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“Don’t,” I said, tears falling down my cheeks, because I knew what it would take to fix this. And it meant giving up everything I’d worked so hard for, putting my dreams on hold to keep a roof over my father’s head. “How much do you owe to get out of foreclosure?” I repeated.

He looked to the ground.

“Dad!”

His chest heaved as he looked up at me, and he uttered, “Ten thousand dollars, give or take.”

My mouth fell open. “Are you kidding me?”

He shook his head. “It’s what I owe plus fees.”

I stepped back, my hand to my chest.

I knew what it would take to help him, what I’d have to give up.

Dad gave me life.

He raised me.

He’d been there for me and supported me through hair school.

And now it was my turn to help him, no matter how much it hurt.

From the sidewalk, I heard Rhett call, “Mags?”

Dad and I both looked his way, and I wiped at my face. “Yeah?”

“We’re about to see Cam and Coop off. You ready?”

I nodded and turned to follow Rhett.

Dad held on to my wrist. “Mags... don’t hate me.”

I shook my head at him. “I love you, Dad. To the ends of the earth.” But it still hurt like hell.

When I reached Rhett, he put his arm around me and kissed the top of my head. “Everything okay?”

My throat felt tight as I said, “I’m not completely sure.”

We walked to the steps of the township hall where Dina was passing out sparklers. We each lit them up and cheered as Cam and Cooper walked under the sparks to the pickup waiting for them along the street.

Our friends from Austin had all gone in together to book Cam and Cooper a weekend stay at a cabin outside of Austin as their wedding gift. Selfishly, I wished she would hang around Cottonwood Falls a little longer, leave for her honeymoon next weekend so we could talk this out, but I think this was part of us both growing up.

Her husband, her family had to come before me.

And I needed to learn to stand on my own two feet and make decisions—with or without her.

62

RHETT

After the wedding,Mags and I drove back to her place, and I could tell something was off.

“What did you talk about with your dad?” I asked as we undressed and changed into pajamas.

Maggie slipped a nightgown over her head. “I told him I’d need to stay in my old bedroom for a while.”

“You know you can stay with me,” I offered. I kind of thought it was a given.