“You want me to come stay at your Dad’s? Shouldn’t it be like some sort of special father-son bonding time or something? I really don’t want to intrude on that.”
“You’re not intruding when I’m inviting you. Dad is curious about the girl I want to bring home, and I think it might be fun to get away for a few days. Besides, I need to check on him and make sure he’s still doing alright in that big house by himself.” He paused. “I got the impression it might be more than just you and me there. I think my dad might have a lady friend.”
“Ahhh… there it is. You’re curious about the possible girlfriend, huh?”
“I have to admit, it would be somewhat strange if there was another woman in his life, but I’d be happy if he were happy. All I’ve ever wanted since Mom died was to see him live his life again. He’s been in that new house, doing things according to what my mom would have liked, not what he would have liked.” His face changed from being slightly playful to sad.
“Of course he is. Even I saw how much your dad loved your mom.”
He looked at me questioningly. “You saw my parents together?”
“Well, yeah. I was in the office at the elementary school one year running errands for your mom because I’d finished all of my work early. I remember your dad coming in with a bouquet of tulips and the look on your mom’s face. He had set the vase down on her desk and leaned over and whispered something in her ear, and she had smiled about it. Since I was so young, I remember turning my head away when they kissed each other.”
Timber sat across from me, engrossed in my story. A story that he’d not heard before. He was soaking in my every word. “Even then, I remember thinking how sweet it was that two grown-ups were so in love. Not even my own parents looked at each other like yours did. So yeah, it makes sense to me that your dad is still living for the things your mom loved, because he loved her.”
When I stopped talking, Timber sucked in a deep breath and blew it out. “Wow. It’s sorta weird to hear you talking about my parents. I mean, I know that we all went to the same school together, but I didn’t realize that you had seen them like that.” He looked across at me. “Thank you.”
“For what?” I didn’t understand why he would be thanking me.
“For giving me a new memory.” His smile was warm, and I felt it all the way to my toes. “So anyway, you haven’t answered my question.”
I sighed. “Honestly, Timber, I don’t think I it’s a good idea. Maybe you should go spend some time alone with him. I bet he doesn’t want someone he doesn’t know showing up and spoiling his holiday.”
He waved his hand in front of his face. “Shut up, Kat. You’re not a stranger to me, so he’ll accept you regardless. But I want you there. Dad’s not much of a talker and I think with you around, he’ll happily open up.”
“Why on earth would he talk to me? Seriously, I really don’t mind spending the Fourth here. With the bar closed I can relax on the couch and read a book or something.”
His eyes turned dark. “You’re not staying there alone, not after someone broke in with you inside. I’m not letting you out of my sight.”
“You’re being ridiculous, Timber. I am sure it was just some drunk person trying to see if he could get away with scaring me. Besides,” I said nonchalantly, “nothing else has happened since. It’ll be fine.” I got up from the table and took both of our plates to the sink.
He came up behind me, pinning me in against the counter. I never even heard him move. My back was to him and I felt his heavy breathing on my neck. “If you think for one fucking second I wouldn’t be going out of my mind wondering if you’re okay, you don’t know me at all. Turn around and look at me,” he growled in my ear. Despite the threat in his voice, it caused me to shiver. I turned my body, and he stepped in so that my front was flush with his. “You will be going with me to my dad’s house. You will spend the weekend with me and we will watch fireworks and eat whatever fucking BBQ my dad has cooked. And we will stay in the guest bedroom together, and did I add that you will love it?”
His last statement, despite it being phrased as a question, was dripping with sarcasm. The way he was looking at me, demanding nothing more than a nod of approval, made me weak. I gave him what he wanted. I tipped my head down slightly, acknowledging that I would go. He blew a breath of air out of his nose at my resignation. He must have been ready for me to fight him.
Normally, I would. But I didn’t, for two reasons. The first one being that I knew he was right. If he left me alone, he would most likely flip out wondering if I was alright the whole time and he wouldn’t have a good time with his dad. I couldn’t do that to him. If my being by his side made him feel more secure, then I’d give him that. My second reason for complying was plain and simple. I enjoyed being around him. He’d made me happier than I’d felt in several years. There was something to be said about the feeling of contentment, and he gave that to me. I’d taken notice that whenever we are apart, whether I’m working, simply walking into the back to the freezer and he’s sitting out in the bar, when I go to the ladies room, or whatever else it may be, when he’s not near me, I miss him. He has given me a sense of peace that I’d convinced myself wasn’t possible with a man. I thought Adam had ruined me for anyone that I might have showed interest in. Timber was doing the opposite. I had begun to need him. I had feelings for him.