Page 21 of Hopeless Romantic
“Oh my, you’re right. Sometimes my mind runs away from me, and common courtesy goes right out the . . .” He turned to Beckett. “I thought you were taking him.”
“No. I’m taking Gregory to the Richardsons’ for their first bonding session,” she said, ignoring the ache forming behind her ribs. “You’re taking Thomas to class as specified on the family calendar, your personal calendar, and the sticky note I hung on your studio door this morning.”
Jeffery blinked in rapid succession, his lips curling down in distress. He looked as scared as a lost kid in a closing amusement park. “If I have the truck, how will you get the chicken, his cage, and the Thai food to the other side of town?”
Beckett froze. She’d been so focused on her emotions over Gregory’s overnighter, she hadn’t thought through an actual game plan for getting him to the sleepover. When she’d scheduled the rehoming, art class had been on Tuesday. But when the new semester began last month, the class was moved to a new location and night. “I’ll call an Uber.”
“Nonsense,” Jeffery said, his relief palpable. “Why don’t you take the truck?”
“Because Thomas needs to socialize. Next week is the class field trip to the museum. Tonight’s assignment and talk will help prep him for what to expect.”
If anything, that should get Jeffery’s attention. He detested surprises so much, he’d once checked himself into the hospital, feigning a heart attack, because he caught wind his then-wife had a surprise birthday party waiting for him at home.
“What about the rooster?” Jeffery asked. “He needs to be placed with his new family as soon as possible, before he becomes too attached to this one. The longer you postpone this sleepover, the longer he’s here, and the harder it will be to say goodbye.”
The soft look he sent her made her eyes sting. Her dad wasn’t worried about Gregory so much as Beckett. She played it tough, but every pet that passed through their doors brought its own heartbreak. It was why she maintained a strict three-month policy when it came to her fosters. Any longer, and she wouldn’t be able to let go. And since there was only room enough for one full-time companion in Casa de Hayes, Beckett did what she could to maintain a professional distance.
“I’ve got it,” Annie said. “Beckett can take my car. You can drop it back by my place later.”
“I can’t do that.” Beckett stuck her hands behind her back when Annie dangled her keys enticingly. Not the most mature of moves, but effective.
“You can. Just stick out your hands.” When Beckett did no such thing, Annie pried them out and forced her to take the keys. “And look at that.” Annie clapped in delight. “Now, Jeffery can take Thomas, you can take Gregory, and all is worked out.”
“How willyouget home?” Jeffery asked Annie.
Annie shrugged, unconcerned. “I’ll call Emmitt. He loves to drive me around. It gives him the impression he has a say in matters.”
Both women looked at Jeffery, who gave a noncommittal smile.
Beckett sighed. “You’ve got this, Dad?”
“Sure he does,” Annie encouraged. “To art class. Home from art class. Easy peasy, Mr. Hayes. Beckett was so sweet, she even brought home pizza, so you don’t have to worry about fixing dinner when you get home.”
Jeffery pushed his glasses farther up on his nose. “Right. Pizza. That was nice of you.”
“Dad?”
Beckett’s stomach churned as she waited for him to respond. Nothing about this arrangement left her feeling confident. Left to his own devices for a minute, Jeffery would squirrel, and Thomas wouldn’t make it to class. No class meant no field trip. And Beckett had double-booked clients that afternoon, knowing Thomas would be in good hands.
“I’ll cancel,” Beckett said, knowing she should have rescheduled Gregory’s rehoming for a day when it didn’t conflict with her brother’s class schedule.
She pulled out her phone to deliver the bad news to Katie, but Jeffery snatched it away.
“No need to cancel when I’ve got tonight covered,” he said confidently. “In fact, Thomas and I could use some guy time. There’s a ball game on tonight. So why don’t you go out, honey. Relax, have dinner with Annie here.”
Beckett looked him over skeptically. He was completely dressed, his hair brushed, and there was a chocolate stain down the front of his shirt, proof he’d eaten at some point in the past six hours. “If you’re sure.”
“As sure as Beethoven’s Symphony Number Five.” Jeffery handed back her phone. “I’m going to put on my hashtag-like-a-dad shirt before we head out. How’s that for handling my business?”
With a double thumbs-up that had Beckett rolling her eyes, Jeffery made his exit.
“You still never said hi to Annie,” Beckett hollered after him.
“Hi, Annie,” came from the back of the house. “Have a good day, Annie.”
“You too, Mr. Hayes,” Annie hollered back.
The day her mom walked out for good, leaving a sixteen-year-old Beckett in charge of her brother’s care, she’d stopped feeling the need to excuse her family’s eccentricities. Especially around someone as unjudgmental as Annie. But sometimes, when she looked at her life from an outsider’s perspective, it was hard not to cringe.
