lord, she was beautiful. Did you know I ran headfirst into a closed elevator door the first time I saw her? ”
Rory laughed. “No, she never told me that. What happened after?”
“She just shook her head and walked away. It took me three more days to work up the courage to approach her at her desk. My dad had hired her to replace his secretary after she retired. Your grandfather opened up his office door and shooed me away like I was a fox in the henhouse. The only thing missing was a broom. Apparently, every single man—and probably some married ones too—had stopped by her desk during those first few days. They were interfering with her ability to work, and my dad wasn’t having it.
Your mama smiled up at me, albeit shyly, and I knew I couldn’t give up.
” Rory heard the smile in his voice when he paused.
“I instituted Would You Rather as a way for her to ask me anything she wanted. Before email, we exchanged questions through interoffice mail. You don’t know how much I looked forward to receiving her questions and answers.
When it was my turn to ask questions, she always sent the slip of paper back with quantifying questions, just like you asked.
Pretty sure I fell in love with her that first week.
I never knew what I was missing in my life until your mama showed up.
There were plenty of beautiful women in my inner circle, but not a single one of them ever baked me cookies just because. ”
Rory thought of the look on Ivan’s face when he’d baked the kitchen sink cookies. Had that been the beginning of something more for them too?
“And it seems to me you might have met someone special on the ranch,” Charles said. “Your video isn’t the only one I’ve seen. Who’s the big handsome fella that was going to tear that dog-kicking asshole limb from limb?”
Rory bit back a groan. He didn’t want an internet search to ruin the mood he was in. “That’s Ivan, Dad. Ivan Gallagher. You’re probably going to read and see some things about him that concern you, but I promise you he’s the most wonderful guy I’ve ever known.”
“Believe it or not, I know how to cut through the crap and see to the heart of a man. I’m fully aware of Cash Sweeney’s mission for Redemption Ridge, and I know he’s not harboring dangerous people.
Nicky wouldn’t have dropped you off there if he was at all concerned about your safety.
I promise not to read any of the nonsense written about Ivan, and I will go into meeting him with an open mind. ”
“You want to meet him?”
“He’s an important part of your life now. Of course I want to meet him.” Charles chuckled at Rory’s silence. “Listen, I know what happens when a Snyder falls in love. I recognize that expression on your face when you looked into his eyes. Then there was that sweet ‘There’s my guy’ comment.”
“Do you think Mom knew how much we loved her?”
“I promise you she did. And I love you, Rory. I’m sorry I haven’t reached out to you. I thought you were angry at me for disrupting your life with this campaign.”
“And I’ve been too mortified that my past behaviors have caused you so much trouble.”
“Rory, the only person who should be sorry is the one behind these personal attacks. And we’re going to trap a rat and expose them to the world. Then we’re going to pivot the conversation to the things our constituents really care about.”
“Sounds like a good plan to me.”
They continued talking for a long time. Ivan stopped by with breakfast at some point, then backed out of the room with the food.
Rory didn’t mind reheating it later. Talking to his dad was more important.
Before they hung up, they agreed to play Would You Rather every morning, no matter where they were or what they had going on.
Rory was already planning his first question for the following day.
Rory and Charles had built a bridge back to one another that had been ravaged by grief, and while things weren’t perfect between them, they had a path back to one another.
For the first time since his mom died, Rory had hope he could have his family back.
Well, his family by blood. He had found a different but equally important family at Redemption Ridge and in Ivan.
And Rory would do everything he could to protect both of his families.
He found Ivan in the living room when he went downstairs.
Instead of heading into the kitchen for something to eat, Rory plopped onto his lap like one of his cats.
He rested his head on Ivan’s shoulder, but neither man spoke for several minutes.
There was beauty in the silence, something Rory had never experienced with anyone else.
When he was ready, he shared the highlights of the conversation he’d had with his dad.
Afterward, Ivan kissed him tenderly and brushed a finger over his face. The moment felt right for a significant declaration.
“I’m going to keep you,” Rory whispered as he stared into the eyes he adored so much.
“Not if I keep you first.”