Chapter 25
CHAPTER 25
T his was such a bad idea. Bailey touched up her lipstick in Luc’s ensuite bathroom and eyed her reflection. Tonight was supposed to be a chance for her family to get to know him better, but instead it had been a debacle. She’d thought the game starting at three on a Saturday would be perfect for her parents who didn’t like to stay up too late. But here they were, at eight PM, and her father had barely looked at Luc all night, let alone thanked him for the tickets, or tonight’s meal. And Cindy was being Catwoman tonight, snarky about everything from the food served at the game to the meal Luc had arranged tonight. She wouldn’t blame Luc if he left Bailey because he thought her family just too hard.
“Bailey?”
Speaking of the she-devil.
“Oh. Here you are.” Cindy’s gaze met her in the mirror. “Right next to his bedroom. What a surprise.”
What? “Um, I’m here because you were in the other bathroom, and I…” Her words faltered as Cindy pried open the mirrored cabinet. “What are you doing?”
“Just looking.” She closed it, shrugging. “It’d be helpful to know if the man is on drugs, don’t you think?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Well, you don’t want someone marrying into the family who is on drugs, now do you?”
Was Cindy on drugs herself? This seemed surreal. “He’s not on drugs.”
“He must be on something. Everyone’s talking about how different he is this season. Unless, he’s on…” She turned and eyed Bailey, and arched a brow.
Words drained away, her confidence, already wavering during the game, sinking to a new low. She turned then plowed into a big chest.
Luc steadied her, but didn’t move. “If you mean to suggest that we’re involved sexually, you’re wrong.”
“Okay.” Cindy flipped her hair behind her shoulder.
“And,” Luc’s voice could turn flowers into stones, “you owe Bailey an apology for insinuating such a thing.”
“Did I insinuate? Or did you just hear what everyone else is thinking?”
Bailey’s breath hitched, and she felt how Luc stiffened as Cindy smiled and sauntered out. Clearly he was as shocked by her sister-in-law’s behavior as she was, but as host he didn’t want to kick her out. “I’m so sorry.”
“You don’t need to apologize, Bails.”
She still felt like she did.
“She doesn’t like you, does she?” he murmured.
“I don’t know what I ever did to make her hate me so much.”
“Can I kick her out?” he asked hopefully.
But that wasn’t the way to build bridges. “Maybe we can pray her out,” she said instead.
“Like ask God for an emergency phone call?”
“Something like that.”
But it didn’t take an emergency phone call, just a couple of her father’s barely hidden yawns before he said stiffly that they needed to leave soon because they had an early church service to get to tomorrow.
She caught the relief on Luc’s face, which twisted her heart, before he hid it with a polite nod of understanding. Her heart grew sore. Perhaps this was impossible, and they’d never bridge the divide. At least Luc had tried.
“Before we go,” her father eyed Luc, “I wanted to ask how old you are.”
“Dad.”
“No, it’s only reasonable that the man should tell us. If Luc wishes to be in a relationship with my daughter then I have a right to know.”
“I’ll be thirty-one next year,” Luc said evenly. “We had this conversation already, Wayne.”
They had?
“Thirty-one?” Cindy nudged Rhett. “He’s even older than you.”
Bailey swallowed. She could see how her dad might have fresh concerns about that.
“Well, you certainly don’t act your age, do you?”
“Dad!”
“No, it’s only right that he should know that one doesn’t expect a thirty-year-old man to fight like in that last game.”
Bailey closed her eyes, and prayed that she and Luc could disappear. Actually…
She pushed to her feet. “I need to go.” She glanced at Luc, whose stony face had barely changed expression since the bathroom. “Would you mind taking me home?”
He peered up at her, his expression unreadable, glanced at the table, then nodded. He rose. “Please excuse me. You’re welcome to stay—”
“Oh, but we could take you, Bailey,” her mom said.
Her parents could, but right now she wanted to be as far away from them as Luc probably wished to be. “No, I need Luc.”
He dipped his chin. “As I was saying, if you’d like to stay, you’re very welcome to. Otherwise, you’re welcome to leave. Just close the door behind you.”
“Bye sis.” Rhett hugged her.
Bailey glanced at Cindy but couldn’t even manage a smile for her.
She air-kissed her parents, then after Luc made his farewells, she tugged his hand as they hurried to the elevator. As soon as they were inside, she hugged him. “I’m so sorry. That was so bad.”
“It wasn’t what I hoped for.”
The whole night hadn’t been. The 4-1 loss to Vancouver had been a little embarrassing, even if Zac Parotti had proved his A-game skills. At least that mean guy from last time had kept his mouth shut from what she could see, and there’d been no scuffles like the previous game. Her father had still found plenty to complain about, with everything from the volume of the music to the language of fans to the smell of beer.
She hugged Luc harder. “Let’s not do that again in a hurry.”
“For sure.”
She sighed. “Are you sure you don’t mind leaving them there alone?” She cringed but had to tell him. “You know that Cindy was looking through your bathroom cupboards? I think she wanted to know if you’re on drugs.”
“I know. I heard her.”
Then he’d heard everything else that had been said. “I’m so sorry.”
“Bails, it’s not your fault.”
But it felt like it was. They drove past the Coffee Haus and he soon pulled up at her apartment. She invited him upstairs, which he reluctantly agreed to. Maybe there was some way to salvage the evening. Like with more dessert.
* * *
This had been a bad idea. Playing pretend with Bailey was doing his head in. He couldn’t do it anymore. He nodded to Poppy, their ever-accommodating chaperone, who looked up from reading on the sofa as they entered the living area.
“You’re home early. And judging from those faces it didn’t go too well.”
He shot Poppy a look. Her nose wrinkled. “That bad, huh?”
“Maybe I’m tired, but yeah. It felt like a waste of time.”
Bailey’s gasp drew his attention, and he reached to hold her hand. “I didn’t mean it to sound like that, but you have to admit that was painful.”
“It wasn’t that bad.”
“It was. Come on, Bailey, just be honest for once. You said as much in the elevator.”
“But…” She glanced at Poppy.
He released her hand. “What? Do you think Poppy doesn’t know that your family has issues?”
“Excuse me?”
“Look, I know we all have issues, I’m not saying I don’t. But come on, that was crazy. My folks might not be Christians, but you can sure as heck know they wouldn’t be grilling you on being too young for me.”
He caught Poppy’s wide-eyed look and filled in the gaps. “Wayne asked me how old I was, again, and not”—he cut off Bailey—“in a way that was nice.”
Poppy winced, then winced again as Bailey glanced at her.
“What is it?” Bailey asked her.
A heavy sigh escaped Poppy. “I’ve known your folks for years, and Bailey, I’m sorry, but I know what Luc means.”
Bailey faced him, her brow knit. “What do you mean?”
He hated that hurt look on Bailey’s face, knowing he’d put it there, knowing this conversation wasn’t going to be easy. He slumped back in the overstuffed armchair. “Bails, I guess I’m just a little confused.”
“About?”
“You. You’re a boss in the dance world. I’ve seen you manage people and wrangle little kids and do all manner of things, but when you’re around your dad it’s like you second-guess yourself.”
“You’re just saying that because of what my dad said.”
“Yeah, of course I am.” He rolled his eyes. “Come on, Bailey. When you’re with them you shrink back. I’m sorry, but your family don’t do honesty much, do they? You keep secrets from each other, and you paste a smile on your face like you don’t mind when someone hurts you.”
“What do you mean?”
“Every time that Cindy creature opens her mouth you just take it. She deliberately says stuff to annoy you and you just let it slide.”
Her mouth sagged. “I like to think that’s called turning the other cheek. Perhaps you could try it sometime.”
Frustration grew. He swallowed and prayed for calm. “There’s a difference between turning the other cheek and naively faking it and pretending it doesn’t exist and hoping it goes away.”
She gasped. “I can’t believe you said that.”
“Someone has to.” He glanced at Poppy. “I know you and Poppy have been friends for years, but even she doesn’t always tell you the truth.”
Bailey glanced at Poppy. “What haven’t you been saying?”
Poppy glanced at Luc, then back at Bailey, then sighed. “Thanks a lot, Luc.”
“You’re welcome.” Hey, if she’d been friends with Bailey for years he had no problem throwing her under the bus when she should’ve spoken up years ago.
“Poppy?” Bailey asked.
Poppy sighed. “I just didn’t know how to say this.”
“Say what?”
Poppy glanced at him, her eyes narrowed, her mouth now a flat line.
So he shrugged. “Bails, Poppy and I are concerned that your dad is mismanaging your accounts.”
“What? How dare—?”
“Whoa, before you get upset, I’m not saying your dad has done anything wrong or illegal, just that—”
“Have you and Poppy been talking about this?” Bailey interrupted.
He sat back and shot Poppy a look. When she looked at him, he folded his arms. This was on her. As he’d said before, she should have spoken up way before this.
Poppy sighed. “Look, Bails, I never wanted to hurt you, but yeah, I’ve had some concerns about your dad and, well, how capable he is with managing the books.”
“What do you mean? He’s done it for years, and you’ve never said anything before.”
“I’m so sorry,” Poppy said. “It was never my intention to hurt you, but I have to side with Luc. I have concerns.”
“But he’s a member of the church’s finance board,” Bailey exclaimed.
“Is he the church treasurer?” Luc asked.
“Well, no. They have an accountant, I think.”
“So he doesn’t have any role that has a legal position?”
“No, but—”
“He’s not trained as an accountant, is he?”
“You know he’s not. I don’t understand what you’re getting at.”
He rolled his shoulders, his neck tendons popping. “I’ve mentioned before that my dad’s job is in small business strategic planning and he’s seen countless times when people have been taken advantage of by someone they trust. And I don’t want that to happen to you.”
“But my dad isn’t taking advantage of me.”
“Have you spoken with the bank lately?”
Her gaze lowered.
“Bailey?” Poppy asked.
He pressed his lips together. So that was another secret she’d kept.
“I… I kind of forgot. But yes, Mr. Mitsom has had some concerns.” She glanced at Poppy. “Apparently there are some fees that haven’t been paid…” She pushed her face in her hands.
He shifted beside her, wrapped an arm around her. “Bails, you don’t need to keep your dad on in that role. But you do need to be honest with him.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Easy. Say, ‘Dad, I’ve decided’,” he shot a look at Poppy, “actually, say ‘Poppy and I have decided we need a business accountant to run our books. Thank you for your help over the years but now we’re growing so much we need more assistance’.”
“I couldn’t say that. I can’t hurt him.”
“If you don’t, you continue to hurt your business. Especially if you want to grow and have a new building or more space. You’re not going to get that if you’re letting money slip through your fingers.” He grimaced. “You probably need an audit, and then get a professional business accountant to help you. I can make some suggestions.”
“I bet you can,” she muttered.
“Bails,” Poppy pleaded. “Hear Luc out. He’s only trying to help.”
Bailey shook her head.
Poppy glanced at him then back at her. “I think it’s a good idea to get an audit done. Then you’ll know for sure and we can confront him if that’s the case.”
“I can’t believe we’re even talking like this,” Bailey murmured. “How can I know who a good auditor is?”
“I have connections,” Luc said.
“Of course you do.” Bailey rolled her eyes.
“Hey, you’re welcome to go find your own people to do that, but I can ask my dad, or those associated with the team and they can recommend people they trust.”
“Look,” she turned to him, “I appreciate that you are trying to help, but this is not something you need to get involved in.”
“But I care about you. I want to help.”
“So does my dad.”
“But what if what he’s doing is not actually helping anymore?”
She stared at him, eyes wide. “I can’t believe you’re saying that. My dad loves me.”
So did he. But now wasn’t the time to say that. “And you love him, I get that.”
“Of course I love him. And I’d never do anything to hurt him. Especially not after Chrissy abandoned the family.”
So this was the heart of the issue. He glanced at Poppy. She grimaced. Great. So no help there. He swallowed his own sigh. “Are you telling me that you want to keep the peace with your folks because of what happened to your sister?”
Bailey lowered her head.
“You can’t keep pandering to him, Bails,” he said as gently as he could. “You can’t keep pretending everything is okay when it’s not. You need to be honest. Sooner or later you have to stand on your own two feet.”
“I do. I have.”
“Honey.” He shifted to grasp her hands. “Please don’t be mad. I’m trying to help.”
She pulled free. “They’re my family. Who have known me a lot longer than you have. Who do you think you are?”
He swallowed. Clearly, this was not going well.
“They love me,” Bailey continued.
“I love you.”
She froze.
He was aware of Poppy quietly exiting the room. “I love you, Bails,” he repeated.
She pushed her head in her hands. “Why do you always have to do that?”
“Say I love you?”
“Yes! First you kiss me for the first time on national TV, then you tell me you love me—while we’re arguing?”
He sighed. He knew he should’ve kept his mouth shut. Still, honesty begged to be spoken. “I’m sorry. I thought that might be something you’d like to hear. I didn’t realize there was a protocol about it.”
From the look in her eyes, that was the path best left untaken.
Man. “I’m sorry, Bails. I shouldn’t have—”
“Can you please leave? I’m really tired.”
So was he. But this wasn’t how he could let today’s fail of a day end. “Bailey, no. We should talk.”
She shook her head, fake-yawned, not looking at him. “I’ve got church tomorrow.”
So did he. Which meant he had one last chance to be with her before the next road trip separated them for a week. “What time do you want me to pick you up?”
“You don’t need to.” She stood. “I’ll be going with my parents.” Then she exited the room.