Casey sighed. “To the place you can never wait to escape from after you and Dad have another argument? Where people still hold grudges about some of the monumental stunts you’ve pulled? Sure. That makes perfect sense.”
“It’s been years since I’ve tipped cows, egged cars, or thrown rocks through windows at Town Hall in misguided attempts to gain Dad’s attention. I’m over begging for his love.” Meg reached out and took Casey’s hand. “Maybe I miss my brothers and sister. Isn’t that enough of a reason?”
“I suppose. And I’ve missed you too.” Casey squeezed Meg’s hand. “There’s more to this story, though, so I’ll just wait you out. You’ll give in to my nagging ways eventually.”
Meg took another drink, working up the courage to ask her sister what she really wanted to know without exposing the real reason she was there. “You are a champion nag. But can I ask you something?”
Casey’s right brow cocked in surprise. “This is a first, but sure. Anything.”
“How long did it take you to get over Tomas after he ran off with she-who-shall-not-be-mentioned? And how did you get to a civil place where you can share the boys with him?”
“I assume this is about”—Casey glanced at Haley to be sure she was still sleeping—“he-who-you-have-never-mentioned? Haley’s f-a-t-h-e-r?”
Meg appreciated Casey for not mentioning the F-word in front of Haley. Meg’s daughter had never asked about her father, so Meg was waiting until Haley was older to explain things to her.
Meg said, “As bad as your breakup was, you and Tomas seem to get along now.”
“He’s the boys’ father. I’ll always care about him to some degree, so I’m civil to him. But I don’t like him anymore. And I wouldn’t mind if he became impotent to pay him back for all the fooling around he did on me.” Casey stole the mug from Meg and took a drink. “It’s been three years since your breakup. Do you still love him?”
Tears burned Meg’s eyes, but she blinked them back. “I used to love him. When we spent time together between his long bouts of work, he was the greatest guy I’ve ever known. We even talked about getting married. But then one day, out of the blue, he announced he was leaving. I thought we were happy, but he said he feared being a bad father, and we were better off without him. So that was that.”
Meg waggled her fingers for the mug. After Casey handed it back, Meg took another drink. “Haley and I are fine without him. I know I’ve been irresponsible in the past, but now I’m focused on trying to be a good mother.”
“You are a good mother, Meg. None of us would have ever believed it if we hadn’t seen it for ourselves. So now it’s time to get the rest of your act in gear, right? Show Dad he’s wrong about you?”
Before Meg could explain she’d been working on that for some time, Haley awoke and said, “Hi, Aunt Ceecee.”
Haley still couldn’t get Casey’s name right. They’d have to work on that too.
Casey’s concerned expression morphed into a cheerful one as she turned toward Haley on the other side of the bed. “Good morning, sunshine.” Casey scooped Haley up and gave her a tight hug. “Want to come to the hotel with your favorite auntie and find something yummy for breakfast?”
“Yay! Pancakes?”
“Anything you want, darlin’. Say bye to your mom.” Casey dangled a laughing Haley upside down over Meg for a kiss.
“Bye, Momma.”
“Bye, Bug. See you in a bit.” She kissed her daughter’s upside-down lips. “Haley needs her asthma medicine after she eats, so bring her right back, okay? And do I get pancakes too?”
Casey stood and flipped Haley right-side up. “Depends. Get settled, then come talk to me. Ryan mentioned you’ve brought pretty much everything you own with you.”
Meg called out to her sister’s retreating back. “Hey, you have two of your own kids to boss around now, so how about sticking to them and leaving me out of it for a change?” Why did her brothers and sister think it was their duty to poke into her business like that?
“And give up one of my life’s greatest pleasures?” Casey laughed. “The boys are in France with Tomas and the new rich bimbo wife. You’re all I’ve got at the moment.”
Lucky me.
Throwing the covers back, Meg aimed to finish her coffee on the dock. Slipping into a pair of flip-flops, she considered putting on some real clothes, but her tank top and gym shorts would do. She was on vacation, after all.
For the day anyway. She needed a job after she’d been fired from another one for missing too much work because of Haley’s asthma.