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“In theory, yes. But in practice there’s so much more to it than that.” Owen explained his perspective, about Paige’s potential for resentment down the road, and made careful watch of Alan while he did.

The man sat, listened, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. Yet, while the other two contributed their opinions over the course of an hour and four beers apiece, Alan remained quiet, thoughtful.

Finally, the evening wound down and Steve was the first to stand, arching his back and stretching his belly, which he patted lovingly.

“Man, if I knew you cooked like this when you moved here, I might have given up women altogether and moved in with you. Thanks for the dinner, Owen. If I didn’t have the dumbass staff meeting tomorrow where I need to bring the fear of God to the little shits who keep coming in late, I’d stick around and help you clean up.”

Owen chuckled, clearing some dishes off the table. “No need. I’m glad you could make it. Cleaning up will keep my hands busy while I take some time to think.”

Steve waved off while Brad did the same, thanking Owen and offering to come by the next day and help on the farm if he needed to catch up with Paige. Alan sat where he was, silently sipping his beer like he had all the time in the world to enjoy his drink.

When he was finished, he set it on the table and looked at Owen who had just finished doing dishes.

“I’m not going to apologize for not helping. I’ve done my time son, but I’m grateful you had me over. It was a wonderful meal.”

It was the first thing Alan had said in over an hour. Owen smiled.

“Can I get you another?” he asked Alan. He wasn’t expecting the old man to say yes, so when he did, Owen smiled.

“Bring yourself one, too, son. We’ve got some things to talk about.”

Owen did as he was instructed, bringing them both a beer as well as two glasses with ice and the bottle of rum.

Alan grinned like he’d won the lottery.

“Ah, the island rum. Marge won’t let me open ours until I get the all clear from the doc, but I’ve heard wonderful things.”

“Oh, sorry. I’ll put it back.” Owen went to stand up again but Alan put a hand on his arm.

“Like hell you will, son. Put that bottle down and keep your mouth shut if Marge asks you anything.”

“Yes, sir,” he teased, a conspiratorial wink shared between them.

“So, you love my daughter?”

Owen almost spit his swig of beer all over Alan. The man didn’t say anything for half the night and then he opened with a gut-punch like that?

“Um, yes. Yes, I do. Very much, Alan.”

Alan sat back in his chair and closed his eyes, patted his stomach. A contented smile sat on his face like it normally did, though this time Owen took special pleasure in the fact that he was partially responsible for this one. Or at least not responsible for making it disappear.

After a pause that made Owen wonder if his guest had fallen asleep at the table, Alan opened his eyes.

“Then you have to ask her, son. You have to ask her to stay.”

“You heard my arguments against it, right?”

“I did, and while I appreciate your consideration of my daughter, with all due respect, it’s bullshit.”

This time Owen did spray his beer, but luckily most of it landed on the table in front of him, not on his neighbor.

“How’s that?” he asked, more amused than concerned. He wiped his mouth, took a sip of rum.

“You’ve got it all wrong, son. She’s an adult, she’ll make her decision and yeah, she might struggle a little bit trying to find her place here, but if she says yes to you, she’s saying yes knowing what comes with it. She’s had some time to think, one of the only good things to come out of her injury and illness, I reckon. Only time she’s had to slow down in the past decade, and the truth is, she’s starting to realize she’s not the woman she was when she first left. Hell, she was hardly a woman at all. But she’s grown now, and starting to think about what makes her life worth livin’. It seems she’s added you to the list, son, and that’s nothing to turn your nose up at.”

“I agree, but do you think she could be happy here forever if that’s in my plan?”

Alan chuckled, his belly shaking with each laugh.