Page 75 of Tart
“There’s nothing wrong with being a small-town girl, Athena,” I said firmly. “I’ve lived here my entire life, and this town has taken care of me. Never underestimate the power of a small town.”
She nodded and bit her lip. “I know, but the problem is, there aren’t any culinary schools in small towns. They’re all in big cities.”
“Okay, so you find the smallest big city you can,” Bishop said to drag a laugh from Athena.
“You do know that St. Paul College has a culinary school, right?” I asked, leaning forward. “I mean, it’s not San Diego, but they’ve turned out some very successful chefs, including the incredibly talented Haylee Pearson.”
“They do?” Athena asked, and I nodded. “I didn’t know that, but it’s still a big city.”
“It’s a big city that’s a twenty-minute drive from here,” Bishop added. “You wouldn’t have to live there. You could live here and drive there.”
“If you want, I’d be happy to take you to the bakery tomorrow to talk to Haylee about it. She’d love to tell you stories about her days at the school. The good news is, she’s not too old to remember them or for them to still be relevant.”
Athena laughed then, resting her head back on the chair with a smile. “I’d like that. I need to figure something out before I talk to Mom. She doesn’t do well without a plan.”
“Which is my fault,” Bishop said softly. “When you came along, her plan suddenly changed, and she was without one. She didn’t pivot well, and it twisted her into this regimented person who doesn’t roll well with the punches. It’s not her fault, sweetheart. It’s mine.”
Athena blinked twice and shook her head. “I know you’ve always felt that way, Daddy, and I might only be an eighteen-year-old kid, but I did have sex education. I’m worldly enough to know that it takes two to tango, and Mom was a willing participant in my creation. You have to let some of that guilt go for what happened when you were a kid. God, Daddy. It’s been eighteen years. Mom’s been married for ten of them. Just forgive yourself for whatever you think you did wrong. When things went wrong,” she said, emphasizing went, “you stepped up to the plate and faced your responsibility. Everything you did was in my best interest, even when it cost you the most. I know Mom doesn’t hold you responsible for her being a teen parent. She wishes you’d stop carrying the guilt as much as I do. Hell, even Ken thinks you punish yourself too hard and too long. Live a little. Laugh a little. Take chances. I’m all grown up now. You’ve done your job. Stop acting like it didn’t all work out in the end.”
Bishop sat back as if he’d been slapped, his back rigid. “I need to take a walk,” he said, clearing his throat as he stood. Before I could stop him, he was gone down the hill and out of sight.
Athena moaned, shaking her head on the chair. “I screwed up, didn’t I?”
I leaned back on the seat and sighed. Bishop was a big boy, and he just needed time. I’d give it to him. “No, you didn’t screw up. You were honest. Honesty hurts sometimes. I’ve learned that over the last few months being married to your dad. What you just said freed him of a lot of shit he’s carried around for years. I’ve tried to tell him the same things, but it’s going to be harder to ignore coming from you. Your absolution of the crime he thinks he committed now requires him to end the sentence he gave himself. He can’t claim his decision that day was a failure. He didn’t fail. You’re a bright, beautiful, sweet soul who doesn’t blame him for what happened. He’s going to struggle with making that change in his mindset. He will get there, though. I promise.”
“I hope so,” she whispered with her eyes on the fire. “I don’t want it to mess up your marriage. Daddy’s done that for a lot of years.”
“Done what?” I asked, confused.
“Pushed women away. Pretended like my existence in the world was the reason he couldn’t stay with any of the women he dated. He claimed none of them wanted to deal with a single dad. I’m sure some didn’t, but I don’t buy that every woman he dated ran for the hills when they learned of my mere existence. I don’t want that to happen to you.”
“He can try, but he won’t succeed,” I promised, giving her a wink.
It was at that moment that I realized I was in this marriage for the long haul, whether he liked it or not.
Seventeen
