Perfect Bastard (Mason Creek)

“Why didn’t you use the money?” I asked.

She sighed and bit her lip. “I guess when I left, I wanted to know I could make it on my own. I never had that chance. I went from living at home with my parents to living with your dad.”

What she shared only reinforced that Dad wasn’t the cold-hearted bastard he made himself out to be. Granted, he probably hadn’t given her enough money. Probably should have been nicer and treated her far better than when he had her. He was struggling now without her. And though he hadn’t ever said it that I recalled, he still loved her.

Lunch went well with them, chattering about their plans for the wedding, the move and travel. I left knowing Mom was in good hands even if not all of Tom’s kids were a hundred percent on board. She’d win them over in the end. Mom didn’t care about Tom’s money. He’d pursued her. And damn it, you couldn’t make everyone happy.

On the way back home, Haley called. “Did you do it?” she asked.

“Do what?”

“Did your dad do it?”

“I can’t answer if I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said.

“The dollhouse. Did you get Zoe the dollhouse for Christmas?”

“No…” I trailed off, remembering earlier when I’d dropped Zoe off. She’d insisted on walking by the shop that had the most amazing dollhouse I would have envied as a child. I’d let her stop and look as I took a quick call. Then I’d walked her to the diner. When I’d come back, Nathaniel had been there. He could have seen Zoe looking at the dollhouse. I feared if I told Haley what I suspected, the dollhouse might get tossed in the trash. “No. It wasn’t me,” I said.

But it would be a few weeks before I’d ask the man if he’d been the one to do it.

TEN

Nate

The joy on Emma’s face made the last few days worth it. Jean got the painter to come out. Haven’s specialty was realistic portraits of people. Somehow Jean had convinced her to try her hand at cartoon animals. Her husband, who had in fact been a priest, had been amused when she went with a Noah’s Ark motif. I couldn’t have asked for better. I’d put together furniture and moved out the old.

“The store owner said she would buy the unused furniture,” I explained to Aiden and Emma.

Emma looked up at Aiden and when their eyes locked, he said, “I think we’ll take it to my parents’. When the kids are there, they’ll have something to sleep in.”

Then Aiden pulled me aside and put a hand on my shoulder. “Really, man, I can’t thank you enough. The room, the tree.”

I’d decorated the Christmas tree, thinking they’d be busy with the twins on their hands. “It’s not a problem.” Now, if only the ranch could come together so easily.

He held up a hand. “Wait. There’s something Emma and I want to ask you.”

She’d wandered off, rocking her son, and when they came back, Aiden had his daughter in his arms.

Emma held my gaze. “We want you to be godfather to Libby and Linus.”

My brows shot up because I would have never guessed that was what they wanted to talk to me about.

“Well?” Aiden said.

I widened my smile. “Heck, yeah.”

They came in for the group hug and I looked down at the twins. It was a big responsibility, but I felt honored they would ask me.

Weeks flew by. I spent more and more time at the ranch. I wanted to give the new parents space. Plus, with crews working around the clock, I needed to be there to answer any questions that might come up.

Everything was the same, yet different. A few walls had been removed and doorways widened in the event Dad would need to get around by wheelchair. I’d stained the floors lighter, brighter. The wiring and the plumbing had all been updated. I just needed the county to approve.

I’d redesigned the guest room in the back and changed the laundry room into a full bath that attached to what was now a master suite. This way, Dad wouldn’t have to go upstairs.

Upstairs, one bedroom had been cut up to make a new laundry room and a bathroom for my brother’s room. The hall bath had been converted into an attached bathroom for my bedroom. Dad’s master would be the room for the live-in nurse, leaving just one small guest bedroom and bath upstairs.

I ran my hand along the wall, grateful, no matter that the renovation had cost me an arm and a leg. Part of that was because of my timeline. I’d promised bonuses if the work was done before Christmas. Crews were working day and night. We were on track to finish in time. Mostly it was finishing touches left, like paint.