Page 86 of Trust Again

“I’ve spent the past year being nice to that little shithead because I thought that you just… I’ve been polite and friendly to him even though he did this to you,” my father growled, his face distorted with rage. “If he ever crosses my path again, I can’t guarantee…”

“Don’t hurt him, Dad.”

“Anyone who does something like that to my daughter deserves to feel pain,” he replied, unmoved.

“No,” I said firmly. “I wanted to tell you so that you know everything and so I can be finished with this whole thing. I don’t want any more drama. Please, Dad.”

He looked at me searchingly. “You’ve had months to process this. But for me, it just happened.”

It was true. I’d given him a shock and now had to give him time to cool down. But I had an idea of how we could speed up this process.

The sun shone and sparkled on the lake. Birdsong echoed in the valley and in the distance there were a few isolated boats on the water with fishing rods sticking out of them.

“I was wondering how you dealt so well with the breakup. So sensible with the divorce. Now I feel like an idiot,” Dad said.

Arm in arm, we were walking along the sandy trail that circled the lake.

“I should have known, seen it in your eyes or something. A mother would have known,” he grumbled.

“Bullshit, Dad, and you know it.”

“Maybe I shouldn’t’ve let you guys get married so young.”

Now I stopped and grabbed his arm tighter. “Stop trying to convince yourself that you made mistakes in raising me.”

“Parents are always second guessing themselves. It’s the same for Maureen,” he replied, with a hint of a smile.

“Then both of you: Stop it. Everly and I are proof that you did a good job. Neither of us is perfect, but that’s definitely not due to bad parenting. It’s called being human and we just have to learn some things for ourselves.”

Dad nodded, thoughtful, and we continued making our way around the lake. The sun felt glorious on my skin and I looked up toward the sky.

“So, Dawny, what are your plans now?”

Before I could answer, my attention was distracted by footsteps behind me. I turned, and…

The jogger was at least 50 yards from us but I recognized the gait immediately.

Of course. Dad asks me about my plans and seconds later Spencer enters, stage left.

He was wearing a pair of running shorts; his pace was even and fast. I raised my arm when he was still 20 yards away. He tipped his head to the side and shaded his eyes with one hand. When he saw me, his face brightened with a grin. He sprinted up to us and jogged in place.

“Mr. Edwards, how nice to see you.” Spencer gave a little bow, which looked pretty odd from a bouncing guy, and then turned to me. Immediately his smile disappeared and he stood still. “Why are your eyes so red?” He came closer to me and put his hands on my shoulders. “Were you crying?”

He was breathless and sweating, but who cared! I wrapped my arms around his waist and held him. “I finally told him.”

Spencer hesitated for a second, then returned my embrace, even lifting me off the ground. “I’m so proud of you.”

My heart practically glowed.

He set me down again. Then he pinched a corner of his damp shirt and sniffed at it. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t prepared for a meeting with my future father-in-law. Mr. Edwards, you look really great, by the way. Even if I miss the overalls. To me, they always give you an ‘I am a skilled craftsman’ kind of air.” Spencer grinned. Then he turned back to me. “I have to run a couple more miles. See you tomorrow at Kaden and Allie’s?”

All I could do was nod. Spencer hesitated for a second, then kissed my temple, somewhere between forehead and hairline. The next moment he was back on the jogging trail. He looked back over his shoulder again and raised his hand. I waved back faintly.

“I take it this clown is part of your future plans?” Dad asked.

I hooked my arm back in his and watched Spencer disappear ahead of us. “I don’t do future plans anymore, Dad. I’m going to take each day as it comes.”

Chapter 30