Sweet Southern Bad Boy

by Michele Summers

  “Uncle Pance! Look what Granddaddy got me.” Danny held up a Barbie doll wearing a froufrou pink princess outfit. The doll’s blond hair looked to have been chewed by the dog, or Danny…he didn’t know which.

  “Wow. What a pretty Barbie.” Vance held out his arms, and Danny ran to him, keeping poor Lollipop in a chokehold. Vance’s jaw clenched. Chuck must’ve embraced the role of granddad. He caught a glimpse of his dad rounding the hood of the car. It seemed the general would give to his grandkids what he’d failed to give to Vance. A chance at a real relationship.

  “Granddaddy showed me how to shoot a BB gun, and I hit a tin can!” Donald said, snagging his attention.

  “And Granddaddy told me I’m gonna make a great field marshal. That’s higher than even a general,” Dover said, blinking up at him.

  Vance’s heart tripped in relief over the enthusiasm they had for their grandfather. His dad wore a faint smile as he watched the kids climb all over Vance. Working his lower jaw, Vance loosened the tension. Progress. This was a good thing, and it made him happy. Vance hefted Danny in his arms and ruffled Dover’s hair. “Sounds like an awesome time. How’s your mom doing?”

  “She was happy to see us. We Skyped Dad too, and all of us got to talk to him. Even Miz Dottie,” Donald said.

  At the mention of Dottie, Vance watched as she climbed out of the car, looking reasonably unscathed considering the road trip she’d endured.

  “Well, we made it back. What’d we miss? Where’s Katie?” Dottie said in a voice a shade too loud.

  “Where’s Kay-tee? I want Kay-tee.” Danny squirmed to get down.

  After giving his property a cursory glance, Dottie shot him a suspicious look, as if she knew exactly what had transpired between Katie and him…along with how many times and how many positions.

  Vance cleared his throat and lowered Danny to the ground. “Kids, grab your stuff from the car and head inside. Dottie, Dad, come on in for some iced tea. I’ll unload the bags.” Vance purposely skirted around Dottie and her questioning arched brow only to bring himself in direct line with Chuck’s glinty stare. Katie’s obvious absence did not sit well with anyone…especially Vance.

  In the kitchen, Dottie handed the kids snacks and shoved them out the back door, ordering them not to kill each other. With fists planted on her generous hips covered in paisley denim, and casting her dagger eyes at Vance, she boomed, “What in the Sam Hill is going on around here?” She stomped forward in powder-blue cowboy clogs, standing toe-to-toe with him. “You gonna start talkin’? Because something has happened, and from the looks of things…it ain’t good.”

  * * *

  “Go ahead…say it. I know you’re dying to.” Thirty minutes later, Vance gave his dad, still sitting in his kitchen, a defeated I-don’t-give-a-shit look. Dottie had left to round up the kids, tsking and shaking her head. Vance had spilled the beans about what had transpired the night before. When he told them about Tad showing up, and his involvement with McKnight Studios without Katie’s knowledge, Dottie’s face turned purple under her thick mask of make-up, and his dad grew military quiet. Scary military quiet.

  Once he’d finished speaking, Dottie had poked his chest with one of her terrifying long blue nails and basically told him he was dumber than a pet rock. A fact Vance already knew. She then stormed from the kitchen in high dudgeon, shaking her head and mumbling under her breath something about stubborn Kerner men with corncobs up their asses and cow manure for brains. Which summed things up perfectly.

  So that left Vance alone in the kitchen.

  With his dad.

  He couldn’t remember the last time they’d been together like this. Even though he’d yearned for a relationship with his dad beyond the curt nod and grunted hello, he hadn’t known where to begin. His dad looked way more comfortable than Vance felt, despite the drumming of his war-worn fingers on the table. He appeared to be weighing his next words. A definite first in their volatile history. Neither had excelled at holding back…or thinking before they spoke. A Kerner curse, for sure.

  Vance couldn’t stand the suspense any longer. He shot up from his chair. “Well? Come on, you can say it. I screwed up. It’s not like I haven’t already said it to myself hundreds of times already.”

  Chuck appeared nonplussed. “You made a tactical error. It happens.”

  Vance stopped pacing the black-and-white tile floor. “That’s it? No dressing down for being a selfish ass? For only thinking of myself and my career? Not caring about anyone else?”

  Chuck leveled him with a steady gaze. “You’re a grown man. It’s not my place to dress you down. Besides, I did enough of that when you were young. And I was wrong. Instead of building you up, all I managed to do was tear us apart. And that was never my intent. But I was too stubborn and set in my military ways to realize what I was doing.” His face was a mask of regret.

  The tense air in the room seemed to shift. Vance’s chest ached as if a burning stone lodged there. His old man must be getting really old, because he’d never expected to hear those words from his lips. “I deserved it…most of the time. I made your life at home a living hell.”

  “No. I managed that with no help from you. When your mother died, something…everything in me died along with her. Nothing felt right after that. I’d served too long in the military and seen more death and destruction than any one man should endure. It only made sense I’d go before her. I couldn’t understand how my life had been spared all those years at war and hers was snuffed out. You boys needed her. She always had the answers. She had great patience, and she loved you with all her heart.” Chuck shook his head in confusion. “I can’t help but believe God got it wrong that time.”

  “Dad…”

  In a much stronger voice, his dad said, “I should’ve been the one to die first. Things would’ve been a lot…easier if I had.” An icy chill ran through Vance’s veins. Losing his mother had been hard on all of them, but his dad had always been a rock, holding their family together. Vance couldn’t imagine his world without him, even if they lived like virtual strangers.

  “Don’t say that. Dad, some men are put on this earth to do all the dirty work, and you’re one of those men. You and Eric. And guys like Adam Reynolds. You make the world a better place for the rest of us…whether we deserve it or not. And you do it all without expecting rewards or medals or ribbons.” Vance raked his fingers through his hair. “You guys put your lives on the line and carry out orders, even when you disagree or don’t believe in the cause. So we can continue to enjoy our freedoms. Mom was proud of you and Eric. She always said she couldn’t wait for you to get home, because her boys needed their father. If she said it once, she said it a thousand times.” Vance tried to keep his voice from cracking.

  Chuck stood and clamped his hand on Vance’s shoulder. They stood eye to eye, and yet Vance felt two feet tall. Memories came crashing back of all the years they’d faced off in this very kitchen, fighting and yelling. Neither giving an inch. And the day Vance had spewed those hateful words, he’d destroyed any chance at a relationship. It was the worst day of his life…until yesterday. Terrified, he stood rooted to the floor like that teenage boy so many years ago. Lack of communication was rearing its ugly head and biting him in the ass again. He’d made a horrible mistake by not confiding in Katie. Now he was afraid he’d lost the only woman he’d ever loved, besides his mom, with his stupidity and lack of foresight.

  His dad squeezed his shoulder, bringing him back to the present. In a quiet voice, he said, “Your mother was proud of you too, Son. She recognized your talents before anyone else did.” He chuckled, and a twinkle flashed behind his eyes. “She always told me you’d be famous one day. I didn’t believe her.”

  Vance stared down at his black snakeskin cowboy boots and his dad’s polished work boots. Yeah, no kidding. His dad had pictured a different kind of fame altogether…as Harmony’s most wanted delinquen
t.

  “And now look at you… You managed to surprise the hell out of Eric and me. And your mother is smiling down on us right now, saying I told you so.”

  Vance raised his head. “You think?”

  “Yes. You can do whatever you set your mind to. And if you want that pretty little California Katie…well then, you’re going to have to make it up to her. Make things right.”

  Vance shoved his fists in the pockets of his jeans. “I don’t know if I can.”

  “Do you love her?”

  Vance nodded slowly. “So much it hurts.”

  His dad smiled with a faraway look on his face. “It was the same way with your mother. I knew the minute I spied her at the state fair, selling hot apple pies to support the USO.” He chuckled. “She never stood a chance against my blitzkrieg.”

  “I knew the minute Katie stood in this kitchen and whistled.”

  “She’s got spunk. And a good head on her shoulders. I like her style. She’ll keep you on your toes. All she needs is a little confidence.” His dad had nailed Katie’s character to a T.

  “Any suggestions? I could use some advice.”

  Surprise lit Chuck’s dark eyes. The giving and taking of advice had not been a common exchange in their past. A small smile curled his lips. “Apologize from the bottom of your heart. Appeal to her sweet nature. And if that doesn’t work…beg.”

  Vance released an unsteady breath. “Yeah, I think I’m at the begging stage.”

  His dad clapped him on the back with a few hearty strokes. The closest they’d come to a hug in eons. Vance didn’t dare look him in the eye for fear of tearing up.

  “Nothing wrong with humbling yourself. Remember, no one ever choked swallowing his pride.”

  Maybe not, but as he swallowed hard around the clump of sawdust in his mouth, Vance felt like choking. All pride had managed to do was keep him and his dad worlds apart.

  Vance pressed his sweaty palms to his thighs. “Dad…about what I said…years ago. I never meant… I didn’t think… I’m so sorry.” Shame weighed heavily on his shoulders. “I was wrong. My harsh, careless words hurt you. I’ve regretted it ever since.”

  His dad didn’t blink. A shattered world passed behind his eyes but didn’t linger. So much wasted time and emotion. “We hurt each other. I’m sorry too. For not having more patience and for pushing you so hard. It’s time to let it go, Son. Don’t let the past cloud your future. Life is for the living… Make the most of it.” The shame shifted. Still there, but a slight ease of the burden.

  Chuck clapped him on the back again. This time, a satisfied grin widened across his face. “Now get moving. You’ve got a filly from California to wrangle. Dottie and I will settle the kids down.” He jerked his head toward the back door.

  Determination settled deep inside him, overriding his fear and insecurities. “Thanks, Dad,” Vance said, reaching for the doorknob.

  Before he could make a clean exit, his dad’s next words stopped him in his tracks. “My pleasure. And, Son…I’m proud of you.”

  * * *

  Vance swiped at the moisture around his eyes as he crossed the yard to the barn. Pollen was a bitch this season. He gave a loud snort. Who you kidding? He was on the verge of blubbering like Dover when teased mercilessly by Donald.

  His dad was proud of him.

  He’d waited years to hear those very words. Half a dozen books later, where he’d left his heart and soul and blood and guts on the page. Years of always wondering if he’d ever measure up. It took only three rug rats, a nosy gossip, and everyone’s favorite California cupcake to bring his dad around. They’d had a breakthrough. Vance didn’t know what he’d done right to deserve this second chance, but he’d take any fallen crumb on his path. His dad had gotten one thing right: Life was too short not to savor every moment. And Vance wanted his life to start right now. With Katie. The woman he loved. He’d be a colossal fool not to grab hold of her and never let her go. Katie had changed everything. She’d melted the ice surrounding his bitter heart and brought sunshine back into his life. Sounded like corny song lyrics, but he didn’t care. Now to convince her he’d changed and was worthy of her love. Vance knew what he had to do.

  Inside his loft, Vance stared at his closed computer and scattered notes littering his desktop and painted wood floor. He’d be pulling all-nighters, compensating for lost writing time, but the phone call he was about to make took precedence. He palmed his cell and tapped in a number. “Walter? We need to talk.”

  Chapter 24

  Later that same day, after leaving Vance’s house, Katie found herself shifting uncomfortably on Chuck’s plaid sofa. His military stare bore down on her, seeing more than she wanted to reveal.

  “You sure this is what you want to do?” he asked, reaching for his iced tea.

  She shook her head. “General, I’m not sure of anything anymore. But if I’m ever going to be my own person, I need to make a clean break.”

  He nodded. “If you change your mind, no one will hold it against you. This is a big step.”

  By big step he was referring to her decision to stay in Harmony and rent her own place. Confronting her parents over the phone instead of in person. Yeah, she was taking the easy way out on that one, but if she wanted to call Harmony her home, she needed to be here to make it happen. On her own terms, with a new partner. Yep. Katie and General Chuck Kerner were joining forces. Along with investing some start-up money, Chuck would be in charge of devising and implementing a kid-friendly boot camp for Imagination Station. Obviously, he was way overqualified for the job, but he’d offered, and Katie was thrilled to have him on her team. She sensed a new peace in him and signs of happiness in his sparkling black eyes that had been absent before.

  Katie glanced at her watch. “Now or never. I’m meeting the realtor to sign the lease.” She’d spent half the morning looking at rental properties for a place to live. She’d settled on a two bedroom, totally furnished bungalow on the other side of Main Street, not far from her new place of business. The other half of the morning she’d gone over her business plan with Bertie and Lucy. Lucy had come up with a superaggressive marketing strategy, and Bertie had started preliminary sketches on revamping the interior for Imagination Station. Her brothers were busy drafting a professional proposal and ironclad contract, and Inslee had already sent outlines for new computer learning games, including an advance version of Katie’s favorite picture puzzles.

  “Have you told Vance your plans?” Chuck asked in a low voice.

  Katie fidgeted with the hem of her T-shirt and tried not to scratch the backs of her legs from the itchy cotton upholstery. “No. I want to be sure everything falls into place. I mean, what if I don’t qualify for the loan, or the numbers don’t add up? I’d be a failure before I’d even started.” Or what if she changed her mind? Or got cold feet? Not about loving Vance…that would never change, but she wanted to be worthy of his love. Katie wanted to pull her weight as an equal partner, not be an albatross around his neck. She wanted to pull her weight with the strength of her own backbone.

  “That’s understandable. Maybe it’s best to play your cards close to your chest. He’ll be upset enough at you living across town and not with him. Adding me as your business partner might send him straight to the therapist’s couch.”

  His argument was valid. Why upset Vance about her new business when it may never come to fruition?

  “Okay, but if I get a green light, he’s going to be the first person I tell.”

  “Agreed. But make it clear my role is very minor. The bulk of the work will fall on your shoulders.”

  “Don’t sell yourself short. Your advice and help are immeasurable,” Katie said.

  “Nevertheless. This is your brainchild. Own it and make it happen. How do you plan to tell him of your sudden move and new plans?”

  Butterflies stirred up in her stomach. Katie
was kind of hoping Vance would drown himself in work and not notice her absence. Yeah, right. What a chicken. Always her default mode. Vance hadn’t been far from her thoughts all day. He’d left her alone like she’d asked, but from the tone of his last text, she could tell he was not happy and had begun to worry. An aching sadness tore through her. She already missed him and didn’t know how she’d survive living apart from him in the same town.

  She had only one choice. “Confront him, I guess.” Katie’s eyebrow twitched at the thought. “You wanna come along…for moral support?”

  He chuckled. “You don’t need me. You hold all the power. Believe in yourself.”

  Right. Believe. “The very reason I’m doing this…to make a clean break and to start believing in myself.” She couldn’t afford to lose her courage now. “And while I’m busy working on Imagination Station, he’ll have time to finish his book…without any further distractions from me.” Katie averted her eyes from the steely hard stare the general shot her way. “We both need this time apart to work things out,” she said, hoping her words would convince herself.

  “That boy loves you something fierce. A feeling I know you return.”

  Katie looked at her feet, unwilling to let him see the emotion in her eyes. She hated hurting Vance. But she hated being a pushover even more and not controlling her own life.

  “Don’t break his heart.” It sounded like an order. “Keep him guessing, and don’t let him have his way all the time, but don’t break his heart.”

  Katie’s head popped up. “Huh?”

  Chuck laughed like a man enjoying life. “You’ve got him tied up in knots. Something he’s never felt before, I’m sure. Arguing and disagreeing are just as important as making love and keeping peace. You’ve got to strike the right balance, and true love will prevail.”

  Katie’s skin grew hot. “That must’ve been some talk you and Vance had.”