16. It’ll All Work Out, My Beautiful Boy
It’ll All Work Out, My Beautiful Boy
Doug
Tristan fucking Beaumont. That mother fucker putting his hands on what’s mine? I don’t fucking think so. Okay , so she’s not mine, and now I have to actually pay the asshole for a day’s work, but it’s worth it. He was about to kiss her. I know he was, and I couldn’t let that happen.
Stomping through the bar to interrupt their dance wasn’t my smoothest moment, but I couldn’t stop myself. Hearing her laugh with him, seeing her hands on him, and the way she smiled up at him, fuck no.
His fingers were venturing a little too close to the waistband of her jeans, and honestly, he should be thanking all that’s good and holy he still has the use of them.
I realized the second I said his name that I fucked up. I’d stepped in, and now I needed a reason. I couldn’t tell him to back the fuck up, and as much as I wanted to, I couldn’t throw Cara over my shoulder, carry her back to her cabin and show her that she’s mine and only mine, so I thought on the spot and work was the only thing that came up.
Tristan, for all his faults and the fact that he’s a pretty boy who thinks he’s the best thing to ever happen to the women of Forest Falls and the vicinity, knows plumbing like the back of his hand. I wasn’t looking to hire a plumber until I got to the real tricky parts but fuck it, here we are.
‘Wait, you want me to work with you on the Reynolds’ place?’ His eyes widen, and it looks as though Cara is a distant memory for him.
‘Yeah, well, it’s a wreck, you know that, but um, sure. I’m going to need someone to look at the plumbing. I’ll give you a call.’
‘Wait.’ The word comes out as a laugh, and I turn to look at him. ‘This is not a pressing issue, but you interrupted me with Cara?’
I exhale, feeling my nostrils flare, and he laughs.
‘No fuckin’ way. Shit man. I thought your dick must have fallen off or something.’
‘I don’t know what you’re getting at.’
‘Sure, you don’t.’ He grins, and it pisses me off.
‘You want the work or not?’ I practically growl, and he holds his hands up defensively.
‘If I want the work, I gotta stay away from Cara, right?’ I glare at him, and he laughs again. ‘I don’t know, man. That is a fine piece of ass.’ I step toward him, and he backs up, still fucking grinning. ‘Okay, okay, calm down. Pussy is pussy. I’ll get it elsewhere.’
I nod just once, then turn and leave the bar. I did not fucking need Tristan knowing that my dick is hard for Cara. It’s only a matter of time before Jessie hears about it now—all the more reason to stay the fuck away from Cara McKenzie.
Shit.
‘Hey, Grandma,’ I say brightly. It’s my weekly Facetime with my grandmother.
‘Hey, honey, where’s my BoBo?’
‘Ah, she’s with her mama today. How are you doing? Settled back in at home after your trip?’
Since my grandpa died, my grandma has spent her life traveling to all the places they never got to visit. She moved out of Forest Falls to a little residential facility near Charleston, but she’s hardly ever there.
‘Yeah, I am. The jetlag was rough there for a while.’
I chuckle and try not to think about Cara and how knackered she was when she first arrived.
‘I was thinking Bowie and me could come up and see you this weekend if you’re going to be home.’
‘Oh, honey, yes. I’d love to see you both. You could bring your sisters as well.’
‘I think they both have to work, but I’ll ask them.’
‘Speaking of work, how are you doing up at the farmhouse?’ She smiles widely, knowing how much I always loved that house.
‘Oh, Grandma, it’s great. I can see the old beauty starting to shine through now. We still have a long way to go, but I love it.’
‘And the granddaughter?'
I school my features at the sound of her name. It’s been almost a week since that night at the bar, and I do not need my meddling grandmother picking up on the vibes that took Tristan all of two seconds to figure out.
‘Um, yeah. She’s good, I think. She spends more time with Bree and Zo than me, so they’ll tell you more.’
She nods, a small smile curving her mouth, and I know she thinks she knows something. Fuck me.
‘I better get to work, Grandma. I’ll see you this weekend, okay?’
‘Yes, sweetie. I can’t wait.’
‘Love you.’
I end the call and drag myself out of my truck. Another day at the Reynolds’ house awaits.
‘What the hell do you see in this place?’ The voice behind me makes my balls retreat into my body as I stand and turn to face evil-personified, only to have my attention grabbed by the three-foot wonder running toward me.
‘Daddy,’ Bo calls out, a beaming smile widening her cheeks. I sweep her up into my arms and breathe her in.
‘What are you doing up here?’ I ask, more to her mother than to Bowie, and I see Jessie pop her hip, her attitude radiating.
‘Bowie wanted to see where you were working.’ She smirks, and I know this was all her. She wanted to come up here and say I told you so. She always told me I never stood a chance of getting the place because that crazy old Reynolds lady would never let her precious house fall into the hands of a lowly Campbell.
‘What do you think, honey?’ I ask.
‘It’s scarwy.’ She says wide-eyed, and I match her expression. ‘Grandma said you work at the big scarwy house, and you makin’ it pwetty again.’
‘Really, Grandma said it was scary?’ She shakes her head, no.
‘No, but she said it’s big, and it looks scarwy, Daddy.’
I smile softly. ‘It’s big, baby, but it’s not scary. It’s beautiful. Look.’ I direct her attention up to the wreck of a house behind me. She narrows her eyes as though she doesn’t believe me, and I laugh. ‘You’re funny, Bo.’
Her beaming smile cuts through all the crap. She’s the reason; she’s my everything. I can hold it all together for her.
‘I can’t show you inside right now, sweet girl. It’s not safe inside, but I was thinking if it’s okay with your mama,’ I cast a glance at Jessie, who raises one eyebrow, waiting, ‘we could go up and visit with Grandma Dee this weekend.’
Bowie’s eyes light up, excited, and she wraps her arms around my neck. She loves her great-grandma.
‘Don’t you think you should have checked with me before making plans?’ Jessie snarks, and I exhale through my nose, controlling my frustration before I blow.
‘It’s the weekend, Jess. I have her most weekends.’
She twirls her hair around her finger, something I used to love.
‘Fine, take her.’ I see the corner of her mouth twitch—she’s trying not to smile. For once, she gets a pass without having to force it and without having to drop Bowie off with no warning. She’s elated but doesn’t want to show it.
‘Ooh, there’s my baby.’
Grandma runs down the path, her arms wide, her purple lounge suit making me smile.
Bowie runs into her embrace, and Grandma scoops her up, twirling her around. They haven’t seen each other in months. The odd video call here and there, but they’re so happy to be together again.
‘And there’s my other one.’ She smiles at me, putting Bowie down as I step close to hug her.
‘Hey, Grandma,’ I say, contentment flowing through me. Not much makes me feel as good as my Grandma Dee’s hugs.
‘Come on, let’s get you inside and get some food in your bellies.’
We follow Grandma into her little kitchen, where she’s laid out a spread that would have fed the whole family. I laugh, knowing there’s no point protesting it. I am going to be eating more food today than I have all month.
‘So, tell me about the house,’ Grandma says as we sit out on her porch after Bo is in bed. She hands me a beer and swigs from one herself.
‘It’s great, Grandma. I love it up there.’
‘You always did.’ She chuckles. ‘I told you how I used to visit up there with Roberta, right? Back when we were kids, I’d go up there to spend the day with all the animals and sit in the paddock out back, reading books and gossiping.’ She chuckles. ‘My word, that was such a long time ago, but it seems like yesterday.’
I smile and take another swig.
‘And the granddaughter?’
It’s not a fully formed question, but it’s a question all the same, and it leads me to one of my own.
‘Did you ever meet Charlotte, Grandma?’
She smiles.
‘Yeah, I did—sweet girl. I knew her well before I left town. Real sad what happened.’ She looks out into the distance and sips from her bottle. ‘Enough of that,’ she sniffs. ‘What are you going to do about that girl?’
‘Nothing, Grandma. I can’t do anything. If Jessie thinks I like somebody…’
‘It’s Jessie I was talking about.’ She turns to me, smiling, and I want to punch myself in the face. I was so lost down the rabbit hole of thinking about Cara that my thoughts immediately went to her. ‘Who do you like?’
‘Nobody, nothing, I just…’
‘Douglas, I’m your grandmother. Are you about to lie to me?’
I lean forward, my forearms resting on my knees. No point denying it now.
‘Cara, Grandma. She’s…’ I shake my head, not exactly sure what to say. ‘She’s pretty.’ I shake my head again and lower my voice. ‘Goddam, she’s pretty. She’s feisty too and infuriating, but mostly just because I can’t get her out of my head, and I can’t do nothin’ about it.’
‘Anything.’
I turn to look at her, and she smiles.
‘You can’t do anything about it. You kids and your double negatives,’ she shakes her head now, ‘it’s those Kardashians, and their could care less . Do they not understand that means they actually care a lot?’
I realize I’m staring at her when she stops and laughs.
‘I watch too much TV. I know. I’m a lonely old woman. Sue me.’
‘What the hell are you talking about, Grandma?’
‘Don’t mind about me. What are you talking about? Why can’t you do nothin’ about Cara?’
I can’t help but smile at the mischief in her eyes.
‘Because of Jessie,’ I whisper, glancing behind me to make sure Bowie hasn’t woken up. ‘She has me over a barrel with Bo. Until I can get custody, I can’t risk pushing her.’
‘So, I return to my original question. What are you going to do about that girl?’
‘I have a plan. Now that I have a good income, I can get a place, and then a lawyer, and then custody.’
‘Let me help you while I’m still here instead of waiting for your inheritance.’
‘God, Grandma, why do you do that?’ I turn to glare at her. ‘You’re not going anywhere any time soon, and I told you, I don’t want an inheritance. Spend it. Spend every penny you have on living your life.’
‘I can help you get this done.’
‘I can do it on my own.’
‘You’re as stubborn as your father.’ I grin. I know I am. ‘That’s not a badge of honor.’ She smiles now. ‘He was a pain in my ass every day of his life.’
‘And you wouldn’t have changed a second of it.’
I see her eyes twinkle, the sheen of unshed tears for her lost son.
‘Listen to me, Douglas Campbell, because you are the apple of my eye, and I want only the best for you. Life is too short—you should know that. You should live your life with that in mind. If the Reynolds girl has got your attention when nobody has in such a long time, tell her, go for it. Who knows, maybe she’s the reason you always loved that old house so much. Maybe destiny was just pulling on the threads until it could tie you two together.’
‘Grandma…’ I protest her dramatics, but a part of me loves the sound of that.
‘It’ll all work out, my beautiful boy, trust me.’ She winks, and I can’t help but trust her. She’s never steered me wrong. Man, I love this woman.