“She said she tried to call. I don’t know what to think anymore. She seems to be telling me the truth, but Ari is so damn sure that Rebecca is lying. I just don’t know anymore, Gunner. I want to believe Ari, but. . . fuck I’m so damn confused. I just want to do the right thing for both Ari and this baby. I don’t know what to believe anymore. ”
I just stared at him. “You need to believe the woman you love and who loves you, not some crazy bitch who never thought to call you until after she was seven months pregnant. ” I turned and walked away from him.
Stupid fucker. Even I thought Rebecca was lying. A part of me wondered if Jeff was hoping this baby was his.
***
We spent the next few hours talking about the party tomorrow. I kept looking from my grandparents to my parents. My mother looked scared. She kept asking my dad if he was okay, and I could tell he was trying to be patient. My dad had changed. I wasn’t sure if it was from the heart attack, from being home again, or from maybe realizing what he had lost out on. I mean, it had only been a week since he’d refused to come to my wedding. What changed?
After dinner, we sat on the porch for a while. Josh and Heather’s talk must not have been a good one because they pretty much avoided each other all afternoon and evening. Lynda took full on advantage and never left Josh’s side.
“So, I have the guest rooms all made up. Grace and Jack, you take the room with the queen bed in it. Lynda, you can have the room next to the bathroom. Jim and Michelle, you can take the other bedroom. ” Grams said. Turning to Heather she asked, “Heather would you like to bunk with Lynda?”
“Actually, Emma, Heather’s going to stay with us. ” Ari said.
I took a quick peek at Lynda. She looked like she was about to have a heart attack herself.
Josh snapped his head over toward Heather. Lynda leaned over and whispered something to Josh. He just smiled at her. Then he glanced back at Heather, and she didn’t even try to hide her reaction. She just rolled her eyes as she stood up.
“Thank you, everyone, for a lovely evening. Ari and Jeff, if y’all don’t mind, I think I’m going to turn in. I had a late night. ”
Everyone said good night to Heather as she made her way to her car. Josh never took his eyes off of her for a second.
Everyone went up inside, and I was left sitting on the porch by myself, waiting on my mom, Grams and Ellie to finish up plans for tomorrow. I heard the screen door shut, and I looked up to see my dad walking toward me.
I sat up a little straighter, force of habit I guess. Shit, something’s never change.
“Drew, I um, I’d really like to talk to you for a few minutes if you’ll let me. ”
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Huh, this was new. He’s asking me for permission for once.
“Sure, Dad. Yeah, that’s fine. ”
He sat down next to me and didn’t say a word for close to five minutes.
Finally, he let out a sigh. He leaned back and smiled.
“Do you know where my favorite place in the world used to be when I was growing up here?” he asked as he looking over at me.
“I didn’t know you had a favorite place here. You always made it seem like you hated it here,” I said turning away from him.
He’d never said one good thing about the ranch. He’d only talked about how much he hated it.
“I guess I deserved that one. ”
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to hurt you. ”
My dad leaned forward, putting his arms on his knees, as he let out a nervous laugh.
“When Garrett called to tell me you were getting married…”
He paused, clearing his throat.
“I, um…I have to admit that it killed me when it wasn’t you who called to tell us. I mean, I understood the reasons why it wasn’t you, but the look of pain on your mother’s face about gutted me because I knew it was my fault. I took something that she loved very much away from her. ”
I didn’t even know how to respond to him. My dad had never opened up to me like this before. I just sat there, stunned.