by E. L. Todd
When we moved off to the side, away from prying eyes, my father relaxed slightly. Anytime he was in public, he was different, stern. Whenever we were in the privacy of our home, he was relaxed and buoyant. He always had to put on a face for the public. “You did a great job. I’m very proud.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
He put his arm around my shoulder and stood beside me. Then he pulled out his phone and handed it to Cayson. “Please take a picture of us.”
“Sure.” He stepped back and held the camera up.
A group of girls walked by. “So cute!”
It seriously grossed me out that the girls were my age and they wanted my dad. Disgusting…
We both smiled and Cayson took the picture.
“Thank you.” My father took the phone back and put it in his pocket. “Pumpkin, are you hungry?”
“Do you not know me at all?” I asked sarcastically.
For the first time, he chuckled. “You are your mother’s daughter.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” I said.
“Can I take you to dinner?” he asked.
“Sure. Cayson can come too, right?”
“Of course.” My dad patted his shoulder. “He’s another son.”
Cayson nodded. “Thanks, Uncle Sean. I appreciate it. But I’m going to stay in tonight.”
“Why?” I asked.
“Spend some time with your dad. He doesn’t see you as often as I do.” Cayson stepped away. “I’ll see you when you get back.”
“No, we want you to come with us,” I argued.
“Well, too bad.” He winked then walked back toward the room.
My dad put his hands in his pockets and waited for another surge of people to pass. “Any requests?”
“Hmm…I eat anything.”
He smirked. “Well, that makes it easy.” He pulled out his phone and looked at the nearby restaurants. “There’s an Italian place just down the road.”
“That works for me.”
“Then let’s go.” He walked beside me and held the door open for me as we stepped outside. The valet didn’t even ask who he was. “Your car will be here in just a moment, Mr. Preston.”
“Thank you,” he said politely.
The guy hurried into the underground garage like my dad might shoot him if he wasn’t fast enough. My dad intimidated everyone.
A slight chill in the air blew through my hair. My dad took off his jacket and placed it around my shoulders.
“Thanks.” I tightened it around me.
“You’re welcome.”
The car was retrieved. It was a two-seater Sear, the most expensive luxury car in the world. My dad splurged on a new car every few years. He always had to have the top of the line stuff, probably to keep up appearances.
The valet reached for the passenger door but my dad got there first. “Allow me.”
“Of course, sir.” He stepped away so my father could get me in the car. Then he shut the door.
I saw my dad slip the valet a hundred dollar bill.
He was always a generous tipper.
Once my dad was behind the wheel, he drove to the restaurant a few streets over.
“I thought you flew to DC?”
“This is a rental.”
“It looks identical to yours.”
“Which is why I got it.” He pulled in front of the restaurant and the valet took the car. Like always, my dad opened every door and pulled out the chair for me. His impeccable manners reminded me of Cayson. He was the same way.
I picked up the menu and looked at the selections. I was starving so I would eat anything at that point.
My dad glanced at it then put it down again.
“You already know what you’re going to get?” I asked incredulously.
“A salad.”
“That’s what you always order.”
He shrugged. “Your mom likes the way I look. I don’t want that to change.”
“Mom eats like a pig and she doesn’t look different.”
He smirked. “She’s blessed in a way I’ll never be.”
I looked at the menu then made my decision. “Where is the waitress? I’m about to eat this table.”
“Please don’t. Humans are unable to digest cellulose.”
Huh? “Sorry?”
“Never mind.”
The waitress made her appearance. And the second she saw my dad, she was smitten.
Ugh, this is so annoying.
“Good evening, sir. Taking your girlfriend out?”
Girlfriend? I was half his age. “Daughter.”
“Oh, my mistake.” She smiled then took out her pad of paper, ready to take our order.
“I’ll have the pear gorgonzola salad,” my dad said politely.
“You watch your weight,” the woman said. “And it shows…”
I’m going to gag.
“And you, kid?”
Kid? “I’ll have the meat lasagna.”
“Excellent choice.” She turned back to Dad. “Anything else, sir? Some wine, perhaps?” She shifted her weight and shook her hips at the same time. She batted her eyelashes and stuck out her chest.
Did she not see his wedding ring? “Could you not hit on my dad for a second so we can have dinner together?” I was hardly catty, but this obvious disrespect really pissed me off. His wedding band was in plain sight.
My dad smirked, amused.
The waitress scowled. “Of course.” Then she turned on her heel and walked away.
She was totally going to spit in my food.
“Thank you,” he said.
“Does that happen all the time?”
“Pretty much.” He said it like he was bored.
“Geez, it must drive Mom up the wall.”
He laughed. “No, she doesn’t lose any sleep over it. Your mother knows she has nothing to worry about.”
My parents were still in love even all these years later. My dad looked at my mom like she was the only thing that mattered. He often tucked her hair behind her ear then kissed the shell. He still held her hand when they walked anywhere.
“If some girl was hitting on my boyfriend like that, I wouldn’t be so cool about it.”
My dad gave me a hard look, examining me like I was under a microscope. “You have a boyfriend?”
Shit. “No…I just meant hypothetically.” I hated lying to my dad. It wasn’t something I usually did, but I didn’t want to introduce a guy to my father unless he was the man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. My dad was overprotective to the point of insanity. I didn’t want to deal with his aggression every time I was seeing someone. I’d rather only go through it once, and I wasn’t sure if Zack was the one… It was too soon to tell.
He continued to stare at me. It was like he could see right through me. If he knew everything about me, he probably already knew I was dating someone even though that would be a huge violation of privacy. But he didn’t question it. “Is there a reason why you’ve never had a boyfriend? Or are you lying to me?” The intensity settled over his eyes and darkness shined.
Sometimes my father scared me. He never yelled or raised his voice, but his quiet intimidation was worse. And the disappointed look on his face just made me feel lower than dirt. “If you know everything about me, you should be able to answer that question.”
“I know every professor you have. I know every crime committed on campus and within a three-mile radius from your apartment. I know every single neighbor and their criminal record. I made sure there isn’t a single sexual predator within ten miles of you by personally having them removed. I know what your class schedule is, and I know all of your academic activities. Yes, I keep tabs on you. I won’t deny that. But I’ve never stuck my nose into your personal life nor will I ever. Your business is your business.”
Now I felt like a jerk. My dad was psychotic but I guess he wasn’t as crazy as I thought.
“Being two hours away makes me concerned for your safety. It’s my job to
take care of you. I—”
“I’m an adult. No, it isn’t.”
“Don’t. Interrupt. Me. Again.”
I fell silent, knowing I couldn’t match my dad in a fight. Like a lawyer, he could turn everything around on me. And like a genius, he was always one step ahead of me.
“I will always look after you, even if I can’t physically be there. That’s my job and I take it very seriously. I pay attention to your school activities because I will never miss anything that’s important to you, whether you want me to be there or not.” He stared me down, not blinking.
“I’m sorry.”
“What are you apologizing for?”
I wasn’t sure.
“For interrupting me? Or for lying to me?”
This just got tense. My dad could be the scariest guy in the world. He babied me because I was his daughter, but he didn’t go easy on me when he was upset. He gave me the same dark look he gave my brother. He was the only person I knew who was more intimidating when he was calm than when he was angry.
“Skye, why don’t you tell me about your school functions? Why do I have to show up uninvited?” He rested his hands in his lap.
“I know you’re busy…”
“I’m never too busy for you.”
“I know you have a lot going on and I don’t want you to drop everything for me.”
He paused before he spoke. “You want to know something your grandfather taught me?”
“Sure…”
“Work can never be more important than family. It’s just a job, Skye. I will never skip out on my family to work. Nothing is more important than you, Roland, and your mother. I don’t come to these things out of obligation. I come because I want to be here. I will never miss a dance recital or a business conference. I will always be there. Don’t ever worry about me being busy.”
I looked down at the table, unable to meet his gaze.
“Have you ever called me and I didn’t answer?”
“No…”
“Have you ever had any event that I wasn’t there for?”
“No.”
“Holiday?”
My voice became weak. “No.”
“That will never change, Skye. You know what I want?”
“What?”
“For you to call me and invite me. I’m sorry I did something to make you think you were bugging me, because you never have. I hope this talk straightened that out.”
“It did.” I looked up again.
“Skye, I love you so much. Somehow I love you more every day. You’re such a beautiful girl, just like your mother. You’re smart and funny. Sometimes I can’t believe I made you.” The affection was in his eyes. “You’re my whole world. Somehow, I love you, your brother, and your mother more than anything else on this planet.”
“I love you too, Dad.” He was making me teary-eyed.
He reached across the table and put his hand on mine. He left it there for a moment before he pulled away. “Now, can we try this again?”
I sighed. “Okay.”
“Do you have a boyfriend?”
Ugh. I couldn’t lie to him again. “No comment.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “What?”
“I don’t want to talk about my personal life with you.”
“Why?”
“Do I really need to answer that? When my date picked me up for prom, you threatened to kill him if he touched anything besides my hand.”
“I just wanted to get my point across.”
“So what makes you think I would tell you about a guy I’m seeing?”
He didn’t have a response to that. He pressed his lips together tightly. “Do you talk to your mother about it?”
I wasn’t sure how to answer that. I didn’t want to throw my mom under the bus.
He caught the unease. “I won’t be upset if you say yes.”
“I do.”
“Are you honest with her?”
“Yes.” What did that mean?
He nodded. “Okay. I’m okay with that.”
Was I missing something? “Okay with what?”
“If your mother thought you were making bad decisions, she would intervene. If she hasn’t, that means you’re being a responsible young adult.”
“Of course, I am.”
“So, when will I meet a boyfriend?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. When I find the right one.”
He nodded. “Okay. That sounds fair.”
“I just hope you don’t scare him away.”
He smirked. “If he really loves you, nothing will scare him off.”
“There’s no love strong enough.”
The waitress appeared and set my dad’s plate in front of him. Then she practically threw mine at me. She gave me a deep scowl then marched away, her anger evident in her swaying hips.
My dad smirked then switched our plates. “I have a feeling she spit in yours.”
“And you’re going to eat it?”
“I’m certainly not going to let my daughter eat it.”
I picked up my fork and picked at the lettuce. “Couldn’t you order something…better?”
“Your mom thinks I’m sexy. I want her to keep thinking that.”
I cringed. “You’re gross.”
“I’m gross? How do you think you got here?”
I cringed again. “Let’s just eat in silence.”
He picked up his fork and took a few bites, eating slowly.
The comfortable silence stretched between us. We ate quietly, just enjoying each other’s company. Even though we always butted heads, I was glad it happened. I felt closer to my dad, finally comfortable admitting that I did have boyfriends. And the fact he accepted it made me feel better. The guilt was gone. I didn’t feel like I needed to lie to him, which I never liked doing. “Dad?”
“Pumpkin?”
“I don’t just love you because you’re my dad. You’re the best role model I could ever ask for. You’re ruthless and ambitious but you’re generous and kind. You love Mom every single day and never take her for granted. You raised me and Roland not to be spoiled brats, and you loved us even when we were brats anyway. You put us first every single time, not caring about yourself. I’m so lucky to have you. I know most kids don’t have relationships with their fathers. A lot of dads don’t care about softball games and dance recitals. They don’t make an effort to always be there. But you do.” I picked at my salad and looked at my bowl, suddenly feeling self-conscious. When he didn’t say anything, I looked up.
A slight coat of moisture was visible in his eyes. Red was stained in the corners, growing more prominent with every passing second. He swallowed the lump in his throat, the emotion evident. When he blinked, the moisture disappeared. It happened so quickly I wasn’t sure if I saw it. “That means the world to me, Skye.”
I looked back down and ate my salad. I felt my father’s gaze burn my skin for a few seconds. Then he turned his attention to his own food, sinking back to the comfortable silence between us.
5
Cayson
I ordered room service and ate pizza while I watched TV. I made sure it was charged to my credit card so Uncle Sean wouldn’t get a bill for it. I doubt he would notice, and if he did, he wouldn’t care, but that didn’t matter to me.
My phone rang and I looked at the screen, seeing my dad’s name. I rolled my eyes. He called me more often than my mom. “Hey.”
“Hey. How’s it going?”
“Good. You?”
“Good. I hear you’re in DC.”
“Sean?”
“Well, we work together. It was bound to come up.”
“But I didn’t see him until today.”
“It’s called a text message.”
“Dad, are you calling for a reason?”
“Just to check on you.”
“I’ve been out of the house for three years. You don’t need to check on me anymore.”
He laughed. “Yeah, that will never hap
pen. So, doing okay in the crime capital of the nation?”
“And you think New York is any safer?”
“It’s safer than DC. Actually, everything is.”
“Well, I’m not sitting on the curb and counting my cash so I think I’ll be okay.”
“Do you ever get tired of being a smartass?”
“I guess I hang out with Slade too much, right?”
“Just a smidge.”
“Well, I’m doing okay so I’ll talk to you later.”
“When are you going back to Boston?”
“Tomorrow night.”
“Can you do me a favor and call me when you get home?”
He was like a mother hen sometimes. “How about I just text you since you’re so fond of it?”
“As long as I know you’re safe, I don’t care how you tell me.”
“Okay.”
“I love you, Son.”
My dad said it every time we got off the phone. “I love you too, Dad.”
“Bye.”
I hung up.
The door opened and Skye walked inside, her father behind her.
“Thanks for dinner,” she said.
“Thank you for letting me walk you to the door.”
“Well, you didn’t give me much of a choice.” She rolled her eyes.
He smirked then hugged her, holding her for a long time. Even if Uncle Sean never said it, I knew how much he loved his daughter. He reminded me of my own father. He pulled away and kissed her forehead. “I love you, pumpkin.”
“I love you too, Dad.”
He turned to me. “I need a hug before I leave.”
“Coming right up.” I walked to him then embraced him.
Uncle Sean hugged me just as hard as he hugged his own daughter. “I love you too, kid.”
“I love you too.”
He clapped my shoulder and stepped away. “Thanks for escorting my daughter. I appreciate it.”
“No problem. She’s pretty cool—sometimes.”
He chuckled. “Good night.” He stepped out of the door then shut it behind him.
Skye immediately slipped off her heels. “God, my feet are killing me.”
“Foot massage?”
“No, it’s okay.” She limped to the couch then sat down. She examined the bottom of her feet, rubbing her thumbs into them.