Chapter seventeen Cashlynn
Chapter seventeen
Cashlynn
“Hi, Dad.” I lean down and kiss my father’s cheek before sliding into my side of the booth. I suggested we meet at Catch & Release for our rescheduled lunch date, partly because I’ve been craving their onion rings. I’m not sure what Dallas puts in his batter, but they’re out of this world.
“Hey, June Bug. How are things?”
I push my hair back from my face and set my purse on the seat beside me. “Things are great!” I say a little too enthusiastically.
His eyebrows rise. “That good, huh?”
“I mean, I’m slipping into the small-town life pretty seamlessly, I think.
I really love it here.” And my fake fiancé is now treating me like his real one, so my giddiness is beyond my control most days.
“I can see why you were eager to stay when you found out grandpa left you the practice all those years ago.”
My father nods. “Yes, well, part of that was a sense of obligation, but I’ve been very happy here for the past eleven years.”
“I think I’m gonna be happy here for at least that long too,” I say, growing more optimistic about the idea every day.
Every day I can more clearly see a real future here—and that future is quickly including Parker in hopefully a real engagement.
But that’s a conversation for us way down the road.
Right now, we’re living in the honeymoon phase, which includes endless amounts of sex—a detail I am not complaining about.
“So, things are going well with Parker then?”
“Yes, why wouldn’t they be?” I ask, a little too defensively.
“I don’t know.” He shrugs but there’s concern in his eyes. “I was wondering if you two had driven each other crazy yet. Last time we talked, you were unplugging the coffee machine.”
Laughing, I reach for my water. “I was messing with him, trying to see how he reacted to certain situations, you know? It was, uh…something I read in an article about moving in with your significant other, a way to see if you’re really compatible.
” That sounded convincing to me, but the look on my father’s face is unreadable.
“Well, he sure seems more focused lately. He’s been putting in a lot of time at the practice. I hope that hasn’t caused any issues.”
“Not at all,” I say. Those mysterious Monday night appointments he still hasn’t explained, on the other hand…
I don’t want to think the worst, but the truth is, I don’t know a lot about the man still.
I want to trust him, and deep down, I think I do.
He said he was going to try to let me in, but then why won’t he just be honest with me about where he’s going?
Ugh, I’m driving myself nuts with thoughts of what it could be.
“And what about work for you?” Dad’s question lands squarely in the pit of my stomach.
I knew this topic was coming. “Work is…slow right now. I finished up a few cases I had open before I left Philly, but right now I’m just processing a lot of paperwork.”
“I don’t understand how you’re supposed to practice law in a different state than the one you have your license in.”
“Actually, North Carolina has reciprocity with Pennsylvania, so my license is good here.”
He nods, but then his eyes dip down to my hand, that’s covered in spots of green paint. “Have you been painting?”
“Um, yes…” The truth is I just came from the gallery and was working on the mural of the coast of Carrington Cove that is going on the wall behind the reception. I thought I’d scrubbed off all the paint, but clearly, I missed some. Shit.
He scoffs, shaking his head. “You shouldn’t be wasting time painting right now, Cashlynn.
Honestly.” His voice takes on that familiar tone of judgment.
“This community could really use a lawyer of your caliber.” He clears his throat before continuing.
“I think you should talk to Timothy MacDonald. He’s the town lawyer, and I’m sure he could give you a referral.
It’s been six weeks now, and it’s time to start putting down real roots. ”
Emotion crawls up my throat, but I swallow it down. “I appreciate the thought, Dad, but I’m trying to take my time adjusting here. Parker even encouraged me to do just that.”
He shakes his head. “I just don’t understand, June. I’m trying to, but…”
“Is this what Mom had to deal with?” I snap, anger fueling me now.
His head rears back. “What on earth are you talking about?”
“Did you berate Mom for every one of her choices too? Try to push her into doing what you wanted?” I can feel my hands shaking under the table, but I try hard to keep my composure.
His eyes narrow. “Watch your tone, Cashlynn June.”
“Or what?” I shoot back, leaning forward, ready to press the issue. But the waiter arrives right then. And it’s probably a good thing. I take that time to get control of my heart rate.
Once the waiter leaves, I lock eyes with my dad. “I honestly want to know if this is how you’ve treated every woman in your life, or if I’m just the lucky one who gets all of your criticism.”
He leans back in the booth, studying me for a moment. He doesn’t speak and, for a second, I wonder if I’ve pushed him too far. But he shocks me when his reply is in an even tone.
“Your mother was the love of my life, June. And yes, there were times I expressed my concerns about her work, but I knew it made her happy, so I supported her the best I could. But losing her…” His bottom lip begins to tremble, and in an instant, I reach for his hand. “I’m sorry. I just…”
The crack in my heart widens as I look at him.
“You’re so lucky to have experienced a love like that, Dad,” I say softly, feeling remorse for going off on him, but fuck, I’m so tired of answering to him.
“I miss her every day. Sometimes I wonder what life would be like if she were still here. And sometimes I wonder if you’re trying to control me because you think it will stop something from happening to me too. ”
He stares down at our joined hands and nods. “That might be plausible.”
“I love you, and I always will. I’m just asking you to trust me. Let me live my life and own my mistakes if I make them, okay?”
His eyes lift and meet mine again. “I’ll try, June. I just—”
“Want what’s best for me,” I finish for him, repeating the words I’ve heard countless times over the years.
His lips quirk into a faint smile. “I always have and I’ll never stop.”
The waiter comes by with our food, breaking our moment.
Relief washes over me because as much as I hate seeing my dad upset, this conversation needed to happen.
I just hope when he sees what I do with my gallery, he’ll be able to accept that my happiness is the best way for me to control my life, and that’s what matters at the end of the day.
“So, how did your appointment go last week?” I ask as I pop an onion ring in my mouth, salivating as the flavor hits my tongue.
He stares at me quizzically. “What appointment?”
“The one you canceled our lunch plans for.”
He nods, clearing his throat. “Oh, yes. It was…good.”
“Is everything okay?”
“Yes, June. Everything is fine,” he says, his voice clipped.
I tilt my head, not convinced. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, okay? If I had something to tell you, I would.”
I lift my hands in surrender. “All right. No need to get snippy.”
“Well, you’re interrogating me and I don’t like it.”
Funny—he doesn’t like a taste of his own medicine.
“I’m just curious. Parker said you were gone for the rest of the week.”
“Yes, I just…went away for the weekend,” he finally says. “It was a trip I’d had planned for a while.”
“Oh.” My surprise is difficult to hide, but my father never leaves work for trips. Or at least, not that I was aware of. “That sounds nice. I’m sure you’re looking forward to more trips like that once you pass along the practice, aren’t you?”
He arches a brow at me. “Is that your way of digging for information about my decision?”
I lift both of my shoulders. “Not particularly, but you know…if you had anything to tell me, you know you could.”
He scoffs. “Not when you’re engaged to one of my candidates, I can’t.”
I debate pushing the topic, but then I remember my deal with Parker. Even though our status has changed, I still need to hold up my end of our bargain. “You know, Parker has so many plans for the practice, Dad.”
“He does, does he?”
“We talk about it all the time.” We don’t, but he doesn’t know that.
“Like what?”
Shit.
I pop an onion ring into my mouth, shaking my head. “I think you should ask him yourself. As much as I try to understand everything he talks about, I don’t speak veterinarian.”
My father scoffs, but there’s a smile on his lips. “Okay. I will.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, I think a conversation about the future of the business might help me make my decision.”
“Are you honestly considering Seth?”
My father’s brows draw together. “Seth is a fine doctor. He does a decent job.”
“Just decent? You want your legacy to be carried on by someone that is decent?”
He narrows his eyes. “There’s more that goes into this decision than you realize, June.”
“I can’t imagine how difficult this must be for you. One chapter of your life is closing, and a new one is beginning, but I hope you’re thinking about the big picture, Dad. I can’t see Seth being the best choice. Beth has told me some stories about him.”
“Beth needs to keep her opinions to herself.” He drops his eyes from mine, reaching for another french fry. “But this is a new chapter, indeed. Nobody likes change, especially me.”
A laugh escapes me. “You don’t say.”
Rolling his eyes, he reaches for my hand. “I must say though, being able to have lunch with you on a random weekday is a nice change.” Yeah, something I wouldn’t to be able to do if I was still a lawyer.
I squeeze his fingers, cherishing the moment while we have it. “Me too, Dad. Me too.”
***
“That mural is turning out amazing.”
I stand back and assess the portion I just finished as Willow stands behind me to get the entire effect. “I’m actually really happy with the way it’s turning out so far.