Thirty-Seven
Before I could leave for the Derby, I needed to do one last thing to prepare. I checked the knob, relieved when it twisted. Unlocked. Surely that meant Daddy was hoping Mama would return and find him waiting with welcoming arms. Hopefully, he wouldn’t be disappointed it was just me.
“Daddy?”
My voice didn’t echo thanks to all the furnishings Mama had brought in to decorate the foyer over the years. I turned down the hall that led to his office, where he spent most of his time. If not there, then the stables. But I was pretty sure the latter were off-limits to him until the RMTC believed all illegal substances gone and the horses tested free of such substances.
After rapping my knuckles on the office door, a peek inside told me he wasn’t there. I walked to the living room near the kitchen only to discover it empty as well. I paused. No way was I walking every square foot of this place to find him. I pulled out my cell and dialed his number.
“Piper?”
“Hey, Daddy. Where are you?”
“I’m at home.” He scoffed. “Nowhere else to go, really.”
“Where in the house are you?”
“Are you here?” His voice lightened. “I’m sitting by the pool. The time got away from me.”
I hadn’t thought to go outside. “Okay. I’ll be right there.”
When I was young, we spent most of our time outdoors. Either we were riding horses or Daddy was playing Marco Polo with me in the pool. Mama would sit on a lounge chair with a coverup and a hat as wide as the state of Texas. She was always conscious of the risk of being burned by the sun and developing skin cancer later in life. I saw her get sunburned only once, and that was the day she joined us in the pool. She’d been super red for the next week and moaned in misery every day.
Was that the memory pulling Daddy outside, or did he just like the scenery out there?
I made my way through the house and out the back door. The pool beckoned to me, the water still as could be. It was a warm April day, which was quite a change, because last week I’d needed a jacket. Now I was using the AC in the truck as I drove around town.
Sitting on the side of the pool, Daddy had his feet in the water, but his face held a downcast expression. My heart turned over as I took in the picture. He looked broken. That was the only word that came to mind.
His head popped up as I drew near. “Piper.” He stood and opened his arms, then hesitated.
Taking a deep breath, I stepped into his embrace and hugged him back. “Hey.”
His frame seemed thinner, his clothes a little looser.
“Are you eating well?”
He pulled back, gaze darting away. “I gave the cook a paid vacation for a few weeks.”
“Daddy ... at least tell me you’re eating something, even if it’s junk.”
A shadow of a smile curved the corners of his mouth. “I have consumed my share of junk food.”
My breath steadied. “Good.” If I’d thought about it, I would’ve brought some groceries with me to cook him a meal. “Do you have food in the fridge?”
“Mm-hmm.” He gestured toward the pool. “Want to dip your feet in first?”
“Sure.” I sat on the deck and rolled my jeans up to my knees, then slid off my boots and socks. “How long have you been sitting out here?”
“I don’t know.” He stared at the sky. “Since I woke up, I guess.”
“Are you sleeping through the night?”
“I can’t.” He sighed. “I’m used to your mama lying right beside me. It feels awful with her gone. I just toss and turn until I give up and get up.”
Lord God, please reunite my parents. Please help Mama to forgive and Daddy to do whatever You require so they can be one again.
They were both so miserable without the other.
“I’m praying she comes around.”
His head bobbed. “Me, too, Piper girl. Me too.” He faced me. “Is she doing okay?”
“Won’t stop cleaning.” I flicked the water with my feet. “It’s a little much to watch.”
He wrapped an arm around me and placed his chin on my head. “Daughters shouldn’t have to worry about their parents.”
“Maybe when we’re young. But as you both age, I’ll eventually be in the position to care for you as you cared for me. So I think daughters should worry over their folks. Especially when people are being stubborn.”
Daddy jerked away from me. “How am I being stubborn?”
“Have you tried talking to Mama?”
“I’ve called her, but she won’t answer.” He hung his head. “She still doesn’t want to talk to me.”
“How do you know for sure? Why give up with the phone? Why not actually get in the car and attempt a face-to-face?” Must I tell my folks everything?
“She told me she didn’t want to hear from me.”
“Yeah, the day she moved out. That was how long ago?” Sixteen days. Not like I was counting or anything.
“She’s never been this mad before.”
“You’ve never done anything this bad before,” I said bluntly.
He winced. “True.”
“You need to stop throwing a pity party and win back your wife. You have to show her you’re contrite and that you’ll never do something like that again. Before it’s too late.” Before he was behind bars ... or worse.
“You’re right.” He rubbed his stubbly chin. “Got any tips for me?”
“No, but do something soon. I can’t watch her clean one more day. I can eat off my floors now.”
He chuckled. “I’ll figure out a plan.”
“When’s your court date?” I asked quietly.
“My lawyer is trying to see if he can just enter a plea for me so we can bypass the trial.”
I blinked. “What kind of sentence will that entail?”
“That’s the question. I’m not sure the judge will go on the lenient side considering how long I was breaking the law.” His face flushed. “But my lawyer thinks sharing all the information about how and when the vet administered the injections, even showing them accounting statements, will help.”
“How is a plea different from going to trial?” And was he really throwing the vet under the bus to save himself?
“It might prevent me from going to prison. The outcome we’re trying for is a hefty fine—though the RMTC and other organizations have banned me from buying and selling horses as well as racing them.”
My mouth dried, and I swiped my sweaty palms against my jeans. “But just for two years, right?”
He looked away, staring out over the pool once more.
“Daddy?” I whispered.
“They might extend the sentence based on a trial outcome, but don’t worry about it, Piper. I don’t know yet what it means for Brook Bolt’s future, but trust me.” He looked me in the eyes. “It’s not for you to worry about.”
“I’ll be praying for you. That you’ll have wisdom in this time.”
I hoped this season in Dad’s life would draw him to his knees and increase his faith despite the deviation from the right path.
“Thank you. I’ve been talking to God more.” He gave a self-deprecating chuckle. “Well, mostly whining.”
“Hey, take a page out of Psalms.”
He gave me a quizzical look. “What do you mean?”
“The writers lament but never stay in their pity. After recalling what God has brought them through, they’re moved to praise Him.”
He nodded slowly. “All right, then. No more pity party. I think you’ve hinted and stated it quite obviously.”
“Good.” I stood. “Dinner at my house will be postponed, because I’m going grocery shopping with my boyfriend, and we’re going to take our time. I may even stay at his house the rest of the evening.” I needed to give my parents the opportunity to start communicating once more.
“I get it. You’re about as subtle as a bucking bronc.”
“Sorry, not sorry.”
We hugged again, then I left. I prayed Daddy would take the initiative and visit Mama. Hopefully, she wouldn’t be stubborn and bar him entry.
Lord, please soften her heart. Please pave the way to reconciliation.
I probably could’ve kept my mouth shut and not inserted my opinion in their affairs, but I wanted my folks happy again. I wanted our quirky family with the best memories to continue making more. They were my family, and I wanted nothing but goodness for us all.
When I got to Tuck’s place, I honked the horn. I’d texted him before leaving Daddy’s. Since we were leaving to get groceries, he’d told me not to come inside.
Was it sad that I was excited about our outing? It wasn’t a date to a fancy restaurant. It wasn’t even a date to listen to some bluegrass and eat foods with bourbon in them. It was simply a stroll down the aisles while we bought items we were both low on.
My face glowed as I imagined what married life would look like with my best friend. Was it too early to think about marriage? Sure, we hadn’t been an official couple very long, but we’d known each other forever. Didn’t that mean our dating life had included all the times we got together as friends keeping our feelings secret? Would that mean I could give in to dreams about how Tuck would propose or what I’d wear on my wedding day?
Hmm.A floral wreath in my hair maybe. Maybe a simple white gown with no adornments.
The passenger door opened, and I jerked from my imaginations.
“You just honked. How did I startle you?” Tuck asked as he attempted to buckle himself in with one arm.
I took the seat belt away from him and clicked it in. “I was thinking.”
“Must have been some thought. You looked completely zoned out.”
I put the gear in reverse. “It was a good thought.”
“Want to tell me about it?”
“Maybe later. First, don’t you want to know how my talk with Daddy went?” I glanced at him.
Tuck nodded. “Of course.”
“Really well.”
“Yeah? I’m proud of you.”
I scoffed. “I didn’t do anything to be proud of.”
“Of course you did. You showed up when most people would have severed all ties. That couldn’t’ve been easy.”
“It was once I saw how sad he was.” My dad had always been the man who entered a room with his head held high, daring anyone to think anything but good about him. To see his shoulders slumped, head hanging low, tore something inside me.
“Did he say anything about your mom?”
“Yeah. I encouraged him to talk to her. Told him we were going to take our time shopping, then I’d stay at your house for the evening.”
“Oh man.” Tuck laughed. “I don’t know if I should feel sorry for him or your mom.”
“Neither. Pray they make up. She needs to stop running, and he needs to make more of an effort.”
“Give him some credit. He did ask me for help.”
“Because he’s scared of us. And that’s a shame.”
Tuck squeezed my elbow. “Darlin’, y’all can be fierce.”
“I don’t think so, sir.” I tilted my head. “Should I pick out a nickname for you?”
“Like what?”
“Honeybunch?”
He laughed. “Please no.”
“Good-looking?”
“Not bad.”
“McDreamy?” I asked, thinking back to Grey’s Anatomy and the battle between #McDreamy and #McSteamy.
Tuck laughed again. “Pass.”
“Dreamy for short?”
“I expected more from the rom-com queen.”
I came to a stop at the grocery store, shut off the engine, and looked Tuck straight in the eyes. “My heart?”
He groaned. “Way to show me up.”
“Face it. I’m superior.”
Tuck laughed and motioned for me to come closer. I gave him a quick kiss, then unbuckled his seat belt. “These groceries won’t buy themselves. Let’s go.”
“Yes, darlin’.” He winked.