Chapter 24
Cooper
I parked in front of Madeline’s house and turned off the car. “Do you want me to take you back to the dance after you change?” I hoped she didn’t but felt obligated to ask.
She looked down at her still-damp dress. “No. There’s no saving this night. I smell like a wet cat.”
I leaned over and sniffed her. “Is that what a wet cat smells like? Sort of like a mixture of perfume and antiseptic vet soap?”
She playfully smacked me. “Do you want to go back to the dance?”
“Nah, I don’t want to see Dahlia or explain to people why we aren’t together.”
Madeline snorted like I ought to know better.
“You won’t have to explain anything because by now, she’s told her version to everyone who’ll listen.
What you need is to mitigate the fallout.
We should’ve thought to take pictures of Mascot.
I mean, saving an injured animal should win the jury’s sympathy. ”
I cocked my head. “Are you planning on being a lawyer, or are you already one?”
“I’m just the daughter of one who’s been forced to listen to cases over dinner all her life. We can take pictures with Mascot tomorrow when I drop him off at your house. What could be more moving than a kitty in a cast?”
A lot of things. “Speaking of pathetic cats, I won’t mention Mascot to my mother until you show up with him. She’ll have a harder time saying no if you’re standing on the doorstep carrying him.”
Madeline nodded. “I’ll buy some food and a litter box before I bring him over. That way you won’t have to get anything.”
I knew she was trying to be nice, but I heard what she didn’t say. You’re not wealthy, so I don’t want to burden you with making purchases.
“I can buy the cat food and litter box.”
Madeline tilted her head. “Wouldn’t that sort of be a giveaway to your mom if you did?”
Good point, good point. “Yeah, I guess so.” Somehow it still bothered me that she was paying for it. “Do you need help with the vet bill?”
Madeline put her hand on my knee. “That’s sweet of you to offer, but you weren’t the one who hit him. It’s not your responsibility.”
The feel of her hand on my knee distracted me for several moments until she lifted it. She glanced at her house. “Do you want to come inside? We could watch a movie. I feel bad for ruining your night.”
“Sure.” I didn’t want the night to be over yet. And we should talk about things, about our parents. About us.
We got out of the car discussing movies. She wanted something with great dramatic acting. I was fine with that as long as it also had fight scenes and death.
Part of me wanted to put off our relationship discussion.
We could just go on being the way we were for a few more weeks.
We could hang out at each other’s houses, and I’d tell her I’d changed my mind about PDAs.
I was in favor of them now, along with frequent stints sitting on the couch kissing. And I needed lots of rehearsals.
“Lord of the Rings?” She opened the door to her house. “That might make both of us happy.”
“It’s a possibility.” I walked in behind her. “You don’t want to try something new?”
“You might be able to talk me into it. After tonight, I’ll be easy to convince.” As we made our way across the entryway, she glanced over her shoulder at me with a smile. “I guess you have the final say anyway. You’ll have total control of the living room while I get undressed.”
I knew what she meant by that statement. Her father, however, who’d suddenly appeared in the entryway, clearly had questions. “You’ll do no such thing.” He glared at me and then at her. “We need to have a discussion about appropriate dating parameters.”
Madeline’s mouth opened and clacked shut. “What are you doing home?”
For someone who was raised by a lawyer, she should’ve known that sentence wasn’t a good defense.
I held up my hands. “She’s just changing into new clothes because hers are wet and have grass stains. And a few blood spots.”
His glare swung to me and his face reddened. “What exactly were you doing on your date?”
Madeline gave him a hurried account of us hitting the cat and taking him to the vet.
“Neither of us wanted to go to the dance after that,” she finished.
“So we decided to come back here and watch a movie.” She gave him a pointed look.
“I was going upstairs to change into some jeans while Cooper picked a movie. Honestly, Dad, why would you jump to the wrong conclusion?”
Well, for starters, because we’d been trying to get our parents to jump to the wrong conclusions. Looked like we were more successful than we’d realized.
“I’m sorry to hear about your night,” her father said in a much more relieved tone. The red flush had faded from his face. “I hope the cat is okay.”
He didn’t ask what the vet bill cost. Those would have been the first words out of my mother’s mouth.
The thought of my mother made me look around the room. She wasn’t anywhere in sight, and Mr. Seibold had changed out of his suit. “Weren’t you and my mom going to the symphony tonight?”
“We were.” He grimaced and folded his arms. “Something came up. Your mom and I didn’t go out.”
“What came up?” I asked. Mr. Seibold wasn’t giving off the casual “everything’s fine” vibe.
He didn’t answer, just looked downward as though deciding how to phrase what he said next.
My first thought was that they’d fought over us, that somehow Madeline and I had already ruined things for them. My mother would be sad again and it would be my fault. I would have to come clean and apologize.
I looked at Madeline, trying to catch her attention to see what she thought. She was watching her father with furrowed brows of concern.
Mr. Seibold lifted his gaze and finally met my eyes. “Actually, Cooper, your dad is back in town.”
It took me several moments to process his words. “My dad?” I repeated. “Where is he?”
Mr. Seibold shrugged. “He showed up at your house, and when he didn’t find anyone there, he called your mom and said he wanted to talk.” Mr. Seibold looked unhappily resigned to this turn of events. “She didn’t tell you?”
I pulled out my phone to see if I’d missed any messages from her. Nope. Not from her or my father.
What did this unexpected visit mean? I didn’t want to get my hopes up that he would stay for long.
He probably just had some time off and planned to surprise Claire and me with a visit.
But then again, wouldn’t he have told my mother beforehand if that was the case?
I turned to Madeline. “I should go. We’ll watch a movie another time. ”
Her eyes were wide and questioning. “Right,” she said. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
I drove back to my house going faster than was probably wise. Maybe I should’ve given my parents time alone together, but I had a vague worry that if I didn’t go home now, he’d disappear before I saw him again.
I reached my house and went inside. My parents’ voices drifted out from the kitchen.
I tried to judge how things were going from the tone of their conversation.
Was my mother being friendly or just polite?
She was talking about my football games, and I couldn’t tell whether her excitement was because my father was back or just because the season was going well.
I walked into the kitchen. The two of them sat at the table, casually talking.
My father looked the same, fit and broad--shouldered.
His blond hair, perpetually in need of a haircut, had been trimmed, and he was clean-shaven.
He wore jeans and a polo shirt—dressed up for him.
Despite this, he seemed smaller somehow and more tired.
Mom had on the black dress she’d worn for the symphony, hair still pinned up. Her expression was soft and relaxed. Perhaps because a box of Ferrero Rocher chocolates—her -favorite—sat in front of her, and a bouquet of roses perched on the counter behind them.
Interesting.
My dad’s eyes lit up when he saw me, and he launched himself at me for a hug and a pat on the back. “Hey, Cooper.” He looked me over. “You’ve grown another inch.”
I guess that was why he looked smaller. “It’s been a long time.” I tried to keep the accusation out of my voice. Probably wasn’t successful.
“Too long,” he said, nodding. “I should’ve come back sooner.” He exchanged a look with my mother, like it was a subject they’d talked about. An apology was in that glance.
She turned her attention to me. “How was the dance?” She didn’t seem to notice I was home early.
I didn’t want to explain anything yet. “I’ll tell you about it later.”
“I bet it was fun.” She stood and smoothed her dress as if she didn’t quite know what to do with her hands. “I should go change. Cooper can tell you about everything he’s been up to.” She gave me an encouraging smile and sailed out of the room.
Dad pulled out a chair and sat down again. “Looks like you’re having a winning season.”
“Yeah.” That wasn’t what I wanted to talk about. “How long are you back for?”
He hesitated and rubbed his jaw, choosing his words carefully. “Hopefully, a long time.”
“Why?” What I meant was: What does this trip mean?
He shifted in his chair and clasped his hands together on the table. They’d always been calloused hands. That hadn’t changed. “I quit my job on the oil rig. I’m going to try to find some work here in the valley. That way I can be around more for you and Claire.”
For me and Claire but not for Mom?
As long as I could remember, he had jobs that took him away from home. Military. Long-haul trucker. Oil rig. He’d always said that you did what you had to in order to provide for your family. Now, when I was a senior, he wanted to spend time with his kids? It didn’t make sense.
Unless . . . My heart rate ratcheted. “Are you dying or something? Do you have cancer?”