Page 101 of Take This Heart
“I’ve been dealing with girls like you my entire life,” shesays. “You think you’re better than everyone else…handed everything on a gold platter and expect the little people to bow to you.” She takes a step closer and I smell her citrusy body wash.
She smells terrific, dammit.
“I don’t know how youthinkyou know me, but I assure you, I’m not the jerkface you’re painting me out to be. Privileged? Yes. Better than everyone else? Not even close. You wanna come after my artwork? Fine. But trying to turn the town against my family is going too far. Do you even know the man you’re siding with? From what I’ve heard, you haven’t known Bruce for very long and this fight that he tries to keep stirred up all the time goes back to ourgrandfathers.” I shake my head. “Why do we have to continue this? It doesn’t have to be this way.”
“Itdidn’tend with our grandfathers,” she says. Her voice is shaky when she adds, “And I may not know Bruce well, but at least he’s claimed me. He’s proud of me and wants to know me—that’s all the reason I need to stand by him.”
She turns and gets in her car, screeching out of my driveway. I stand there confused, staring after her.
What wasthat?
I go inside and look for my dad, but I can’t find him. When I knock on his door, I hear a muffled hello and a little yip from Kevin.
“Dad, are you okay?”
He clears his throat. “Yes.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m gonna rest for a while, okay?”
“Oh, okay. Of course. Sorry. I’ll let you rest.” I pause. “Would you like me to take Kevin?”
“No, he’s good. He’s cuddled up here next to me.”
That makes me smile. “Aw, okay, you two. Get some sleep.”
The morning visits to Milo’s apartment continue throughout the week. My dad has another chemo treatment and my quick morning trip to the cafe before he wakes up is the only reprieve I allow myself. I draw ideas on my sketchpad next to Dad’s bed while he’s napping. This time has been worse. He’s had a rough week. We haven’t even talked about Ava being here—he’s either been sick or sleeping. Milo stops by to visit and to work on the property, but I don’t spend the night at his place, even on Friday night.
He understands that I want to be with my dad and doesn’t push it. Instead, he sneaks candy in for my dad, brings him word finder books and puzzles, and watches movies with us. On Saturday, my brothers come into town and when they walk in, they catch me crying in Dad’s bathroom. Dad’s sitting in a chair in front of the mirror and I’ve shaved one side.
His beautiful wavy white hair has fallen out in chunks this week and this morning, he asked me to take it all off.
Tully is the first one to find us, and then the rest of them file in.
There’s a big hugfest, more tears, and then I get to work. When I’m done with Dad’s head, Tully motions for him to get up and sits in the chair himself.
“All off, please,” he says.
I’m a blubbering mess.
“I do mine too!” Grayson says.
“Oh, let’s keep yours,” Dad says. “You’ve got the best hair!”
Grayson feels Dad’s head and sticks out his lip. “I want to see my head.”
When Tully’s done, Camden sits down and gets his shaved. Noah is next.
“I do mine too!” Grayson says again.
“But your hair is so, so good,” I tell him.
“I like their heads.” He points at Tully and Camden and gasps when I do the first swipe over his dad’s head.
I gulp back tears and Grayson pats my leg.
“It’s okay, Auntie. Dad says hair grows back.”
