Twenty-Five
Adate with Tuck? What was a girl to wear?
Contrary to my earlier confidence, I actually had no idea which of the boring outfits in my luggage would knock Tuck’s socks off. I’d filled my suitcase with clothing good for horse racing. Jeans for time in the stables, a dress for race-day photo ops, and a couple of casual options for being out and about. None of it was date wear.
Fortunately, I could always go shopping. Now that Tuck was icing his shoulder and Dream was being cared for, all that was left for me was finding a cute outfit. Unlike the last time I tried to impress Tuck without trying to be obvious, I wanted to be as noticeable as possible.
I left the hotel in my truck and headed for the boutique an internet search had assured me offered my perfect outfit. Since Tuck always saw me in jeans, I wanted to go for a dress. Though he did see me in those a lot for race days.
Ugh.What could I find different from anything else he’d seen me in? Guess that was the problem—and the blessing—of dating your best friend. They’d seen everything and still wanted to be with you.
I took in a calming breath. Tuck literally knew every single look. There was no surprising him. Still, he gazed at me like I hung the stars and he was happy being in my light. My heart fluttered. It didn’t matter what I picked as long as I felt pretty in it. Since spring was here, maybe I could find something in pastels to remind me of the season.
GPS got me to the right place, and I pulled into the parking lot and took the key out of the ignition.
An employee greeted me as I entered, and I smiled back before heading toward the closest dress rack. It had a bunch of A-line dresses right up my alley. Some were bold colors and others more muted. As I flipped through dress after dress, a niggling sensation tickled the back of my neck. After rubbing the area and confirming nothing was crawling there, I discreetly peeked around the store.
I locked eyes with a woman who was obviously recording me with her phone. I arched an eyebrow, and her face flushed. Was she a fan of the sport or one of the keyboard trolls leaving nasty comments about my parents and my obvious moral corruption? If the latter, the fruit didn’t fall far from the tree.
Seriously, you’d think that expression would have died off decades ago or at least be totally unknown to my generation. But apparently not.
“Can I help you?” I asked.
The woman pursed her lips, then stepped closer. “Do you really think it’s right for you to be here?”
My teeth locked. “And what’s that supposed to mean?”
“Your dad was arrested. You were investigated. And you still have the nerve to show up for the stakes race?” She shook her head. “You’re tainting the sport.”
I would not cry. I lifted my chin and considered a counterargument. “I’m not my father. I was never under official investigation because my horses have never been given any illegal substances. So yes, I showed up to a stakes race I rightfully earned a spot to be in.”
“Money can buy innocence these days.”
“Do you work here?”
Before she could answer my question, a woman wearing a name tag stepped between us and looked at me. “Is everything okay?”
“This woman is taking a video of me without my permission and maligning my character.” I nodded toward the offender. “I was just asking if she’s a customer or an employee. Regardless, I think I’ll go elsewhere.”
Her face blanched. “No, please. She’s not an employee.” She cleared her throat. “Um, I didn’t want to get involved, but we can ask her to leave.”
“I was here first!” the woman protested.
Yep. Time for me to go. I headed for the door.
“Please, Ms. McKinney.”
The pleading tone didn’t sway me one bit. It was bad enough being harassed by reporters and keyboarding trolls. I didn’t want to put myself in the line of fire from everyday citizens. There were some dangerous people in the world, and I wanted to make it back to my hotel safely.
Now what are you going to wear?
I didn’t want to go to another store, but I didn’t want to return empty-handed either. Did I have enough clout to ask someone at the hotel to shop for me? Give them my size and ask them to pick something out? Or maybe one of the boutiques had curbside pickup.
I climbed into my truck, but before I could make a search, my phone rang. Anxiety filled me as Daddy flashed on the caller ID. I couldn’t believe he was out on bail already.
“Hi,” I said cautiously.
“Piper girl, how are you?”
“All right.”
“You make it to Mountain Laurel?”
It was great that my dad was taking an interest in my life, but ever since the RMTC shared their investigation results, I didn’t know what to say to him. I hadn’t even seen him since he was released on bail.
“I did. Just trying to do a little shopping now.”
I stared at the store and gaped. Police were talking to the woman who’d been filming me. Guess she objected to being asked to leave the store. Of course, that was pure speculation on my part.
“Oh, good, good.”
But it didn’t sound like he was doing so well. I bit my lip. “Is everything okay?”
Dad scoffed. “Kind of an ironic question, don’t you think?”
“Well, yeah. I just meant, are you all right in this moment?”
“No.” There was a long pause. “I’m doing an interview tomorrow.”
My eyes widened. “With who? Why?”
“With a reporter. Your mother keeps accusing me of not taking personal responsibility.”
That was definitely a line in her latest rants about Daddy. “And an interview will allow you to do that?”
“I don’t know, Piper. But I want your mama back. I want you to call me every week like you did before instead of debating whether or not you’ll answer my call.”
I wanted that, too, but I didn’t know how to reconcile my dad’s guilt with the vision of the man who had raised me. That man had been full of love, encouragement, and integrity. This man I didn’t know.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered. What else could I say?
“You have nothing to be sorry for, Piper girl. I know it’s on me. If being accountable will win the respect of your mother, then I have to try.”
“But will admitting guilt help the charges against you?”
“I plan on pleading guilty regardless of what my attorney thinks.”
My stomach dropped. Wouldn’t that mean he’d incur the maximum penalty?
Shouldn’t he?
I was tempted to lay my head on the steering wheel. “Dad, maybe you should ask your attorney’s advice on talking to a reporter. It just doesn’t seem wise. This is no one’s business but the court’s and our family’s. Everyone else can stay out of it.”
“You say that, but shouldn’t I speak publicly now that the whole world knows?”
“I don’t know. If you have anything additional to say to me or mom, just talk to us. That should be said in a personal conversation at a private location. You know, at Bolt Brook or some neutral place where Mama would meet you. Not on the evening news.”
“I just want things to go back to how it was before.”
I thought of the days before he’d made the news. The days when our family unit was the best thing ever, and I wanted to visit my parents often. But we couldn’t go back, and I wasn’t sure if a redo would solve our present anyway.
“Daddy, have you talked to the pastor?”
Breathing filled my ears. “I haven’t been to church since the news broke.”
“Don’t you think that’ll help you? The church offers counseling.”
“I don’t need therapy, Piper.”
I winced at the brusqueness in his voice. Somehow, I doubted he’d appreciate the You need Jesus thought running through my mind. Lord, please guide my words.
“Maybe you don’t, and I can’t make that call. But you need to seek God’s guidance in this situation. Let Him examine your heart, then submit to His spiritual makeover.” Okay, so using a makeover metaphor might not be the best way to reach a man, but it was what came out of my mouth.
“I appreciate you, Piper, but ...”
“Give it some thought. ’Kay? And talk to your lawyer too.”
“Fine. I will.”
I could only pray he meant it. “I’ll talk to you later?”
“You can call me anytime.”
After hanging up, I did lean my forehead against the steering wheel. The incident inside the store and now the phone call with Daddy had zapped me of strength. How was I supposed to shop for my date with Tuck now? All I wanted to do was curl up on my hotel bed and stuff my mouth with bourbon balls or something equally chocolatey.
Pull yourself together, girl. This is a date with Tucker Hale! You’ve been wanting to date him forever.
I blew out a breath. I could do this. I could mentally dust myself off and refuse to let anyone steal my joy. When Tuck knocked on my door, I wanted to be excited, not weighed down by today’s woes.
I found a place that offered curbside pickup and purchased four dresses—technically two dresses but in two different sizes. I didn’t want to worry about their not fitting. I’d either return the ones that didn’t or drop them off at a donation center.
After picking them up, I headed back to the hotel. I’d have time to shower, try on the dresses, then do my makeup before Tuck came knocking. Because tonight would be perfect regardless of the lemons life was throwing my way.