Wrong Place, Wrong Time (Pete 'Monty' Montgomery 1)

“I will, Monty.”

“Oh, and one more thing—”

“Good-bye, Monty.” Devon hung up the phone.

“That sounded like fun,” Meredith noted drily.

“It was just Dad being Dad.” Devon eyed her sister. “I take it he asked to see you?”

“Yeah, he wanted to get together. I can’t. I have a huge paper to write and three exams to study for. As it is, I’ve been ignoring my friends. They’ve been IM-ing me since I left school. I have to go online and answer them.”

“Ah, Instant Messenger. How did Lane and I get through college without it?” Devon’s tone was teasing, but her gaze was serious. “Merry…”

“The cable guy was here,” her sister piped up. “He came by this morning and cleared up the problem you were having with the upper channels. Apparently, it wasn’t just you. It was your whole town-house development.”

“That’s nice.” Devon wasn’t fooled by the attempted distraction. “We have to talk about this.”

“No, we don’t.”

Devon sat down beside her sister. “Try to cut Monty a little slack. He screwed up. He realizes that. He didn’t mean to. He loves you.”

Meredith sighed. “I know that, Dev. I get the whole picture—better than you and Lane think I do. I’m not a kid. I’m an adult. I understand mistakes. I also understand consequences. I’m not angry at Dad. I just don’t have the same bond with him that you and Lane do. It’s no one’s fault. It’s just the way things turned out.”

“Mom’s forgiven him.”

“So have I. That doesn’t erase all the years in between. Besides, don’t compare me to Mom. She’s hardly objective. She’s still crazy about him.”

“I know.” Devon traced the geometric pattern on her comforter with one fingertip.

“And you still think there’s a chance they’ll get back together.”

“Guilty as charged,” Devon freely admitted. “I’ve never seen two people so much in love—even fifteen years after getting divorced.”

“No arguments. But love doesn’t conquer all. Not in real life.”

“You sound like Lane.”

“Well, Lane’s right. The fact is, Mom’s an incredible woman. She deserves someone who’ll put her first. Dad never did.”

“His life’s different now.”

“Is it? He’s all gung ho about this case. He’s got you working it with him. Is this really about Mom and her safety? Or is this just Monty, doing his Dick Tracy thing?”

Devon blew out a weary breath. “You really are bitter.”

“No, I’m realistic. I see Dad for what he is.”

“Then maybe it’s time you accepted him as he is,” Devon suggested softly. She gave Meredith’s arm a squeeze. “Grab a sandwich with him. Talk. Get to know each other. Monty missed out on your childhood. Don’t deprive him of getting to know you as an adult. You’re a terrific, sensitive young woman, Merry. Give him a chance.”

Downstairs, the doorbell rang.

“That’s your date.” Meredith scrambled to her feet. “I’ll let him in.”

“Merry?”

Her sister paused in the doorway. “I’ll think about it. Okay?”

“Okay.”