Page 23 of Meet Me in the Valley
I won’t pretend it doesn’t sting a little. I want to say it’s partially his fault. He loved my mother with everything he had, and look where that shit got him. But I know better and bite my tongue before I say something I’ll regret.
It’s a nice diversion though, I’ll give him that.
“We’re not talking about me right now. We’re talking about you and your weird loyalty to your ex-wife.”
Angry memories rush in, overwhelming every sense as I struggle to steady myself. Only talk of my mother has the power to shake me like this—make me see red.
I see lonely nights. Shouted arguments echoing down hallways. Endless hours spent asking why she betrayed my dad the way she did. Questions without answers that have followed me for years—and probably always will.
How fucked is that?
My temples throb with the dull ache that comes from a conversation going nowhere. This was supposed to be a quick joyride in the cruiser, a chance for us to hang out before he went back to work.
Instead, we’re circling the same tired argument we’ve both outgrown but can’t seem to stop having.
Dad lets out a tired breath and turns onto Main Street, heading toward the diner where I’m meeting Donovan for a late lunch.
“Her name is Diane. Divorced. No kids. She’s a labor and delivery nurse at the hospital in Holly Hill. She’s also the niece of Ms. Lisa over at the station. That’s who set us up.”
This is Dad’s way of saying he doesn’t want to talk about my mother anymore. A white flag. I accept it because I hate arguing with the man I look up to the most. My dad is my hero. I’ll neverunderstand why he won’t move on, but at least he’s going on a date—a step in the right direction.
“That’s nice, Dad. I hope you have a great time.”
He parks the cruiser next to Donovan’s truck right in front of the diner. I see Donovan through the window, already in our usual booth, a cup of coffee in hand. Dad stares ahead for a few seconds before turning his attention to me with a small grin.
“It feels like old times, before you boys had your licenses, and I had to drive all around town to take you places.”
I may be twenty-eight years old, but the look my dad gives me tells me I’m still that little kid with the big imagination, playing cops and robbers in the front seat of his cruiser. I lean over the center console, pulling him in for a hug.
“I love you, Dad.”
“Love you too, Son.”
After two firm pats on the back, he waves me off as I open the door to the diner. The bell rings, and the old bird Mrs. Dickson is practically sprinting toward me. There’s no way to avoid her, so I toss her a charming smile as she slams our chests together, circling her arms around my waist.
She’s been shamelessly flirting with Donovan and I since we were eighteen. It was kind of a running joke at first, but now we think she seriously would bite if we threw her a bone.
“Logan Harper. My, oh my, it is so good to see you. Did you two boys come during my shift on purpose?”
Donovan’s snort is loud enough for the entire diner to hear. No one pays us any mind, though. The whole town knows Mrs. Dickson’s antics. She’s thrice divorced and loves younger men, but she’s truly harmless.
“Of course, Mrs. Dickson. You’re our favorite waitress.”
She squeezes me once more, the overwhelming scent of baby powder tickling my nostrils. She’s always smelled this way, likeshe literally dips her face and neck with it before leaving her house.
Mrs. Dickson gives me a light swat on my bottom with her order pad as I make my way toward Donovan.
“Good to see she hasn’t changed,” I mumble to Donovan, sliding into the vinyl booth across from him.
“Be glad she didn’t kiss you on the cheek. I don’t know what kind of lipstick she wears, but the mark took forever to come off. I ordered for us, by the way.”
I grimace as I watch him scrub his cheek back and forth with his napkin.
“Thanks.”
Throwing his napkin down, Donovan crosses his arms over his chest with a smug smirk on his face. Tilting his head, he tells me with his eyes he has something to give me shit about.
“Spit it out, D.”
