A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. She peeked out the peephole and saw that it was her father.
Cold dread shot down her spine, and she yanked the door open. “Is Lottie okay?”
“She’s fine and asleep. Carol’s with her. Can I come in?”
“Suit yourself.” She swung her arm toward the living room.
He took a tentative step inside. She guessed she couldn’t blame him—she hadn’t been terribly welcoming the few times he’d come to get Lottie or drop her off. “Want something to drink?”
He waved her off. “Naw, I’m good.” The nervous hunch of his shoulders put her on edge.
She crossed the room to him and moved a stack of bills and legal pads so he could sit down. “How was Lottie tonight?”
He visibly relaxed and chuckled. “That girl’s a pistol. She talked me into taking her to get pancakes for dinner.”
A snort shot through her nose. “She’s a con artist, that’s what she is.” She retook her seat on the sofa. “Sit. It was nice of you to take her.”
The surprised look on his face gave her a pang of guilt. She rarely said nice things to him and she knew it. Then again, he rarely had anything nice to say to her either. “So, what’s up?”
“Well…um…” He rested his elbows on his knees, clasped his hands between his legs, and hung his head.
“Dad?”
The pain in his face when he raised his head hit her right in the chest. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“Everything. Just every damn thing.” The wrinkles on his face seemed to have deepened just in the last few minutes.
“Okay.” She had no idea what to say. “What’s brought this on?” He looked so guilty that for a horrible moment, she thought he was going to say he’d set the fire, but quickly dismissed that thought. He was a lot of things, but a criminal wasn’t one of them.
“I was putting Lottie to bed tonight and she was trying to work another con on me.” A ghost of a smile pulled at his lips. “And I just realized how much I love that girl and how empty my life would be without her. Then I was reminded of all the horrible things I said to you when you got pregnant.” With his elbows still on his knees, he cradled his head in his hands. “I said things no father should say to his daughter. No wonder you ran and hid with your mother in the bar.”
Hailey shrugged. “She’s the only one who didn’t judge me or hold it against me.”
He nodded. “I know. And that added fuel to my anger because I’d been the one to raise you while she slaved away at that bar, and I lost you to that place just like I lost her.”
That was something she’d never considered. He was right of course. Her mom hadn’t been there to get her to school or to help with homework. “Dad, I don’t know what to say.”
He went on like he hadn’t heard her. “I felt so guilty because you got pregnant on my watch, and I failed. Then when you fell into your mother’s footsteps it scared me and made me so angry that I couldn’t get over it.” His dull brown eyes cut to her. “That’s on me. I was the adult.”
“I didn’t know.”
“Of course you didn’t. I never said anything. And when the town turned against you, it was so much like what happened to your mother that I knew I’d lost you to that place.”
“What happened to Mom?”
One bony shoulder rose and fell. “She was always an outcast because of her association with the bar. First when she was growing up, and then when she took it over. The people in this town… A bunch of petty hypocrites.” He scrubbed his hands over his face. “I thought I could save her, but she didn’t want to be saved. That bar took her from me twice. Once when she started running it, and once when she got breast cancer and died.”
“Dad, the bar didn’t cause the breast cancer.”
He sat back in the chair, his gaze on fire. “No? Once she was diagnosed she refused to slow down, to let you run things. She pushed and pushed until the exhaustion and stress made it impossible to fight the disease.” He laced his fingers on top of his head and a tear ran through the lines on his face. “I knew from the moment she was diagnosed that it would take her.”
“Oh, Dad.”
“I know you think I’m being terribly disloyal to your mom, but I had two years to grieve and come to terms with her death before she ever died. Right or wrong, I don’t want to be alone anymore, and Carol is a wonderful woman and even better company. I’m sorry if that hurts you.”
“No, it doesn’t.” And she was surprised to realize that it really didn’t. She could see how her mother had made the bar her life because that was where she had control. Was she doing the same thing?
“Hailey.”
She was so deep in thought that she hadn’t realized he was speaking again. “Yes?”
“I’m asking for your forgiveness. You didn’t deserve my scorn, you deserved my love and protection and I failed you.”
Words she’d wanted him to say for years soothed the anger inside her head. The ball of crap she’d carried around in her chest began to unravel. She knelt in front of him and placed her hands on his knees. “Yes, Dad. I forgive you. Can you forgive the terrible things I’ve said to you?”
He wrapped her in a hug. “It’s already forgiven.”
“I’ll talk to Carol. I have some road to mend with her too.”
His big hand cupped her cheek. “She’d love that.” The gentleness of his thumb wiping away her tear caused her heart to expand and contract.
He glanced around the room at the notebooks and bills. “What’s all this?”
She sat back on her heels. “Oh, nothing.” The last thing she wanted to do was ruin their tentative treaty by bringing up the bar.
He took the notebook she’d been using. “These are contractors. For the bar?”
“Yes.”
“How’s it coming?”
Terrible. Awful. Horrible. “It’s fine.”
“Is that why you’re so joyful?”
She snorted without humor and sat back on the sofa. “It’s pretty terrible. Even with the money I have set aside, I don’t have enough, and I’m not sure the bank will give me another loan.”
“What do you mean, money you have set aside? Has Sandra said how much the insurance will pay?”
The legal pad in her hand shook slightly. She did not want to have to tell him this part. “Dad, I was uninsured.”
“No, you weren’t. Who told you that?”
“Nobody had to tell me. I forgot to make the payment and the policy lapsed.”
He nodded. “I know you didn’t pay it. Sandra called me Wednesday. She said you told her you were bringing by the payment, but hadn’t shown up, and they were about to close for the holiday. So I paid it.”
English, he was speaking English, but she couldn’t make the words understandable. “What?”
“I made the payment. It’s my bar too.”
“But you hate it, and after all you’ve told me, I understand why.” Her feet and her nerves demanded she get up and move. “Why would you do this?”
“Because I’ve been a jackass, and you were finally getting out of this town to enjoy your life.” He stood and stopped her pacing by placing his warm hands on her shoulders. “It was the least I could do.”
Her arms went around his waist. “Thank you, Dad.”
Boon’s could be saved with the insurance money.
She hadn’t failed.
The thousand-pound weight choking her since Hank’s phone call should’ve released, but instead it yanked tighter, and she wondered if she’d ever be able to breathe again.
Chapter 35
“Take another picture, Beau.” Jack held both babies and grinned like an idiot.
Luanne laughed. “Jack, leave Beau alone and let him hold the boys.”
“Yeah, Jack, leave me alone.”
Jack mouthed asshole to Beau, but handed him one of the infants.
“Which one do I have?” He glanced from one baby to th
e other. They were identical in every way, except the first baby born weighed a half a pound more than the other.
Jack snuck a peek at the hospital bracelet of the baby he was holding. “I have Grey and you have Rivers.”
Luanne held up her phone. “You guys smile.”
Beau grinned like a fool. He was so happy for these two. Grey started to fuss, so he tried the bouncing thing he’d seen Luanne do, but the kid was having none of it.
“Bring him to me, Beau.” Luanne held out her hands and made a gimmie motion with her fingers.
He gently laid the boy in his mama’s arms. Luanne looked tired, but happier than he’d ever seen her. He kissed her forehead. “Woman, how is it you’re even more beautiful than before?”
Jack growled, and Luanne laughed and shoved him away. “Beau Callen, stop teasing your cousin.”
He shot Jack a grin over his shoulder. “Sorry, Jack.”
“Now you’re just lying.” Luanne laughed.
“He’s also asking for an ass—”
“Hello.”
He knew that husky, sexy voice.
Hailey.
Luanne shot him a look. “Come in.”
The woman who’d ripped his heart from his chest strolled into the room in a gold sweater and jeans that hugged every one of her curves, carrying two blue bags with tissue paper sticking out of the top. The only indication that she was surprised to see him was the slight widening of her eyes.
She gave him a tentative smile that he wanted to kiss off her face. “I come bearing gifts.”
“Hailey, come meet my sons.” Jack moved to stand next to Luanne.
“Oh, my Lord, they are adorable.” Her voice rose an octave as she made her way to the side of Luanne’s bed. “What are their names?”
Luanne smoothed the black hair of the baby she was holding. “This is Rivers and that’s Grey.”
Hailey played with Grey’s foot that was peeking out of his blanket. “Oh, Luanne, they’re beautiful. How are you feeling?”
“I’m good. Sore.” Luanne laughed.
“Yeah, I definitely remember that part. Lottie weighed nine pounds.”
The conversation continued, but Beau couldn’t participate. Thoughts of Hailey and the future they wouldn’t have together tormented him. “Hey, um… Sorry to interrupt, but I better get going.” He hitched his finger over his shoulder.
Something passed across Hailey’s face, but then she turned back to the baby in Luanne’s arms and touched his black hair.
He guessed that said it all. “Alright, I’m out of here. Call if you need anything.”
“Will do,” Jack said. The pitying look on his face had Beau fighting not to run from the room.
Out in the hall he leaned against the wall and sucked in several huge breaths. If that encounter showed him nothing else, it proved that he’d made the right decision to leave town. He couldn’t see her and not want her. It was just too hard.
A family down the hall laughing and embracing had him turning to get the hell out of the building.
“Beau.”
He willed his feet to keep moving, but they refused to obey.
Hailey caught up to him. “Wait. I want to talk to you. I was coming to see you after I visited with Luanne.”
The hammering of his wild, hopeful heart clogged his ears. “You were?”
“Yes.” She played with the hem of her sweater. When she raised her eyes to meet his, they glistened with tears. “I’m so sorry that I said those things. I didn’t mean them.”
He searched her dark eyes and saw the truth there. His fingers wrapped around her arm and he pulled her into the stairwell before he could register what he was doing. But he didn’t want to have this conversation in the hallway of the postpartum unit.
“Can you ever forgive me?” The tremble and uncertainty in her voice killed him. “I’m so, so sorry.”
His hand slid down her arm to her hand. “Of course.”
“I also wanted you to know that I’m not using the money I set aside for the foundation.” She pulled a piece of paper from her purse and held it up to him. “I opened a 529 plan today.”
He skimmed the document. “Why did you change your mind?”
Tears shimmered at the edges of her lids. “First of all, I don’t really think I could’ve gone through with it, and second, my dad made the insurance payment, so I was insured after all.”
A hot ball of acid threatened to burn through his stomach. If she was getting insurance money for the damages, then there’d be nothing to stop her from rebuilding and burrowing into that bar. “Wow.”
“Yes, we talked and things are better between us.”
“That’s great, Hay.” He could be absolutely sincere about this. Her rift with her father had been a huge source of pain for her.
“Also…” They were still holding hands, and she rotated her hand and threaded her fingers with his. She peeked up at him through her dark lashes. “I don’t want this to end.”
The mule kick to his chest knocked the air right out of him “Hay—”
“I know it’ll be hard with you on the road, but I’ll be here when you come home. And you’re not scheduled to start the tour for a month, so we’ll have until then.”
“Hailey, I’m leaving for Nashville tomorrow.”
She blinked, then blinked again. “Nashville? For how long?”
“Until we go on tour. I’ve been asked to do some songwriting collaborations before I hit the road. I have recording sessions set up. I have to go.” He smoothed his palms over her hair and tilted her face to his. “Come with me.”
Chapter 36
If cleaning was an Olympic sport, then Hailey would be a world-record-holding gold medalist. She made a third pass over the already spotless countertop. This kind of cleaning was usually reserved for when she was really upset. But her life was finally going her way for once.
Derek was moving and taking his spawn of Satan stepdaughter with him, so neither of them could hurt Lottie on a daily basis. She and her dad had made up, plus she had the money to rebuild the bar. She should be out celebrating. Instead she was cleaning like her life was on the line.
Come with me.
Every time she heard Beau’s softly spoken plea in her mind, her heart fractured all over again. She’d wanted to say yes. The word had fought hard to get past her obligations. It’d taken all her resolve to shove it down and say no.
A knock sounded on the back door. She screamed and the sponge flew out of her hand. Charlie was standing on the other side of the glass window pane. Hailey yanked the door open with her rubber-gloved hand and put the other on her hip. “For Pete’s sake, Charlie. You scared me to death.” Hailey stepped back and leaned on the open door. “Come in, but be careful, the floor may still be a little wet.”
With tentative steps Charlie made her way into the room and glanced around. “I was going to ask how you were doing. But if you’ve pulled out the yellow gloves, then you’re in bad shape.”
Hailey pulled the rubber from her hands and dropped the pair of hand protectors in the sink. “What are you talking about? Everything’s fine…better than fine.” If you didn’t count the slight matter of her bleeding out because of the hole in her heart.
Charlie went to the stove and grabbed the tea kettle. She moved the gloves with two fingers from the sink and filled the pot with water, then returned it to the stove. “Sit and start talking.”
“Charlie, I can’t. I still have to clean the bathroom again before I pick Lottie up from school.”
“Oh, for the love…” Her best friend pointed to the chair. “Sit.”
She sat. “Everything is fine.” Liar. “Yes, the bar burned, but I’m going to rebuild.”
“How?”
“With a hammer and nails.”
“Har-har. How are you going to pay for the renovations? I thought you told me you were uninsured.”
In spite of everything, she couldn’t control the smile that split her face. “Turns
out my dad made the insurance payment when he found out I hadn’t gotten the money to Sandra. For once I’m glad for the busybodies of this town. If Sandra hadn’t called to tell on me, then I would’ve been up shit creek.”
“Really?”
“My dad came by last night and apologized for everything.” She filled Charlie in on the conversation and was wiping tears by the time she finished.
“That’s awesome, Hay. I know how sad that’s made you.”
“Oh, and more big news. Derek and Ariel are moving to Atlanta.”
Charlie stop preparing their tea and glanced over her shoulder. “What?”
“Yes, and the chicken shit’s leaving it to me to tell Lottie.”
Carefully, Charlie set the two mugs of tea on the table. “He’s a horrible person.”
Hailey rolled her eyes. “That’s the understatement of the century. I know it’ll be hard on Lottie initially, but I think it’s what’s best in the long run. He’s hurting her, and it kills me that I can’t do anything to stop it. But now I don’t have to worry anymore.” She tried to put on a bright smile, but she could feel it listing at the edges. “So you see, things couldn’t be better.”
Charlie lifted her cup of tea and blew gently. “Then why does your house look like you and Mr. Clean had monkey sex up in here?”
She sipped her tea. “I like a clean house, Charlie. That’s all.”
The look on her friend’s face made it clear that she didn’t believe a word Hailey was saying. “Talk.”
“Beau’s moving to Nashville, so there’s no future for us, Lottie doesn’t know he’s moving yet, also, he asked us to come with him, and I wanted to, but I made a promise to my mother.” The verbal vomit was uncontrollable. Hailey couldn’t stop the words that spilled from her lips. “It’ll never work between us anyway. He’s bound for stardom, and I’m just me. If I hadn’t been having such a great time in Nashville living a life that wasn’t mine, then I would’ve been here and maybe I could’ve stopped the bar from burning down. And I can’t go on the road with him because of Lottie, and the bar. My life is here. Who do I think I am running around trying to be something I’m not?”
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