Chapter 19
CHAPTER NINETEEN
BAILEY
I ’m in my car, well, Tanner’s car, but it’s sort of become mine, waiting for Dad at the airport. I see him walk out, and I wave to get his attention.
He smiles as he sees me. It’s been a few weeks since the funeral. He looks well, not like a man who has been home crying his eyes out. I’m relieved to see him this way. I wasn’t sure what to expect.
After placing several large bags in the trunk, he gets into the car and leans over to hug me. “Hi, love. Wow, this is a nice ride.”
I place the car into gear and head out of the airport. “It belongs to the Montgomerys. I drive Harper a lot, so they prefer her to be driven in this. And I need transportation to and from his house.”
“ His house?”
I nod. “Yes, they’re divorced. He’s a single father, though sometimes I help out the mom too if she’s stuck at work.”
“I see. And he flew to Mommy’s funeral with you. That’s…interesting. I didn’t get to chat with him at all. You guys left so quickly after the fu neral.”
“I was helping him with Harper and her friend out in Colorado when you called about Mom. I told you I was going there. His ex-wife had just arrived for her week out there with Harper. We were supposed to fly home to Philly, and he moved our flights. He was concerned Kam wouldn’t come. He was offering a shoulder to cry on. We’re friends.”
“Hmm. And your sister was with…a boyfriend? I only met him briefly.”
“I’m not sure what they are, but he’s kind of perfect for her. He matches her crazy.”
“Was it Cruz Gonzales, the baseball player? She introduced him as kitten.”
I let out a laugh. “Yes, it was Cruz Gonzales. His nickname is Cheetah so she calls him kitten to mess with him.”
“Well, that sounds like your sister. Are you seeing anyone?”
I hate lying to him, so I keep it vague. “Now and then. Nothing serious.”
I nod my head toward the trunk. “Not that I don’t welcome a long stay, but you said it was going to be two nights. That you couldn’t get any more time off work. Why all the luggage?”
“I brought some of Mommy’s things and other household items that I thought you and Kamryn might want. If you don’t, we can donate them.”
“It looked like you were emptying the house when I was there, and now all this stuff. Are you moving?”
“Let’s talk about that when we’re with your sister.”
“Okay. I made up my room for you. I’ll sleep with Kam in her room. I assume you have no interest in her waterbed.”
He lets out a laugh. “I can’t believe she finally has one. She asked for that every single year for her birthday. That and a puppy.”
“I wouldn’t bring up the puppy.” We had one for a few weeks until my mother’s antics were the end of that. Kam is still salty about it twenty years later. “It’s her second waterbed since we’ve been here.” I hold up my hand and smile. “You don’t want to know what happened to the first.”
He chuckles. “Your sister. Out of control since day one.” He pats my hand. “It’s a good thing you’re always so sensible. She’s lucky to have you looking out for her. She’d probably be in jail if not for you.”
Truer words have never been spoken.
We park and head up to our apartment. Kam is waiting with takeout Chinese food boxes spread all over the kitchen table. She pulls Dad into a big hug, but I place my hands on my hips. “I thought you said you were cooking tonight since I’m cooking at the Montgomerys’ house for everyone tomorrow night.”
Tanner invited us over with Dad.
She shrugs. “When have you ever seen me cook a meal in our entire lives? Cooking is a man’s job. It’s pronounced coo KING , not coo QUEEN .”
“You’re absurd.”
“We’re not ten. You don’t need to kiss his ass. You’re fine with Chinese food, right, Daddy?”
Dad smirks. “I’ve missed the two of you and your bickering. You used to go at it constantly. And it feels like years since we’ve sat down to a meal. I don’t care what it is. I’m just happy we’re together.”
Kam crosses her arms in satisfaction. “Told ya so. And, Daddy, we haven’t eaten together in years because you always carried around that baggage called Beverly. Now that the witch is burning in the pits of hell, we can be a normal family who eats meals and spends holidays together.”
He blows out a breath. “Let’s move past the Mommy-bashing. You two hadn’t seen her in ten years.”
Kam waves her hand. “It’s fine. She and I had a little graveside chat. I said everything I needed to say to her. First time she listened to me her whole life.”
Kam stayed behind at the grave. I could see her yelling and screaming at our freshly buried mother. It was hard to watch. Tanner pulled me away, and Cheetah dealt with Kam that day.
We sit and begin eating before Dad clears his throat. “Listen, girls, I want to talk to you about something. I’ve wanted to talk to you about it for a long time. There were a few things about your mother you never knew. Before you jump down my throat, I am not condoning her behavior. She was a shitty mother, plain and simple.”
Kam and I look at each other. He’s never admitted that to us.
He continues. “She was sick. She suffered from mental illness, depression, abuse of pain meds, and alcoholism. The booze only made her depression worse. It was a vicious cycle with no end. She wasn’t the woman I knew when we were kids. The one I fell for. Her diseases and demons overtook her until she was unrecognizable, even to me.”
Kam grabs his hand. “Why didn’t you leave her, Daddy? You could have found someone else. You could have had more kids.”
He briefly closes his eyes. When he reopens them, I see they’re filled with tears. “I did find someone else. After you girls left for college, I started seeing someone. Your mother knew about this person. I stayed with your mom as a caretaker, not a husband. I’ve been with a wonderful companion for about ten years now.” He swallows. “I hope you don’t think less of me.”
Tears spill down my cheeks as Kam and I silently communicate. I know she’s thinking the same thing I am. “We would never think less of you. Honestly, we’re relieved. We want you to be happy. You deserve a woman who can give you that.”
“That’s the thing. It’s not a…woman.”
Kam’s face lights up. “You’re into men?”
He nods.
“I’m a chip off the old block. Best day ever. Let your freak flag fly, Daddy. I’m with you.”
He shakes his head at her and then looks at me for a response. I admit, “It actually makes a lot of sense. If you found someone who you love and you’re happy, I personally don’t care if it’s a man, woman, or anything else. But, Daddy, why after all this time? How long have you known?”
My heart breaks for him that he’s been in the closet all these years.
“I grew up in a different era. I think I always knew but didn’t always accept it. Your mother was beautiful back in the day. You girls look so much like her.”
Kam scrunches her face. “Ugh. She looked like a saddlebag with eyes.”
“The years of alcohol abuse took their toll on her. You know full well that when she was younger, she was stunning like you two.”
Kam rolls her eyes. She knows he’s right.
“We were high school sweethearts. She followed me to college. I experimented a bit while there but always maintained a relationship with her. When she fell pregnant with you two, I did the right thing. I married her. I don’t regret any of it because it gave me the two most precious gems in the world, but when you two left for college, I decided that I would no longer hide myself. That’s when I met Ray. I spend most of my free time with him, but I couldn’t leave your mother to fend for herself. She had no other family, and I couldn’t afford a hospital. I took care of her and spent time with Ray. He’s been understanding, but now I’m going to officially move in with him. I’m selling the house. The bags I brought are a lot of our belongings and some of your awards and trophies from over the years. Take what you want and do as you please with the rest. Ray’s house is beautiful. I don’t need to bring anything but my clothes.”
Kam wiggles her eyebrows. “Is he hot? Can we see pictures? When can we meet him? I need to meet the man who makes my father happy. Maybe a little interrogation too. I need to make sure his intentions are honorable.”
Dad sighs. “Perhaps I’ll bring him with me on my next visit, or perhaps you two will actually come home now that…things are different. ”
I stand and wrap my arms around him. “I’m so happy for you. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Kam hugs him too and loudly whispers in his ear, “Want to get matching rainbow flag tattoos?”
Dad simply shakes his head at her like he did a million times when we were growing up.
TANNER
Bailey’s father is in town and, without thinking it through, I invited her to bring him over for dinner. She loves to cook in my gourmet kitchen and was excited to do so for him. She was equally excited to introduce him to Harper.
I suppose I knew he had her when he was young, but I didn’t think about it until I met him. Chris Hart is only a few years older than me. Bailey and Kamryn look like him, with dark brown hair and big brown eyes, though Bailey has mentioned resembling their mother when she was much younger. His hair is graying similarly to mine. He’s a good-looking guy with an athletic build like the girls, though I think living a tougher life has worn on him a bit more than usual.
After seeing her childhood home and from some things Bailey has said in the past, I know they grew up with more limited means. I wanted to provide them with a great meal but didn’t want to insult him by paying for dinner at a fancy restaurant. I went all out in my grocery shopping though, hoping that was more palatable. And Bailey loves to cook here.
Bailey mentioned to me once that she and her father are the ones who made dinner for her family since her mother was never sober enough to do so.
Kamryn and Harper are playing cards at the kitchen table while Bailey and her father work together to make the meal. They move around each other as though they’ve done it a thousand times before. It’s endearing. The mutual affection they share is clear.
I’m trying to be helpful, but I’m in the way more than I’m not. I decide it best to simply stand back and observe.
I catch Kamryn talking about a full house. I snap my head toward them. “Are you teaching her poker? I thought you were playing Go Fish.”
Kamryn rolls her eyes. “Go Fish is for babies and it’s mindless. Any idiot can play. Right, Harper?”
Harper nods. “Yeah. Any idiot can play Go Fish. Kam says that poker is a thinking person’s game and I’m too smart to play kid’s games.”
I see their father smile at the interaction. “I taught the girls how to play poker when they were around Harper’s age. Maybe even a little younger. Their minds were always way more mature than their years. They took to it quickly.” He chuckles. “They’ve hustled quite a few decent players out of cash over the years.”
I smile as I look at Bailey. “I didn’t know you played.”
She raises an eyebrow. “You never asked.”
I mouth, “Brat,” to her and she winks.
I admit, “I suppose I didn’t. We’ll have to play sometime.”
I catch her smirk while looking down. “You don’t stand a chance, Mr. Montgomery.”
Chris nods. “I’m telling you, Tanner, the girls are very good. Better than I am at this point. And Kam can count cards. I always swore I’d take her to Vegas one day.”
Kamryn yells out from the table, “We should all play after dinner. It will be better for Harper to learn in a big group.”
I nod. “Game on. I play with a group of clients every few weeks.”
Kamryn scoffs. “Clients as in Layton, Cheetah, Vance, and Daylen? Those morons wouldn’t know a good hand if it smacked them in their faces. Dad played a weekly game when we were really little. Then he started bringing us, and we’d wipe those nimrods clean. They never knew what was coming. Suckers. They stopped inviting him after a while.”
Chris smiles as he shakes his head. “They stopped inviting me because you two hustled them out of their paychecks. And you were nine. They saw two young girls and assumed they knew nothing. The girls would tank the first few games and lose a few dollars. Then they’d insist on upping the ante with their modeling money and take those guys for hundreds of dollars.” He chuckles as he says it with a huge dose of pride. I don’t blame him. I’d feel the same if it were Harper.
Kamryn and Bailey share bemused looks. Kamryn says, “We did it in college too. All the time. That’s how we made beer money. It was like taking candy from a baby. Men are idiots. Always underestimating the Hart girls.”
My lips twist. “Hmm. Perhaps we should play with candy instead of cash tonight.”
Bailey giggles. “Are you scared of little ol’ us, Mr. Montgomery?”
I admit, “A little.”
Bailey looks around like she’s searching for something and then innocently says, “Can you grab me the big spatula, Daddy?”
Without thinking, I answer, “Sure,” at the exact same time their father answers, “No problem.”
Bailey’s eyes immediately widen. Kamryn spits out in laughter and mutters, “Holy shit. ”
Harper gasps, fortunately blissfully unaware of what just happened. “That’s ten dollars in the swear jar, Kam.”
Kamryn grins widely as she pulls a ten-dollar bill out of her pocket and hands it to Harper. Staring straight at me, and with a wide grin, she announces, “Totally worth it. Best ten dollars I ever spent. We used to have one of those swear jars growing up. Right, Daddy ? To be clear, I meant Chris Hart, not you, Mr. Montgomery. ”
I mumble something about being used to Harper calling me Daddy. I can’t look Chris in the eyes right now. I feel like he’ll see right through me and know all the dirty things I’m doing to his daughter.
After a slightly awkward dinner where I could practically see Chris’s eye twitching, we’re playing poker now. Bailey told him she’d drive and that he should enjoy some of my good whiskey and cigars. It seems to have relaxed him. That, or he’s doing a better job masking his warranted contempt for me.
He looks around my man cave. “This is a great setup, Tanner.”
“Thank you. It’s my sanctuary. I’m a bit of a workaholic and—”
Bailey interrupts, “Only when you don’t have Harper. Otherwise, you’re an attentive father, just like ours was. Trust me, it matters.”
Kamryn asks, “Is your ex-wife a deadbeat mother like Beverly was?”
Chris gives her a disapproving look. “Cut it out, Kamryn.”
Bailey motions toward Harper indicating that Kamryn needs to zip her lips, and then says, “Fallon is a wonderful mother. She misses nothing. She works like a dog when Mr. Montgomery has Harper so she’s completely available to Harper when she has her. And regardless of where Harper is staying, Fallon comes to every game and recital.” She smiles at Harper. “I hope to be as good of a mom one day as your mom.”
I squeeze her leg under the table in appreciation. And then her words sink in. Bailey wants to be a mother one day. What the hell am I doing with her? I’m done having kids. Maybe it’s time to end this for Bailey’s sake. She won’t see anyone else while she’s with me. How will she find the right man if she spends all her free time with me? I know I’m being selfish, but I’m just not ready to let her go yet.
BAILEY
I throw my would-be winning hand on the table face down as I fold. Shaking my head, I say, “Darn. You win again, Harper. Are you sure you haven’t played before?”
Harper has a huge smile on her adorable little face as she proudly displays her two pairs. “Read ‘em and weep, suckers.” Something she learned from my sister tonight.
Kam is about to interrupt with a better hand when I grab her arm and grit out, “You should fold too, sis.”
She narrows her eyes at me. She hates losing, especially fake losing, but eventually relents and throws her cards down. “Fine. Last time I lose though.”
I smile innocently. “No problem. It’s past Harper’s bedtime, and we should get going. I’m sure Mr. Montgomery has work to do.”
Dad stands and holds out his hand to Tanner. “Thank you for having us. This was quite a treat. ”
Porterhouse steaks were definitely not a regular dinner in our house growing up. Tanner went overboard on the food tonight.
Tanner smiles and shakes his hand in return. “My pleasure.” He places his hand on Harper’s shoulder. “We consider ourselves lucky to have Bailey. She’s remarkable. I see the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.”
Harper walks over and hugs my waist before pouting. “I go to Mommy’s tomorrow, so I won’t see you for three days. I’ll miss you.”
I bend down and hug her back. “I’ll miss you too, baby girl. Remember, you can FaceTime me from Mommy’s phone whenever you want. I’m only a call away.”
She nods. After we say our goodbyes, we head out to the car. Kam offers, “Daddy, why don’t you sit up front? I’m sure you have lots to talk to Bails about.”
I narrow my eyes at her, but she simply smiles.
We get settled in, and I pull the car out of the driveway.
He blows out a breath. “Bailey, you’ve always been so level-headed. Do you think spending time with a much older man is a good idea? One who you work for.”
Kam makes a sound of disgust. “Ugh, that’s it? I waited all night for this conversation and the best you can do is,” in a deep voice she repeats, “’do you think spending time with a much older man is a good idea?’”
Dad rarely gets angry, but he turns back to Kam. “Butt out and mind your own damn business, Kamryn. I expect this shit from you but not from her.”
Kam sucks in a breath. I can count on one hand how many times in our lives my father has spoken to either of us this way. She leans back and remains quiet. Both are waiting for me to respond.
Tears fill my eyes at the thought of disappointing him. “I’m sorry you feel that way. You, more than anyone, know that you can’t help who you love.”
Kam spits out, “Love? Are you fucking nuts? Bang him and get it out of your system. You don’t fall in love with a guy like Tanner Montgomery.”
I briefly turn back and glare at her. “A responsible, kind, smart, handsome, sweet man?” I sarcastically add, “I must truly be crazy to fall for a man like that. Maybe it’s not headed anywhere, but there are real feelings involved. Is it better to hop around from meaningless encounter to meaningless encounter like you?”
Kam counters, “You don’t know shit about me.”
Our father rubs his forehead. “Girls, don’t fight.” His face softens as he looks at me. “I’m worried about you, sweetheart. You’re from separate worlds and at different points in your life. He’s so much older than you. You’re still a kid.”
I squeeze the steering wheel in frustration. “I’m not a kid. I’m a twenty-eight-year-old grown woman. I can more than handle myself. Right now, he makes me happy. I make him happy too. As long as we’re both happy, there’s no reason to change things.”
Kam shoots back, “Then why keep it a secret? Why are you ashamed?”
“I’m not ashamed, but there’s Harper to consider. She’s attached to me. I would never jeopardize her well-being. There’s no reason for her to know anything right now. It’s still newish and our future is uncertain.”
Not completely the truth, but I’m not getting into a deeper discussion with them about this when I’m not exactly sure what we are myself.
The problem is that she’s not wrong. It’s getting harder and harder to hide. I know he’s said he doesn’t want anything real, but like it or not, we’re real. He must feel it too. Maybe it’s time to talk to Tanner about telling Harper and the world that we’re together.
Dad asks, “And you don’t feel pressured because it’s your job, right? You feel safe?”
I roll my eyes. “Of course, Dad. I made the first move, not him.”
He scrunches his nose in disgust. “I didn’t need to hear that. ”
Later that night, Kam and I are in bed together, staring at the ceiling, when she takes my hand in hers. “Are you sure you know what you’re doing? I thought you were just fucking around. I should have known you’d catch real feelings. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
I squeeze her hand in return. “I’ll be okay. Thanks. I’m happier than I’ve ever been with a man in my entire life. There’s something special about the way we click.”
“And the sex?”
I turn toward her and can’t help the smile that creeps onto my lips. “The best of my life. By a mile. He’s kind of a freak in bed. Like BDSM shit, Kam. Can you believe I’m into that?”
“Umm, no, I can’t. Thank fuck you’re finally telling me. I didn’t know what to make of your secrecy.” She turns and smiles at me. “Dad’s going to sit home every night tossing and turning over your safety, meanwhile you’ll be tied up in Tanner’s bed begging him to spank and choke you.”
I burst into laughter. “It’s funny ‘cause it’s true.”
Her face turns a bit more serious. “It’s not your orgasms I’m worried about. It’s your heart. You have the biggest heart of anyone I know. You still believe in fairy tales and happily ever afters. I don’t want you to become jaded like me. Hardened. Love is pain. Look at Ripley. She’s a mess.”
“But look at Arizona. She’s living proof that fairy tales happen. That happily ever afters exist.”
“I don’t know any fairy tales that begin with, so…I started banging the father of the kid I babysit .”
“I’m not saying this is my happily ever after, Kam.” Though I’m hopeful. “He’s my happy for now. We’ll see what happens.”
“Okay. I’m here for you. Whatever you need, whenever you need it. You jump, I jump.”
“I know.”
It’s quiet for a moment before she asks, “Do you really call him Daddy?”
I can’t help the smile that finds my lips.
She fans her face. “Fuck, that’s so hot.”
I bite my lip. “You have no idea. He’s so domineering. He knows how to make me see stars.”
She blows out a breath. “I just want to make sure you’re okay and that we’re not headed toward a disaster. I feel like this might be as dumb as Ben and J Lo not having a prenup.”
I smile at her attempt to lighten the conversation. “No matter what happens with Tanner and me, nothing can ever possibly be as dumb as Ben and J Lo not having a prenup.”
We giggle as she talks me into giving her a few more details about our sex life.