“And how is that?”
“Dating.”
“All this for dating? You make it sound like a complex business merger.”
“It feels like it.”
“Well that’s the first sign something’s not right.”
“No, it’s just … complicated. You’ll understand when you meet him.”
“Mhmm hmm. What time should I be over?”
“Six.”
“Sounds good.”
“Daddy?”
“Yes, Pumpkin?”
“Be nice, please. If you scare off the first man I’ve presented you with I might be single forever.”
“That’d be just fine.”
She’d giggled. “Dad!”
“I’m just teasing, Kansas. I’ll be on my best behavior. I’m looking forward to meeting this Jett fellow.”
“Awesome. Now I have to get over here and deep clean my house.”
Her father’s rich chuckle had rung out.
“Bye, Kansas.”
“Bye, Dad.”
The light hearted conversation had done nothing to tame the bucket of jumbles nerves she become. Her father could be unpredictable. Laid back one minute, emotional and overbearing the next. Perhaps that was every father when he had a little girl who, as he put it, grew up when he wasn’t looking.
The screen door swung open, and Jett stepped inside. “Meat’s on low. Can you keep an eye on it while I go get changed?”
“Yes.” She set down the last plate and began straightening the silverware to keep herself busy.
“Are you okay?”
“No, I’m nervous as hell.”
“There’s something you don’t see every day.” Jett smirked, and she rolled her eyes. “I thought you said your dad was a nice guy.”
“Yeah, to me. I don’t know how he’ll react to the man whose been violating his daughter on a daily basis.”
“Well when you put it that way, yikes.” Jett grimaced.
“Now you’re getting it.”
“Good thing we’re not telling him about the baby yet.”
“Yeah. We may have to do that in a public place to avoid your death.”