Page 34 of Imperfect Saint
Chuck glared up at him for a long time. Hunter stood his ground. He didn’t know the man well enough to read his face, but he thought there was something Chuck wanted to say so he waited. Finally, Chuck shook his head and looked away.
“I just want her to be happy. That’s all a parent ever wants for their kid. I thought he made her happy but…” Chuck glanced back up. “I haven’t seen her smile like she does with you in a long, long time.”
Something warm and soft opened up inside him and Hunter let himself smile. He liked hearing that. He’d liked getting to spend the day with Millie and he’d loved seeing her smile and hearing her laugh. He’d thought that he was missing out on those things because of the self-imposed rules she’d placed on their relationship, because she’d been keeping him at arm’s length, because she only acted strictly professional. Now he wondered if maybe he hadn’t seen her smile like that before because she just hadn’t been happy.
Did he make her happy? God, the thought alone could keep him warm at night. He’d prefer her company though.
“I like making her happy. She makes me happy too.” Hunter offered when Chuck continued to look at him.
“You keep making her happy and we won’t have any problems.”
“I don’t have any plans to…”
“Mr. Turner?” Another male voice came from the shadows, interrupting their conversation, and Hunter groaned. He’d been hoping to keep this conversation going. He wanted to see what else Chuck Turner might say. Instead, Hank the horse trainer chose that moment to come around the corner. “Mr. Turner, is there something I can help ya with?”
“No, Hank.” Chuck groaned as he pushed himself back up from the haystack. “We were just leaving.”
“We were?” Hunter spun back around.
“Yeah, come on kid. I’ll show you the grounds.”
Hunter turned back to the horse trainer, looking uncertain, “I told Millie I’d help get the horses put up.”
“Stop trying to do Hank’s job.” Chuck snorted, “He’ll take offense. Now come on. I need another drink and there’s not anything in this barn but horse piss.”
Hunter gave the horse trainer one last look but ultimately followed Millie’s father as he swaggered out of the barn. He expected Chuck to turn back up towards the house but instead the man headed in the opposite direction. Hunter paused again, trying to decide if the man was drunk and lost or if he was planning to take Hunter into the woods to kill him.
“Uh… Chuck?” He pointed over his shoulder when the other man glanced back. “The house is this way.”
“I know where my house is, kid.” Chuck snorted, “I told you I was going to show you the grounds andthisis the way to the still.”
“The still?” Hunter’s eyebrows shot up in surprise.
“Yup. Make my own whiskey same way my daddy and his daddy did before him. Family tradition and all. Oh and speaking of family tradition, you can’t tell Millie where it’s at. The location is a secret, passed down through the male side of the line. No girls allowed.” The old man chuckled.
Hunter opened his mouth only to shut it again. He wasn’t sure what to say to that. He wanted to say that there was no way in hell he was going to keep secrets from Millie because of some stupid, old boys club rule. Then it hit him what Chuck had said and he reconsidered lambasting the older man.
The male side of the Turner line.
Did showing him the still mean Chuck thought Hunter would be part of their family someday?
Hunter watched Chuck take a couple more steps and then thought better of following him again, “Uh, shouldn’t we be getting back up to the house?”
Chuck frowned at him this time, beginning to look irritated, “What for?”
“The rehearsal? You’re missing it.”
“Colly doesn’t want me at his rehearsal.” Chuck scoffed.
“I’m sure that’s not true.”
“You seem like a nice guy so I’m gonna let you in on a family secret. My kids hate me. They think I’m a no good drunk. Maybe I am a drunk, but I ain’t all bad. I only want the best for them. Done whatever I could to make sure they got it too. I gotta make sure they find what me and Cami had. You know what I mean? They deserve that. So maybe I pushed and maybe I meddled but, I did it for them. I’d do it the same way every damn time.”
“I’m sure they understand that.” Hunter offered even though he didn’t think Chuck was waiting for his response.
The older man was looking back towards the house now. In the distance, they could see people on the back lawn but it was hard to make out the figures. People in black suits were putting out chairs and others were hanging flowers from the trees and scattering the grass with petals, at least that’s what Hunter figured they were doing. It was hard to tell what they were scattering from this far away. The rehearsal was in full swing though, the other figures moving in and out, up and down the makeshift aisle the workers were making.
There was even a small, shaggy dog running around, barking and yelping occasionally. It was a three-legged dog according to what Hunter had learned last night at dinner but he’d yet to meet the mutt the grooms had adopted. He couldn’t even imagine what they were thinking using their dog as the ring bearer.
