Page 29 of Property of Gray

“I think it gives her something to do. Besides, you know she thinks of you like one of her own. She can’t stand the thought of you coming home and eating a microwave dinner.”

“Fair enough, but you’ve got to be tired.” I walk up to the back porch and pull her in for a hug.

“I wasn’t planning to stay. The front door was unlocked, so I put the food in the oven and set a timer for you.”

“Did you eat anything yet?”

She shakes her head.

“Come set the table while I try to wake the old asshole up.”

Willow knows all about my home life. I’ve spent too many nights crashing on her grannie’s couch as a teen for her not to know. Hell, everyone in this town calls my dad Crazy ol’ Bill. I’m just grateful he no longer drives or has access to a vehicle. Fletcher threatened to take away the keys to his tractor if he drove it into town again after he got drunk and crashed it into the drive-thru at the carryout. My dad is lucky that our sheriff is one of Grannie Mag’s boys and that I’m best friends with his brother.

Anyone else would have locked his ass up. Instead, Fletcher called me to pick him up from the station. Woods drove his ass home, and I had to drive the tractor home. It’s been parked in the barn ever since then.

I leave Willow in the kitchen, thankful that I had cleaned before she showed up. Not that I mind her coming or the meal, but the way my father leaves shit is embarrassing.

I wash my face and hands and prepare myself for what I might find in his room. The mess downstairs is always just a teaser for the horror that awaits in his room.

I brace myself, always prepared for the possibility of the day I will find him dead, whether it’s from organ failure, a stroke, or an unfortunate accident. I know that one day it will happen. The way he lives his life, it’s inevitable. I made my peace with it a long time ago.

I push his door open and find him snoring in his bed.

I’d be a liar if I said I’m not relieved to see he’s breathing.

I love the man and hate him at the same time.

He gave me life. Taught me to be a man. Maybe not a good one, but he never walked out. Not like my mother did. She left, and it wasn’t until I was already an adult before she reached out to see if I was even alive. If it wasn’t for Woods and the club, I’d probably be dead.

“Yo, Pops.” I shake his foot, careful not to startle him. He’s got PTSD from his time in the Army. I know what he saw during his tour of duty is what drove him to drink. Like I said, I love and hate him at the same time. “Come on. Get up and take a shower. Dinner will be ready soon.”

He does a slow blink and coughs. “Hey, son.”

“Willow’s here. She brought lasagna.”

“Okay.” It’s moments like this I always long for. Sober him and drunk him are like daylight and dark. He’ll function like this for a few days, then something will trigger him and he’ll drink too fuckin’ much and act like the world’s greatest asshole.

When he pulls that shit, I take off. The club keeps me busy and gives me the means to keep the farm even if it’s no longer operational. Maybe one day I’ll get it running again.

Back in the kitchen, I find Willow making a pitcher of sweet tea and another of lemonade.

“You don’t have to do that.” I wrap my arms around her from behind. “But thank you.”

“Of course.”

I kiss her neck then hear the washing machine starting up. “Babe.”

“Hmm.” She measures out more sugar for the tea.

“Did you put my clothes in the wash?” I grin and kiss the shell of her ear.

“Your stuff was lying there, so I thought I’d help out just a teeny bit.”

“I don’t need you to take care of me.”

She’s been doing shit like this since she learned how to drive. She’d hop on a four-wheeler to bring us dinner or a pie. Grannie Mags has always kept me fed. On that thought, I open the fridge and glance back at her as she hums to herself, stirring the tea.

“I take it this was your doing?”