Page 42 of Wild Mistake
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“Doing good, Pops?”I glance across the truck cab to check in with my dad.
“I’m fine.” He stares out the window, his voice low as he grumbles. “Same as the last time you asked.”
I bite back a smile. Yeah, I might be a bit overprotective. But with Ryan’s warnings and the disapproving look from his day nurse on our way out the door, I feel the need to check in with Pops an annoying number of times.
He’s doing well. We’ve already taken a drive down to the lake. We parked and walked down to the shoreline for a while. I wish I’d packed the fishing poles and some bait. Though, we’d need licenses to fish. Maybe next time. Our conversation is sparse, but it’s nice having this moment together. Pops was never a big talker anyway. It’s kind of comforting to be in the presence of someone who doesn’t ask a thousand questions or fill every lull in conversation with mindless chatter. With Pops, I can just be.
Not wanting to exhaust him with our little adventure, we get back in the truck to drive to the diner. He smiles when I tell him where we are headed. I want to beat the lunch rush, but I’m not sure that’s going to happen.
If I’m lucky, Sarah will be working. I could have asked now that I have her number. She texted me last night, letting me know she was home safe. But Ryan’s warning swirls in my mind and keeps me from picking up my phone. I don’t know where I stand with Sarah. I’m not sure what I want from her, or what she expects from me. But I do know that I can’t stop thinking about her. That has to mean something.
“What day is it?” Pops asks as we drive the main stretch of highway that runs through town.
“It’s the first. January first.”
“Not that.” He waves a hand and huffs. “What day of the week is it?”
Oh.“It’s Wednesday.”
“Damn.” He frowns.
“Why?” I don’t understand what’s so disappointing about a Wednesday.
“Thursday is raspberry.”
Ah. “Your favorite.” My father loves pie. Always has, and while my mother made a lot of things, on special occasions she always bought one of Marnie’s to surprise him.
“Yeah.” He shrugs. “No matter.”
“What kind of pie do they serve on Wednesdays?” I ask, curious.
“How the hell would I know?” He shrugs. “I always go on a Thursday.”
A bark of laughter bursts from my lips. “That’s fair.”
He smiles.
“We’ll just have to come back again tomorrow,” I say, flashing him a grin. “Mom always bought you raspberry pie.” I never realized that she must have planned ahead, either asking Marnie to hold Pops’ favorite, or remembering to go in on a Thursday. It’s such a small detail, yet it sends an ache through my heart.
“She was a good woman, your mother. The best.” He clears his throat. “I was a lucky man to get to love her and raise a family together.”
My eyes sting. Most days I accept that she’s gone, but sometimes it feels so unfair. “I miss her.”
“Me too, son.” He turns his gaze out the side window and sniffles. He attempts to hide it, but I catch him wiping a tear away. My parents weren’t perfect. No one is. But the love they had for each other is a gift that is still giving, even beyond the grave. It’s touched so many lives, me and my siblings especially. Their love is the kind I’ve spent my life waiting for, because anything less won’t do.
16
SARAH
It’s beenover a week since Aiden’s stopped by the diner. Yes, I’m counting. Every shift I work that he doesn’t come by, I consider sending him a text. I even typed one out, but deleted the words before I hit send.
It shouldn’t bother me. He owes me nothing. But for someone who seemed so intent on inserting himself into my life a week ago, his absence makes me question everything. Was he really interested? Or was he bored and I was available? Did I read too much into his good-natured conversation? Or did he realize he could do better?
Someone who hasn’t missed her daily late afternoon lunch is Rosalie. I try not to stare as she reads her book and takes a bite of her sandwich. I wonder if she and Aiden kissed at midnight the night of Ryan and Val’s New Year’s party. Maybe they’re dating. Maybe I missed my chance. Jealousy swirls in my belly at that possibility, followed quickly by shame.
My imagination is running wild, and Aiden is allowed to date anyone he wants.
