Page 24 of Lavender Lake
“What about your dad?”
“I still don’t want to talk about that.”
“Something tells me you have a turbulent relationship with your father.”
“A girl with daddy issues, now there’s a stereotype.”
He peered at me for a long moment, and then he said, “I think you’re a woman with mommy issues.”
I froze. “What do you know about my mother?”
“Nothing,” he said. “Nothing at all, actually. But the way you reacted to finding out your dad has a girlfriend leads me to believe it’s more about your mother than it is about your father.”
“Just when I thought you were turning out to be okay, you have to go and say something like that.” I rose from the table. “Mr. Bixby!”
“Coming!” he called back. A moment later, he stepped out of the kitchen holding several brown bags. “Just packing up some food for you.”
“You’re a gem,” I said, kissing his cheek.
“Keep us posted about your dad, yeah?”
I nodded.
“Don’t worry, honey. He’s a fighter. He’ll pull through.” Mr. Bixby looked at Bowman. “Good to meet you, Bowman. Enjoy your time here.”
Bowman looked at me. “Oh, I will.”
He took the bags of food from Mr. Bixby and we left The Diner just as a group of people came in. I held the door for them, and then followed Bowman outside.
As we passed Sweet Teeth, the door opened and Gracie stepped out onto the sidewalk. She carried several boxes of pastries and said, “You didn’t think you were going to sneak off without saying hello, did you?”
I grinned and gave her a side hug. “No. I didn’t think that.”
“Liar.” She chuckled. “Mr. Bixby called me and said you were having lunch, so I had time to bake you some fresh pastries.”
“You didn’t have to do that,” I said, taking the boxes from her.
“Like hell I didn’t. Fair warning, I called Lucy, so she’ll probably stop you too.” Gracie looked at Bowman. “Hi, I don’t know you.”
“This is Cas Bowman,” I said. “Declan’s rodeo BFF. Bowman, this is Gracie. Hadley and I have known her since third grade.”
“Second, actually. Ms. Milford’s class.” Gracie made a quick perusal of Bowman. “You’re going to cause quite a stir.”
“I hope so,” Bowman quipped.
Gracie looked at me, her expression sobering. “Your dad is strong and stubborn. He’ll get through this.”
“Yeah,” I said faintly. “I hope so.”
“I know so,” Gracie said. She squeezed my wrist.
“Did you know he was dating someone?” I asked bluntly.
She blinked bright blue eyes. “Oh, shoot, I need to get back to—ah, Hell. I need to be anywhere but here.”
Gracie skuttled back into the bakery.
“Did everyone know about my dad’s girlfriend but me?” I snapped at Bowman.
