Chapter 39 #2
I don’t argue. I don’t feel particularly steady on my feet—more like I’m going through the motions, trying to keep my head in the present. I take the seat to the left of Clover and thread my fingers with hers.
Dad sets the kettle to boil and pulls out the box of Bengal Spice tea. It’s become a staple at my parents’ place since I introduced them to it during the holidays. He drops a bag in both cups.
“Are either of you hungry?” he asks. “Sometimes trauma does that. Makes us hungry. Or not. I’ll put out one of the board things your mom loves to make with all the crackers and stuff on it, yeah?”
I don’t stop him. I know he’s doing his best to be helpful. He starts pulling out boxes of crackers and cookies. He finds two blocks of random cheese in the fridge, breaks up a couple of chocolate bars, fills a bowl with nuts and another with pretzels, and sets it on the counter in front of us.
Clover picks up a cracker and nibbles on it.
“The police said they’re going to stop by in the morning again to get any additional details they need from the two of you about what happened.
Gabriel has been officially charged with violating the order of protection you filed.
” My dad raps on the counter. “If you need any help with legal advice, I can give you my lawyer’s number. ”
Clover nods. “I have a divorce lawyer I’ve been working with.”
My dad bites the inside of his cheek. “No offense, Clover, but since you’re still fighting to get that divorce you so clearly want, it might be time to switch things up.
Not saying you need to decide that right now after the night you’ve had, but, uh, I have someone on retainer who could probably help expedite things for you. ”
“Maybe we could talk about that later, Dad?” I suggest.
“Yeah. Of course. Sorry.” He shakes his head. “I just . . . I know how important you are to Maverick, and I want to keep you both safe.”
A buzz sounds, and Dad pulls his phone from his back pocket. “That’s your mom.”
“You haven’t told her about this, have you?” I ask, suddenly on high alert.
He gives me a look. “Not a chance in hell. The only thing your mother knows is that you’ve been offered a spot at training camp and we’re in discussions.
She’s got enough to deal with keeping your sister calm while Kody’s here.
The less she knows right now, the better.
Kody and BJ know not to say anything, and I’ve already talked to Rook and Lainey and your aunt and uncle, so they’ll keep an eye on those boys.
The police aren’t offering information to local outlets for twenty-four hours.
The important part is that everyone is safe.
I’m just going to take this.” He clears his throat and brings the phone to his ear.
“How’s my beautiful wife? You and the kids having a good time? ”
He squeezes my shoulder and heads down the hall toward his office.
I turn and press a kiss to Clover’s temple. “How you hanging in there?”
“Nashville called you up.”
I can’t read her tone or her expression. “Yeah. But I’m not making any decisions about that right now. And we can talk about it later, okay? You and your well-being are the top priority.”
She nods slowly, and I have to wonder how much of this she’s really processing.
I tuck her hair behind her ear. “You okay, sweetheart?”
She leans into my touch, seeking comfort maybe. “This all feels so surreal. I don’t want to think about what could have happened, but it’s hard not to let your mind go there.”
“We need to get a proper security system set up at your place before you move in there for good,” I tell her.
“That’s a good idea.” She takes another sip of her tea. “Is it okay if I lie down? I’m exhausted in a way I can’t describe.”
“Of course.” I take her upstairs to my bedroom, help her into one of my T-shirts, and lie down beside her.
“Thank you,” she murmurs, snuggling into my side.
“For what?”
“For coming into my life. For teaching me that I’m stronger than I think. For saving me.”
“I didn’t save you. You saved yourself.”
“Because you taught me how.”
I kiss her softly and stroke her hair until she falls asleep.
When I’m sure she’s out, I head back downstairs to check on my dad. He’s a lot like me in that he’ll go into fix-the-problem mode right away, but it doesn’t mean the gravity of this isn’t going to hit him eventually.
I find him sitting in the living room, flipping one of the many paper cranes I’ve made over the past two days between his fingers.
A glass of scotch sits on the table beside him.
My dad isn’t a big drinker. Mostly he reserves scotch for holidays and parties.
Sometimes he’ll kick back and have a beer with dinner, and of course there’s the dock days of summer, but the good scotch is usually reserved for special occasions.
“How is she doing?” he asks.
I take the chair across from him. “She’s asleep. She was exhausted.”
He nods and rubs his bottom lip. “That cabin, is it going to be Clover’s primary residence? Or is it her vacation spot?”
“Her lease runs out on her place in Chicago at the end of July, so her plan is to move into the cabin. But, uh, obviously there have been some issues since the ex keeps fighting her on the place.”
He pokes at his cheek with his tongue. “If it’s okay with you, I’m going to make a call in the morning and get a security system installed.
It’s pretty isolated, and there’s a lot of tree coverage between her and her neighbors.
I think there’s going to be some building happening there soon, but the added protection would be good.
And maybe a dog wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.
” He sets the crane on the coffee table.
“I take it if she’s going to be living there, you’ll be spending a lot of time there too. ”
“Yeah, probably. I don’t really want her to be on her own out there, not with her ex threatening to light the place on fire.” I scrub a hand over my face, trying to get the scene I witnessed out of my head.
“Why don’t the two of you stay here for a bit? Take the pool house so you have some privacy.”
“You think Mom’s going to be cool with that?” I don’t like the idea of Clover in that cabin all by herself any more than my dad does.
“Despite your mom’s feelings about who you’re dating, what she wants most is for her kids to be happy. I see the way you and Clover are together.” He looks up at me. “Give Mom a chance to see that too. She’ll come around.”