Page 102 of When You Stayed
Oh my God. Was this really happening? I glanced back at my dad, unsure if I were dreaming or insane. His huge smile told me that Bernie had really just offered to sell the Hollow to me.
“I’m—” I started, then cleared the excitement from my throat. “I’m not sure I’d make enough monthly to clear the payments.”
His laugh again made me freeze until his warm hand landed on my shoulder. “Darlin’, you’re going to be making Rodney’s salary, not yours. I never agreed with how little he paid you. You’ll be able to afford the monthly payments and still live comfortably off it.”
I couldn’t believe this was actually happening. My dream was literally about to land in my hands, and I wasn’t sure what to do with it.
“Are you sure?” I asked, fighting the urge to cry. This couldn’t be real.
Bernie lifted his hand and then glanced back at my dad. “I’m as proud of you as I was of your mother, Royce. You both know what this town needs, and this place. I’m honored to leave it in your hands as you’ve really done a lot with it. You might want to check a few of those messages, sounds like a few bands are eager to book a spot here.”
His wink landed like a shooting star, making me follow his retreating form like a starry-eyed girl who had just been told all her dreams had come true. As soon as Bernie was out of the hall, my dad stepped into the room, and while I let out a hiccup, he scooped me into his arms.
“I’m so proud of you, honey. I can’t believe I was able to witness that. I wish your mom was here to have seen that, but goddamn, I’m glad I was.”
My arms were wrapped tightly around his neck, and I ignored how angry I was at him at the moment. I was so excited that he’d been here for such a big moment in my life.
“I knew you’d own this place someday, and I knew you’d do it on your own terms, in your own way.” Dad set me down, and I stepped back, tucking my hair back.
“Dad, you swear to me you had nothing to do with this.”
“I swear it, honey. I know I wasn’t honest about stepping down, but that was a one-off. I swear to you that I, nor Ford, had anything to do with this.”
My eyes found the floor as he searched my face. I wanted to believe him, but I was still so wounded over what he’d done.
He seemed to pick up on it because he stepped closer. “I’m so sorry,Royce. I’m sorry that even for a second you had to doubt believing me. Your mother wasn’t happy with me either, and I don’t blame either of you. I fucked up and all I can do is tell you that as long as it keeps you safe, I won’t ever do it again.”
“Dad, see…” I sighed. “That right there makes it seem like you will do it again.”
“If it keeps you safe, then I won’t.”
My face lowered, but my dad caught it between his hands. “You, your sister, and your mother are my entire world. I live to protect you, and sometimes that protection doesn’t always look like honesty. That’s maybe why you didn’t share with Ford or me about what Nova shared with you about the video, right?”
Dammit. I stared at him, and he jostled my shoulders jokingly. “Am I right? You were keeping Nova safe by omitting really important information to Ford, and to me.”
“Fine, yes.”
“Then you get it. Deep down, you do. You know that both Ford and I love you deeply. But we’ll always work to keep you safe, no matter what it takes.”
I hated that he made me think about this from a different perspective. He was right. If there was something that would keep them safe, or even Taryn, then I’d lie. But only to protect them.
Bumping my dad’s shoulder as we exited the office, I asked, “As long as it isn’t gross, how did you get Mom to forgive you?”
The last thing I needed was an image of my parents doing anything physical as a way to stop fighting. I’d seen and heard them plenty throughout my life, not that they meant to, in fact, they were always careful to guard us from ever experiencing them being in love like that, but the two of them were like a wildfire. Now that I was older, it was actually something I hoped would happen for me someday. To find someone you could be in love with for well over twenty-five years was an incredible concept.
“I told your mother the truth.”
I glanced over at him, my brows dipping as I tried to make sense of that.
“The truth about what?”
“About everything, kiddo. All the scary, terrifying details.” He walked ahead of me as we walked near the bar. Nick was waiting for me, so I knew I had to come back to this conversation, but first, I glanced up at Dad’s solemn face and asked, “Will you tell me too?”
He considered something for a second before he dipped his face. “Yeah, honey. If you give me and Ford another shot, I’ll tell you too.”
That night, I waited in my room for that thud against my door, proving that Ford was there again. He hadn’t come by for dinner, and when I’d turned my phone on, I saw he hadn’t texted me either. He had to deal with his house burning down, so I didn’t expect him to really…but I was worried about him. Or rather, I was worried he’d given up on me. Maybe he’d head to the club and stay there, that’s where he lived now. I’d have to come to terms with that sooner or later.
I could simply text him or call him. But my pride was still too tender.
