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16

ALLISON

“ A h, shit!” Allison exclaims, raising up to dig for her phone. The euphoria leaves her body in an instant when she recognizes the ringtone of her cell phone. Plucking it from her pocket she looks down at her phone, wanting it to be anyone other than who she expects it to be. Her face falls when she sees ‘Dad’ on the caller ID.

A sick feeling comes over her. There’s no way he could know what she’s doing, right? She scrambles to get off Russell’s body and into a sitting position on the side of the bed. He scoots his hips back to sit up, peering at her with concern. She glances at him briefly with regret.

“Hello?” she answers when she’s half certain she can speak without sounding too breathless.

“Allison? It’s dad. Are you alright?” her father asks.

“Yes, I’m fine. Why?” she replies, confused by his questioning.

“You sound out of breath.” Shit!

“I was just startled when the phone rang.” Her father makes a sound indicating he isn’t convinced.

“Your mother is worried sick. Your Aunt Lettie called and said you didn’t show up to the girls’ afternoon,” her father explains. “Why didn’t you go?”

Allison doesn’t want to lie to her father, but she definitely isn’t going to tell him she’s alone with Russell in his hotel room. Lord, the scandal that would cause. “I was tired, daddy. It was a long flight here yesterday, and I hadn’t gotten any sleep the night before. We all had dinner together last night. Then Emma woke me up at the ass-crack of dawn this morning to go to the aquarium.”

“Allison!” The sharp reprimand is clear in his voice. “Watch your language, young lady! Just because you’re an adult living out there in that heathen city doesn’t mean you can talk like a sailor.”

“I’m sorry, daddy.” Allison rolls her eyes. Russell’s face is pinched in curiosity. Having him hear this conversation is the last thing she wants, but her legs are still weak. She isn’t sure she can walk well enough to leave.

“Why didn’t you get any sleep the night before traveling?” her mother joins the conversation. Allison should have known they would have her on speaker so they could both hear her. “I’ve told you a hundred times it’s important to get good sleep before a trip, Allison. You know how cranky traveling makes you.”

Allison is mortified her mother is talking to her like she’s ten instead of thirty. Another glance at Russell shows him grinning at her, leaving no doubt he can hear both sides of the conversation. He’s likely remembering how snarky she’d been yesterday.

“So you’re sure that you’re okay?” her father asks, pulling her back to the conversation. “Your mother is convinced that you’re ill. She doesn’t believe you’d miss out on spending time with your family.”

“I can speak for myself, William.”

“If that was true, you wouldn’t have made me call her,” her father says. “You would have done it yourself.” An indignant huff crosses the line.

“Well!” her mother exclaims. “I thought you would be concerned about your daughter, too! We never see her anymore and have to hear about her second-hand.”

“If you’d gotten her to move home after college we wouldn’t have to hear about her second-hand, would we?” her father interjects.

“You’re the head of the family, Will,” her mother counters. “It is your responsibility to get her to come home!”

“Guys!” Allison shouts. “Stop arguing. I’m an adult. You can’t tell me where to live. I can’t make a living at home in our little town. There’s not a lot of pay in exposing the local grocery store hiking prices because there’s no competition.”

“If you had a husband you wouldn’t have to worry about making a living,” her mother accuses.

“God, mom! Just stop! I’ve already gotten the lecture from the aunts.”

“Allison Mae Simpson! Do not take the Lord’s name in vain,” her mother scolds. Damn, she is pissed. She used my full name.

“I’m sorry, mom. I was just upset,” Allison mollifies. “I’ll try to do better.”

“Good,” her mother’s tone softens. “I worry about you, out there so far away from all of us. I haven’t had a good night’s sleep since you left for college.”

“Mom,” Allison sighs. “I promise I’m fine. I’ve been out there for almost ten years.”

“Ten long years,” her mother laments. “I want you to move back home, settle down with a nice man and give me grandbabies.” Allison’s face heats, sparing a glance at Russell who has a sympathetic look on his face. She can’t believe she’s having this conversation in front of him.

“Mom! You already have grandkids. Monica has four. I’m sure Debbie will start popping them out soon. You don’t need me to provide you with more,” Allison insists.

“We always need more babies in the family.”

“Right, well we aren’t going to settle this today,” Allison says, hoping to steer the conversation away from her having babies. “You can stop worrying about me. I’m okay. I was just tired so I skipped hanging out with the aunts and cousins.”

“Your Aunt Jenny will be so hurt to learn you didn’t want to spend time with them,” her mother complains. “You need to go make it up to her, dear.”

Allison rolls her eyes with another heavy sigh. “Alright mom, I’ll call Emma and get with them.”

“Good,” her father rejoins the conversation. “Your mother has a doctor’s appointment Friday morning, but we will be there in time for rehearsal.”

“Why are you going to the doctor? Is something wrong?” Allison has a bad feeling about this. There’s a longer than necessary silence.

“You know how these doctors are, Allison,” her mother finally replies. “They’re always wanting you to come in for a follow up so they can get more money out of your insurance.” Allison’s uneasy feeling grows, but she doesn’t press her mother for more information.

“You’re not sick?” Allison questions, needing confirmation.

“I’m not sick,” her mother answers, but it still doesn’t satisfy the bad feeling that’s come over Allison. “You better hurry and get with the girls before your Aunt Jenny and Aunt Lettie get their feelings hurt even more. I love you, Allison. I’m sorry it sounds like I'm harping on you, but I just want the best for you.”

“I know, mom. I love you, too,” Allison says, her voice thickening with emotion. Even though they drive her crazy with their overbearing attitudes, she loves her family, even Aunt Jenny and Aunt Lettie.

“What am I, chopped liver?” her father demands. Allison knows he’s trying to lighten the mood. It’s what he does when he’s getting the feels and wants to hide it from the family.

“I love you, too, dad,” Allison says with a laugh. “You’re way better than chopped liver.”

“Well, I should think so,” he counters, trying to sound offended. “I love you, Allison. Now, go see your aunts and try not to roll your eyes when they tell you to find a husband.” Her father knows her all too well.

“Okay, I’ll do my best. See you both on Friday, bye.”

“Goodbye!” Her parents say in unison before the line goes dead. Allison keeps her eyes on her phone for a beat, processing the conversation, before lifting them to look at Russell.

“Well, that was my parents.” She shrugs her shoulders with a nervous laugh. “Sorry about that.” Russell’s concerned look softens into an understanding grin.

“Nothing to be sorry for, sugar. Family is important. I know family can be difficult to deal with sometimes, but treasure every moment. When they’re gone—” he gestures toward her phone. “You’ll miss those phone calls. You can’t get this time back.” Allison has tears in her eyes from the sadness she hears in his voice.

“Oh, Russell!” Allison launches herself into his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck and straddling his hips. His arms wrap around her, and he buries his face in her neck. He holds her tightly for a long while, neither of them speaking. Finally, he clears his throat and loosens his hold on her.

“You should go find Emma and the others before they send out a search party,” Russell says before pressing a kiss to her temple. Allison leans back searching his red-rimmed, yet dry, eyes. He seems to be okay, but there’s a deep well of pain in them.

“Are you okay?” she asks tentatively. He nods without commenting. “I’m here, Russell, anytime you need to talk about your dad.” Another nod and clearing of his throat. “I know you’re a caveman who has to be strong all the time,” Allison says, drawing a sad smile from him. “but you don’t have to be tough with me.” She places her hand on the side of his face. He holds her gaze for a moment.

“We can have dinner together later if you want,” he says in answer. She knows he isn’t going to break down in front of her. Russell is too much of a man for that. At least he hadn’t become angry and shut her out. She’ll just have to take what he’s willing to give.

She smiles. “I’d like that. Come to my room around six?” He dips his head in agreement. Giving him a deep kiss, she slips off his lap. “I’ll see you later.”

“Later, sugar.”