Page 28 of Wood Riddance
The day had been a long one, and Merry’s troubles weighed heavily on me. So the last thing I wanted to do was attend a family meeting with my brothers. It would only add to that weight. But when Owen texted, he swore that it was important. He was doing all he could to work out the financial side of things for us, while I was messing around with drones and flirting with my sort-of boss.
So I guess I could hear him out.
Merry was bopping around in the back seat of the truck, energized after her nap with that yappy dog.
“You should ask her on a date,” she said, taking her headphones off.
“Who?”
“Miss Gagnon. She’s nice and has a dog. And she’s tall, like you.”
The smile that spread across my face was a genuine one, even if they’d been hard to muster lately. I appreciated her priorities.
“Not gonna do that, kiddo. She’s my boss. And it’s complicated.”
With a hum, she watched the scenery go by out her window, like she was considering my argument, but after a moment of silence, she ignored it completely. One of her go-to negotiation tactics.
“I mean it, Dad. She’s a little bit scary. Which is a good match for you.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because you look scary too. On the outside. You’ve got all those tattoos, and you’re super tall. But on the inside, you are so sweet and awesome. I think Miss Gagnon is like that too.”
My heart just about melted. This kid was constantly rocking my world. She did not miss a single detail, and her heart was so big.
I turned down Main Street, trying really hard not to pull over and give her a hug and complain that she was growing up too fast. These days, I was lamenting that constantly. I swore that five minutes ago, she was crawling, or we were worried that she wasn’t speaking in full sentences yet.
Now she was doling out wisdom and routinely kicking my ass.
“Mom is really happy with Mike. And they’re gonna get married.”
“I’m happy for them.” My reply was an honest and easy one. Merry had adapted well to Mike and, as far as I could tell, wasn’t pining for her mom and me to get back together. “Your mom is my best friend,” I said, glancing at her in the rear-view mirror. “I want her to have a wonderful husband and a wonderful life.”
“But what about you, Dad? I want you to have a wife. That way you can have a wonderful life too.”
Jesus. I almost swerved off the road at the certainty in her tone.
“I don’t need a wife.”
“Sure you do. I’m already ten. I’m gonna grow up and go to college and become a teacher and a singer and a fashion designer and a veterinarian someday. I’ll be busy. You need a wife to keep you company when I’m gone.”
I smiled at her in the rear-view mirror. “Sounds like you will be super busy.”
“That’s why you need a wife. But I think you should start with a girlfriend.”
“That sounds wise.” I nodded, biting back a smile.
“Yes. Kind of like how I keep asking for a dog and you tell me to start with a goldfish, even though that’s boring and not really what I want.”
Her logic was impeccable, and every one of her arguments, though unrealistic, made my heart swell a little more. My girl was nothing if not persistent and thoughtful.
“That’s why you should go on a date with Miss Gagnon and see if she wants to be your girlfriend.”
“Mm-hmm.” I hummed noncommittally, desperate for this conversation to end and relieved when the sign outside Alicia’s neighborhood came into view ahead.
Merry left it at that as I navigated down the street and pulled into the driveway, praying the conversation was over.
“And,” Merry said, grabbing her backpack from the seat beside her, clearly not as ready as I was to leave this topic behind, “if aliens invade, she could fight them off and protect you.”
