Chapter Twenty-Three
Dylan
Tuesday nights are slow. I swear that’s why Brad rosters me on, so it’s just us here and Josh, the cook. It’s really a waste of money if he has other staff here.
“You know, if it keeps up being this quiet, I could be persuaded to close early and fuck you right here on the bar,” Brad whispers against my ear.
Turning in his arms, I smile up at him. “Is that so? And how would you want me? On my back, or maybe leaning over it from the other side?”
Brad rubs his chin. “Hmm, they both sound appealing.”
Reaching up, I wrap my arms around Brad’s neck, and he leans down to press a kiss on my lips when someone clears their throat.
Turning around, I freeze.
My mother is standing across the bar, dressed as if she has a pole stuck up her arse—which, if you knew my mother, you would know this woman isn’t her. Where are the threadbare trackies, holey shirts, and hair that hasn’t been brushed in days? That woman I could tolerate. This one is a fake bitch who has found herself a rich husband and new kids to replace me.
“Are you not going to say hello to your mother?” she says.
I look around the bar. “I don’t know. Is she here?”
“Always with the dramatics. We got your wedding invitation.”
I narrow my eyes at her. I didn’t send her one, which means Dom must be trying to meddle again. “We? I didn’t even invite you .”
“I have the proof right here,” she says, waving her invite in the air. “And you must be Brad. You’re a lot older than I was expecting.”
Brad smiles at her and I elbow him—she doesn’t get his smiles. “That must be something you and your daughter have in common, pointing out my age.”
I can’t help my smirk—take that bitch—but we are nothing alike. I know Brad wasn’t saying that to take a stab at me.
The doors to Happy’s open, and I roll my eyes. Of course she brought the latest fuck and his children, who all look lost stepping into the likes of a bar. They must feel like fish out of water—this is no country club, that’s for sure.
“I think you made a mistake coming here,” I grit out.
“Nonsense. It’s time for us to make amends. I know I wasn’t the best mother, but I’m here now, and I would like you to meet Carmichael Senior, Carmichael Junior—or CJ—and Genevieve.”
“I would say it’s nice to meet you, but I would be lying.”
“Dylan!” my mother snaps.
“What, Mum? What did you expect coming here? You have barely been a mother to me my entire life, and you think just because you waltz in here with your new family, I will forgive you? I’m so fucking thankful Minnie took me in because it changed my life. Even though I haven’t been here all that long— not that you’d even know that, as you were nowhere to be found when child safety wanted to remove me from our home when they realised I had no idea where you were or when you were coming back—this is where I belong. In the time I have been here, I have found so much love and acceptance, and I’m starting to realise it’s you who is the problem—not that I’m unlovable.”
“Dylan, I’m . . .”
“You’re what? Sorry? Well it’s a little too late for that. It doesn’t make up for the eighteen years you were a shitty parent. You broke me, and being broken at the hands of a parent is so hard to fix. Maybe that’s why I chose an older man, but I will be fucked if you come into my safe place and have an opinion on how old my fiancé is. Everything I have here is mine, my job, my friends, my brother, Winnie—who has been more of a mother to me in the few months I have been here than you ever were.”
“I don’t think you should speak to your mother?—”
Brad steps out from behind me, but grabs my hand. “With all due respect, Carmichael, do not speak to my fiancée like that in my establishment, or I will have no issue throwing you all out.”
CJ snickers, and the girl takes my mother’s hand. Tears stream down my face.
“I would like to see you try,” Douchebag Senior retorts. “I will have you fired and jobless before you can blink.”
Brad snorts. “That sounds like a threat. Why don’t I go and get my boss?”
Carmichael nods, and I shake my head. I don’t know what Brad plans to do, but he starts walking towards the end of the bar.
“Dylan, please. I want to make peace, and I hope we can have some kind of relationship.”
I laugh. “Why now? You seem to have a new daughter and a bonus son, so why do you need me? I won’t ever fit this bullshit image that you have seemingly walked in here with, and I have no interest in censoring myself to fit in. I’m happy—really, truly happy—and you want to ruin that for me.”
I watch Brad linger at the end of the bar.
“Do you hate me that much?” my mother says, and I shake my head.
“I did, but I have let it go. I have everything I need right here in New Hope, and I no longer need to hold on to you anymore. So, I don’t hate you—I’m just indifferent.”
Brad walks over to Carmichael. “I should formally introduce myself. I’m Brad, co-owner of Happy’s bar, and you can try to fire me, but I will let you in on a little secret. I’m kinda fucking the other owner, so I’m not sure she will fire me either.”
Carmichael looks down at Brad’s hand, but doesn’t shake it.
“I think I like it here,” CJ says, followed by a laugh. “It’s a shame you won’t be my sister. I think we would get along splendidly.”
“CJ, enough,” his father grits out.
“Dylan, if you would like to talk later, we are staying at The Razz,” my mother says.
“I won’t. I have to set boundaries, and right now I draw the line at any type of relationship with you or your new family. I won’t be part of that, and I won’t have toxic people around me anymore. I have been working so hard to better myself, to fix the trauma you have caused. So I’m politely asking you to leave, and to not come back.”
“You heard her,” Minnie says, standing in the doorway to Happy’s in his work uniform, his partner by his side.
“Heard her?” Carmichael says. “I’ve texted my assistant to come and deal with this situation.”
“We haven’t officially met,” Minnie says. “Dominic Mitchell, Dylan’s brother, and if I also heard correctly, she is the co-owner of this fine establishment and has asked you to leave. I’m sure you are very aware they are within their rights to refuse service if they so wish.”
“You haven’t heard the last of me!” Carmichael spits. “Come on, let’s leave. We are clearly not welcome here.”
“Word of advice—I think we have heard the last of you. Dylan is eighteen now, and she cannot be forced to have a relationship with anyone she doesn’t want to.”
I move out from behind the bar on shaky legs. “Brad, I don’t...”
My knees buckle and Brad is right behind me, catching me before I hit the ground.
“If you do not leave the premises right now, I will start arresting you for trespassing,” Minnie’s partner says, reaching for her handcuffs.
Brad picks me up bridal style, as if I weigh nothing, and pulls me to his chest. “You are safe and loved. They have gone now.”
I bury my face in his chest as tears stream down my face. How dare she come into my safe place and try to act like the victim in front of her new family? They have no idea who she really is, and it will only be a matter of time before she outs herself. I want to yell and scream at Minnie; he knows I don’t want to mend bridges with the woman, let alone want her at my wedding.
All I need right now is Brad.
“Everyone has gone,” he says, taking me into his office and sitting on the sofa, with me still tightly pulled to his chest.
“I love you,” I whisper.
“I love you too,” he whispers back and kisses my head.
And I do love him. Every single day, he makes me fall more and more in love with him. I knew from the second I walked into Happy’s that it was my safe space, and while falling in love with Brad wasn’t something I ever thought would happen, it has, and I’m so grateful to have him in my life. I finally have a family, and it’s one I made. They might not all be blood related, and blood might be thicker than water, but family isn’t just about blood—it’s a hell of a lot more than that. Besides, water can turn to ice, and that is solid, just like everyone I have in my life right now.