I burst out laughing too. The tears were rolling down my face. “We really shouldn’t be left unsupervised. Thank goodness I’m dating a fireman.”
He smiled. “We’re dating?”
“Oh. Uh, I don’t know,” I said nervously. I hoped I hadn’t just ruined anything. Why did I have to go and open my big mouth? But when I looked at Grant again, he was grinning.
“Emily Wessler, will you officially be my girlfriend?” he said in a way that made it sound like we were teenagers.
I chuckled. “I would love nothing more, Grant Maxwell.”
“I’m so glad we’ve stopped pretending for a change. We should’ve just admitted our feelings for each other from the start. We would’ve avoided a whole lot of unnecessary fighting if we had.”
“Yeah, I agree,” I said. “Although, it was a weird way to start a relationship. There was a lot going on. I don’t think many people start off a relationship with a burning house and a father that reemerges from the dead. It’s not exactly what you’d call a conventional start.”
“Now maybe we can start a normal relationship,” he said.
“Somehow I doubt it will ever be normal,” I said and chuckled as I thought of the pizza again. “And I’m perfectly fine with that.”
“Yeah, normal is overrated, anyway.”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Grant
“It’s our first road trip together,” I said to Emily as we pulled out her driveway.
Two weeks had passed since we’d officially made up and I decided it was time to go back and visit my father. Also, I still had a ton of stuff that I needed to bring back with me. And, above all, I wanted my father to meet Emily.
“Yeah, I’m wondering what sort of a road tripper you are?” she said.
“What does that even mean?”
“Are you quiet? Do you just focus on the road and nothing else? Do you like music? Do you like to talk and play games? There are endless options.”
I chuckled. “I’ve never thought about it that much before. When I’m alone, I actually enjoy the silence. Sometimes I don’t put any music on at all. But with you, I’m thinking we play music.”
“Good answer,” she said and fished inside her bag until she took out a CD.
“What’s that?”
“Just a little something I put together for our trip.”
“You put some road music together?” I asked. I couldn’t believe that she’d put so much effort into it.”
“Well, it was either that or you’d have to contend with my singing. And trust me, you do not want to listen to that. Musical talent does not run in my family.”
“Music it is then!” I said. “And yeah, same here. I don’t think you can get a worse singer than me. Although, my brothers are all horrible too. It definitely does not run in my family.”
“Good, we can be bad together,” she said as the music started. She immediately started singing along, and I laughed.
“Yeah, you’re not great,” I said.
“Hey!” she said and laughed.
I sang along at the top of my voice, and she burst out laughing.
“You’re awful!”
“You know, I don’t think we’re wording this right. I think we are so good at being bad.”
“So good at being bad,” she repeated. “Yeah, I like the sound of that.”
“So, how are you feeling about meeting my father?”
“I’m nervous,” she admitted. “I’ve heard such conflicting stories about him too, and I’m a little nervous that he’s not going to like me.”
“Nah, he’s a good guy. He’s just messed up a few times.”
She smiled. “Like my father.”
“Exactly. But he’s a good person, and he’s going to love you. Who wouldn’t love you?”
The road trip was fun, with both of us trying to outdo each other in the bad singing department. It was a long trip. We stopped three times just to stretch our legs and get something to eat. I considered staying over somewhere but we decided to keep going. And yet, despite the distance, when we finally arrived, I could see that she had visibly relaxed.
“Well,” I said. “We’re going to surprise him at the office.”
“How do you know he’s even there?” she asked.
“Oh trust me. He’s always there. My dad loves his job. I have no doubt in my mind that he’ll be there. Also, that’s his car over there,” I said and laughed.
“Why don’t you go in first?”
“Why? You still nervous?”
“No, I’m fine. But if you’re surprising him, then it might be nice if you go in on your own. I’ll wait here. When you’re ready, you can come and get me.”
I nodded. “Actually, that’s not a bad idea. I’ll be right back,” I said and kissed her.
It was strange being back in my hometown. I wondered if it would make me want to move back, but I was glad to feel that it was having the opposite reaction on me. I liked being back, but I could feel that it wasn’t home anymore. I knew it would end up being a place that I came to visit often, but not a place I would live in again. I had a new life now. I walked straight to my father’s office and smiled when I saw the shocked reaction on his face.
“Am I dreaming?” he said.
I laughed. “Hi, Pop.”
“Grant! This is such a nice surprise. Come here and give your old man a hug.”
I walked over to hug him and then sat down opposite him, like I’d done so many times before. It was good to see him again. He looked a bit tired, and he’d lost a bit of weight, but that was to be expected from all the chemo he’d been through. But other than that, he looked the same.
“You look good, Pop. How are you feeling?”
“I’m feeling good. I’m much better. I’m so glad you’re here. I’ve been thinking so much about our last conversation and how I messed things up. I don’t know what happened to me lately, but I’ve been wanting to make amends a lot more than I used to. You know what I’ve always been like—stubborn, stubborn, stubborn. I’ve never liked to apologize, and I’ve never liked to admit that I was wrong. And you and I always had such a great relationship. I’m sorry I snapped at you like that. I said some mean things.”
“It’s in our blood, I think,” I said. “Sometimes I get angry too. But I’m starting to see that there is no point to it. And you don’t have to apologize at all. You aren’t the only one in the wrong. And while I hope that you and Brady make up, I’m starting to see that it has nothing to do with me, either. It’s your business. I love you both, and that’s all that counts.”
“You’re a good man, Grant.”
“Well, so are you, Pop.”
He laughed. “Not like us to get this emotional, huh?”
“Not at all. Maybe we’re catching up for all those years where we didn’t open up.”
“Yeah, maybe. So, are you moving back?”
I shook my head. “I’m not. Actually, I’m moving to Wyoming for good.”
I waited for my father to tell me how upset he was, or how angry he was, or what a mistake I was making. But he simply sighed and nodded.
“I thought you were going to say that.”
“I’m sorry, Pop. But I’m going to visit all the time.”
“You better. It’s okay, Grant. I can see how happy that place makes you. You’ve done the right thing. I’m assuming you’re going to be leaving the club too?”
“Uh, yeah. I’m sorry. It’s just going to be too difficult from where I am. Anyway, motorcycles have always been more your thing. And Gunner’s thing. Not mine. You know that.”
“I know. I know. I wanted it to be this big family business, but I forgot that you all had your own personalities and lives. It’s okay, though. As long as you don’t sell your bike.”
“No way. I’m taking it back with me. I’ve missed riding so much.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
“There’s one other thing,” I said.
“Yeah? What
’s that?”
“I met someone.”
“You did? No wonder you don’t want to come back. So, when do I get to meet this girl?”
“Actually, she’s in the car right now. I really wanted her to meet you. She’s heard a lot about you.”
“Oh dear, I hope you’ve told her only good things. Come on, let’s go get something to eat. I’m starving. And I’d love to get to know her.”
I smiled. “That sounds great. Come on; I’ll take us.”
We walked out the shop and toward the car, and I could see Emily’s eyes widen at the sight of my father and I walking toward her. She quickly got out of the car and went immediately to give my father a big hug.
“Hi, you must be Pop!” she said, and we both laughed.
“That’s what everyone calls me around here. And you must Emily. Lovely to meet you,” he said.
Then, as we were getting into the car, he turned to wink at me. “Beautiful,” he whispered.
We made our way to the local café and ordered a round of toasted sandwiches and coffee. Talk between the three of us was easy, and I was grateful to have Emily there. She didn’t come across at all nervous and was happily chatting away.
“More coffee?” I said to everyone, and they both agreed.
I left the table to place the order when I saw Gunner walking outside. I quickly opened the door and beckoned for him to come in.
“Patriot?” he said in surprise.
“Hey, Gunner, good to see you. Come on, join us for coffee.”
“Us?”
I gestured to where our father was talking to Emily and Ian grinned. “You have a girlfriend?”
“I do. And, I’ve decided to stay in Buffalo.”
“Buffalo? You’re actually going to live in Wyoming? After all the insults we used to say about Brady.”
I laughed. “Yeah, now you can throw the insults at me.”
“Oh, I’m sure I can think of a good few, Farmer Grant.”
The woman at the counter took our orders and I was glad that Ian had decided to join us. We stood there for a while waiting for the coffee and catching up.
“You look happy,” he said to me. “Very different from the Patriot I’ve always known.”
“I can say the same thing about you,” I said. “You look very happy.”
“I am. I hate to say it, man, but it looks like we both just needed a woman in our lives.”
I laughed. “Yeah, growing up without any females around us really messed us up, I think. It’s good to see you. I hear the club is going well,” I said.
“It is. No thanks to you,” he said, but I could see he was joking.
“It always belonged to you and Pop.”
“Yeah, and ranches always belonged to you and Brady,” he teased. “Where’s your cowboy hat, man?”
“Don’t laugh, I do actually wear one sometimes. It gets hot out there all day. But, I’ll have you know that I’m not just working on the ranch anymore.”
“What do you mean? What else do you do?”
“I’m actually a fireman.”
“What? Are you serious?”
“I’m serious.”
“That’s cool man. I didn’t realize that. Yeah, I can see you as a fireman,” he said as he assessed me. “Congratulations. How on earth did you get into that?”
“Well, to start, Emily’s house burned down.”
He laughed. “Funny one.”
“No, I’m being serious.”
“So, you’re telling me that Emily’s house burned down, and you became a firefighter?”
“Something like that,” I chuckled. “Trust me; it’s a very long story.”
“Well, at least your life isn’t boring anymore.”
“Yeah, far from it. It’s certainly a far cry from my life as a real estate agent. Well, want to come over and meet Emily?”
“Do you I want to meet the woman that made you a much more pleasant man to be around? Hell yeah!” he said.
We took our coffees and walked over to the table. Both my father and Emily looked up in surprise that Ian was there.
I smiled. “Emily, this is my brother Gunner.”
“Gunner? Oh, you’re Ian!” she said. “Pleasure to meet you.”
“Uh oh. Sounds like my brother has been talking about me. Good to meet you too, Emily. So, what do you call him? Grant or Patriot?”
I noticed that Emily went slightly pink at the question. “Both,” she said. She squeezed my leg, and I wished for a second that we weren’t sitting with my father and brother in a crowded café.
“Yeah, it depends on the situation,” I said and smiled at Emily. “But Ian here will always be Gunner to me.”
“And I’ll always be Pop no matter how many times I’ve asked him to call me Dad,” my father said.
Emily chuckled and leaned in. “So, can I count on the two of you to tell me everything there is to know about good old Patriot here,” she said, and everyone laughed.
“Oh, she’s a keeper,” Ian said to me afterward, when we were leaving the café.
I smiled. “She certainly is.”
Epilogue
Two years later
“You know,” I said to Grant as I reached out to take his hand. “Sometimes I still can’t believe that we’re living in my old house. Like I’m aware of it, obviously, but then sometimes it hits me and takes me by surprise.”
“Do you like it here?” he asked. “I mean, are you glad that I did this?”
“Are you kidding me? I couldn’t ask for a better house. And, I like living with you.”
“I like living with you too. Especially when you go to sleep like that,” he said and lifted up the covers to look at me.
I chuckled. The night before we’d fallen asleep after a rather vigorous love-making session, and I was now completely naked, as was he. He was right; it was a nice way to fall asleep.
“I also like that after two years of being together, our sex life is still this good.”
“I’d go as far as saying it’s even better,” he said.
“Patriot and Audrey are alive and kicking.”
“Now, what can I get you eat, my lovely girlfriend?”
“You’re making me breakfast?” I asked. To this day, Grant was not the best in the kitchen. He’d tried a few times, but he was never very good.
“Surprisingly, I can actually make peanut butter on toast without burning anything down. Unless you want me to attempt something a bit more extravagant today?”
“No, let’s stick to the peanut butter,” I said and grinned. He’d once managed to burn an entire batch of scrambled eggs. This was a safe bet.
“Okay, give me five minutes and meet me downstairs.”
I stretched out when he left and sighed happily. It had taken almost a full year to finish building the house. Mostly because there had been issues with contractors, and all sorts of other things that we hadn’t considered at the time. But Brady was patient enough to let Grant stay with him in that time, especially with Grant helping at the ranch so much. And I stayed in my house. But six months after moving in, he’d invited me to live with him, and I couldn’t say no. It still felt so much like my house, even though much of it had changed. And anyway, I was spending more time at the house with Grant then I was in my own house. It had been a big move, but a good one. I couldn’t imagine living on my own anymore now that I lived with him. We gelled well together, and so far hadn’t gotten on each other’s nerves.
I climbed out of bed, put my robe on and made my way to one of my favorite parts of the house. Grant knew how much I loved the kitchen in my other house, and so he’d fashioned this one to look the same. It even had a bright yellow wall. I’d cried when I’d seen it, and to this day it makes me smile.
“Morning wall,” I said as I did every morning.
Grant laughed and handed me my breakfast. He’d slathered on so much peanut butter that there was more of it then there was bread. I held it up in admiration.
“I do like the way you make this,” I said and smiled. “Thank you. So, what are you doing today?”
“Actually, I have to work at the ranch for most of the day. But I’ll be back to get you later. I’m taking you for dinner.”
“Oooh, you are? That’s cool. Where are we going?”
“Don’t worry about the details. Just get ready by, say, six this evening.”
I smiled. “A secret rendezvous. This is exciting.”
I spent the rest of the day cleaning the house and went out to meet Terra for a quick coffee. Despite seeing her every day at work, we were constantly meeting up for coffee and wine. When I told her about the dinner that night, she gave a funny smile that I couldn’t quite understand and told me that I was going to have a great time. When I asked her if she knew where I was going, she said she couldn’t confirm or deny it. I assumed Grant had asked her for ideas. He was always phoning Terra when he wanted to do something for me. He knew that she was the number one person I went to and that she knew more about me than most people did. After meeting with Terra, I called my father, and we had a long conversation about his upcoming novel. He also invited me to come and stay with him the following weekend, to which I eagerly agreed. Every now and again we’d talk about him leaving when I was a child, but for the most part, it didn’t actually come up anymore. We’d moved past that, and I’d accepted the fact that he’d made a mistake. We were constantly working on our relationship, and I just felt happy to have a father in my life again.
At exactly six that evening, Grant showed up. I was surprised to see that he was all dressed up. Grant had become very casual since moving to Buffalo, but that was mostly because everyone else around him was so casual. And he suited the casual look. But still, he looked incredibly handsome standing in front of me in a suit and tie.
“Oh wow. You look amazing,” I said. “You got dressed there?”
He grinned. “Yeah. I knew getting Brady to build a bathroom at the ranch would pay off. So, are you ready for our date?”
“I sure am.”
“Come on, hop in the car. And Emily, you look absolutely beautiful.”
“Thank you,” I said. His compliments still made me happy.
Dirty Daddy_The Maxwell Family Page 68