Chapter 14 #2
Some part of me thought that I should insist on going back to Halo House so I wouldn’t impose on him or whatever, but truthfully, I just didn’t want to.
I couldn’t imagine where I would’ve ended up if I hadn’t gone there, but being in Henry’s house just felt so settling, like it was a place I could relax.
Which was strange because I’d always lived in someone else’s house, but I wasn’t sure that I’d ever felt relaxed in those homes.
Maybe some part of me had known they were temporary.
Hell, maybe this was temporary too, but it didn’t feel that way.
I was almost scared to say it aloud because what if I jinxed it? Then I’d be looking for a new Daddy, and I’d owe him a Coke before we could continue.
My phone began buzzing on the nightstand. Without looking, I reached over and silenced it.
Daddy gave me an inquiring look, but he didn’t say anything.
I hadn’t moved my hand back for longer than thirty seconds when it started ringing again.
“It seems like whoever that is wants to talk to you,” Daddy said conversationally.
This time I glanced at my phone, then bit my lip while making the decision whether or not to answer it.
“It’s my mom.”
“No worries. I’ll head downstairs so you can have some privacy,” Daddy offered immediately and started to get out of bed.
It was sweet of him, but honestly, there was nothing we were going to talk about that he couldn’t hear, and I hated the idea of kicking a man out of his own bed.
“No, no. It’s fine. Stay where you are. I’ll just get rid of her real quick.”
“Your call,” Daddy said with a small smile.
He settled back against the pillows with his hands folded underneath his head.
The blanket landed around his waist, giving me a completely unobstructed view of his chest. I might hate the gym, but I appreciated that Daddy liked it.
I mean, he was eight years younger. His body hadn’t begun to turn soft at all.
Unlike mine, he still had sculpted muscles and a solid chest with just a smattering of hair across it.
Whether he knew it or not, he was such a California vibe.
The phone hadn’t stopped ringing, though, so my small deflection wasn’t going to work because she was not going to give up her Saturday morning phone call. She never did. She also never remembered to call in the afternoon, but that was neither here nor there.
“Hey, Ma,” I said into the phone.
“Hello, my wayward son. Is everything okay?”
“I’m not sure why I qualify as wayward, but why wouldn’t everything be fine?”
“Because you didn’t pick up the first time I called, and I know you’re not doing anything except soaking in bed.”
“Maybe you’re wrong. Maybe I was up cleaning my place. Did you consider that?”
“Not even once. How do you like the new apartment?”
My mom didn’t need to know that I was staying at a glorified halfway house.
It would’ve invited more questions than I wanted to answer, so when I’d told her Jonathan and I had broken up, I said that I’d moved into a small apartment on my own.
It wasn’t a complete lie. It just wasn’t the complete truth, and in my mind, that was enough of a difference.
“Well, you’re right. I wasn’t, but I do like it. It’s been like six months, so I’m not sure that I’d call it new.”
“When you’re old like me, six months is nothing.”
“You make it sound like you’re ancient. You’re sixty-two. Isn’t sixty the new fifty?”
“So says the person who’s complaining about turning forty,” she retorted.
Henry smiled at my rolled eyes. Since she didn’t know he was here, I couldn’t get too annoyed that she’d brought up my age. I worked hard to forget that I was close to a decade older than Henry. Sometimes I managed to get through the whole day without remembering.
“And speaking of that, any chance of you coming home for your birthday? Your dad said he’s missed you.”
“I wish I could.”
The regret in my voice was real, but I realized I’d forgotten to tell Henry my amazing news. I’d been waiting for the right moment at dinner last night, but it hadn’t come. And when he’d gotten home after that, work was the last thing on my mind.
“I’ll be working, and I don’t want to risk missing any days or not getting back on time because of a delayed flight or whatever.”
All of that was true. There was also the little detail of not having the money to fly them out, and my parents didn’t have extra money lying around to blow on a weekend here. And there was zero chance I’d ask them to pay for my ticket there.
When I said it, I glanced over at Daddy. He’d sat up on his elbows and was looking at me with his jaw dropped.
“A job! Fantastic! What are you doing?” Mom asked.
“Funny story. Remember how I used to like volunteering in the nursery instead of going to the sermon?”
“I do. The preacher commented on it a few times, but I told him he ought to be glad. You weren’t home in bed, so he should leave you alone.”
“Ha! Good point. Anyway, I helped chaperone a preschool class—I’ll explain why later—and the director offered me a job as an assistant.
It’s kind of a forest-type school, so they spend lots of time outside exploring and stuff.
When I spoke to her about it, she said the kids do their nap time in hammocks, which I think sounds like the best thing ever. ”
“I’m so proud of you! That sounds exactly like something you’d enjoy.”
She then added, “You’re right. You shouldn’t risk a delayed flight or something. It’s a trek to Carnarvon, Iowa.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. It’s not every day your kid turns forty, but I don’t think we can afford to fly out.”
“It’s fine. No one celebrates forty, but forty-one is when the party happens.”
My mom’s voice turned soft, and I knew she was about to cry. It also meant she’d get off the phone so she could pretend I didn’t know what she was about to do.
“Next year then.”
“Yeah. Next year.”
“Your dad wants me to help him clean out the garage, so I’m going to get off here. Congrats on the job. You’re gonna do great.”
“Thanks. Tell Dad I said hi and I love him.”
“I will. Love you. Bye.”
“Love you too. Bye.”
Daddy was still sitting there with his jaw practically on the floor.
“Surprise, Daddy!”