Page 41 of Hold Me Instead (Elmwood Falls #1)

Zachary

“Jeanie, for the last time, I’m fine,” Daniel grumbled from the passenger seat.

Zachary’s mom held up her hands as she sat back in her seat behind him, surrounded by their two dogs and Maple. “We have a lot to be thankful for, Daniel. I’d like us to look our best.”

“This is as good as it’s gonna get.” Daniel huffed, pulling the end of his flannel shirt over his sweats. “Probably putting on my sweatshirt as soon as we get there anyway. Always freezing in their house,” he grumbled.

Zachary felt for the man, even though words between them were limited. He also knew his mom was fretting because she wanted this gathering to feel as normal as possible, but his dad going at all was effort enough.

His dad’s eyes were heavy with exhaustion, a detail Zachary glimpsed before his father turned his face toward the passenger window.

“Mom, it smells like the entire dinner in here,” Zachary said. “I’m surprised the dogs aren’t going crazy.”

“Oh,” came her simple reply.

He glanced in the rearview to find her holding food in her hand, breaking off little pieces at a time for each dog in turn.

Maple was tucked to her side on the bench seat, and his parents’ boxer and yellow lab were behind them, stretching their heads around the head rests.

He shook his head with a chuckle, careful not to draw his father’s attention.

Feeding table scraps had been an argument their entire marriage, Daniel constantly concerned about the dogs’ diets, and Jeanie constantly concerned about their happiness.

She bit her lip, fighting a grin. Her bob looked chic, her makeup brightening her face.

“What all did you make?” Zachary prompted.

She winked. “Oh just a few things. Cheesy corn casserole, sweet potatoes, this new squash recipe Maura told me about—it smells amazing—and sweet red-bean soup. I also picked up a cooked turkey this year.”

“That’s a lot,” Zachary said. His dad grunted in agreement.

“No, no. Sandra and Jay made the roasted duck, mashed potatoes, oyster stuffing, and sticky rice dumplings. And other desserts.”

“Jesus, how did you all have the energy?” Zachary asked.

“One of my favorite things to do. Extra special since you’re home too.” She reached forward to pat his arm, just as he eased into Sandra’s driveway, shaded by a white pine tree.

“Allowed her to have a break from me but still hover,” Daniel grumbled.

“Oh look, the kids were watching for us,” his mom said, ignoring Daniel.

Jeanie opened her door, and the dogs hopped out just as Vivi and Alex burst from the two-story, red brick colonial house and down the stone front steps with their fluffy Maltese, Puff.

The front yard had a large maple tree with straggler leaves remaining, its branches spanning the lawn.

Puff hopped around, barking commands at all the guests, weaving between the other dogs.

Zachary helped Maple out of the back seat, then scooped up Alex and flipped him over his shoulder, his peals of laughter ringing through the neighborhood.

“Zachary, carry this inside.” Jeanie set a stack of dishes in his free arm.

“Okay, buddy, let’s bring in the food,” Zachary said, still toting his nephew.

“Doo, do, do, DOO! To the castle!” Alex sang his toddler tune.

“Oh my apologies, Prince Alexander ,” Zachary said as he reached the midnight-blue front door. It framed the three-quarter glass window, and he saw his sister as she approached on the other side.

Sandra opened the door, hair in a low ponytail, sleeves rolled on a teal blouse, and a black apron tied around her waist. She reached toward the dishes and wiggled her fingers. “Gimme.”

“You guys went all out,” Zachary said.

“What are you talking about?”

He gestured at the food. “Mom made a ton of sh—stuff.” He caught himself and tickled Alex. “Sounds like you did too. You’d think this family wasn’t going through something right now.”

“Jay and I cooked together, so it wasn’t that bad. Besides, it calms me. Really.”

“You sound like Mom,” he murmured.

“Well, it’s true.” Sandra shrugged, then lowered her voice. “I could tell it was really important to her. She wanted this to be…special.”

“I could’ve done more than bring beer. I feel like a jerk.” Alex squirmed for freedom, so Zachary set him down, watching as the little guy kicked off his shoes and ran through the house .

“Aw, you’re not a jerk.” Sandra started to walk toward her kitchen, then glanced over her shoulder with a mischievous grin. “Just an idiot. But don’t worry, it’s only from time to time.”

Zachary called after her, “Watch your back, Sandra. Plenty of pies around looking for a face!”

“There’s only one pie today, and your niece made it!”

“Damn,” he muttered.

Sandra’s burst of laughter followed as he stepped outside to grab the beer from his trunk.

His dad sat on a bench near the front door, rust-colored leaves piled on the mulch at his feet.

Zachary swallowed the thick ball of emotion in his throat, registering his dad for the first time as an older man, a grandfather.

Daniel’s shirt was a plaid of light blue and gray, the material heavy against his frame.

He had one arm draped over the back of the bench, fingers tapping the wrought iron while he watched Jeanie and Vivi play with the dogs.

Vivi giggled as she leaned toward Maple, getting kisses all over her face in return as the dog loped around with her slow-motion gait.

Zachary smiled, glancing back to his dad, only to do a double-take.

His father had the smallest of smiles on his face, but it showed an immense amount of love for the scene before him.

His eyes glistened, his frame and posture stoic.

Zachary moved toward his car, barely catching movement as his dad wiped his hand across his cheeks.

“Uncle Zachy, did you watch the parade?” Vivi asked as she bounded over.

“I did not. Was it awesome?”

She nodded solemnly. “We recorded it. Wanna watch it with me?”

He closed the trunk, smiling. Ah, to have the enthusiasm of a child who could watch a parade over and over. “I’d love to.”

“Yes!” She pumped her fist in the air for emphasis, then took off for the front door, the pack of dogs following after her.

Zachary bent to pick up the beer and saw his mom leaning over his dad, their voices too soft to carry.

Jeanie pressed a kiss to Daniel’s head, and his dad smiled, a look of devotion between them like they were the only ones there.

His mom held out her hand as his dad stood, and they walked up the front steps and into the house.

Zachary cleared his throat, overwhelmed by the affection he witnessed from his family within mere minutes of them all being together. He had to admit his mother was right—today was special.

***

“Vivi, it’s time to set up your pie!” Sandra called from the kitchen.

Vivi bolted off the couch from her spot next to Zachary and ran to help.

“You sure you don’t need help, honey?” Jeanie sat in the tan swivel arm chair next to Daniel’s while they all watched the parade, now dulled without Vivi’s commentary.

“We’re good, Mom!” Sandra called back.

Jeanie pushed her chair with extra emphasis while she muttered about children treating her like an old woman.

Zachary rolled his eyes. “She’s trying to do something nice for you, Mom. She and Jay have it covered. ”

“You weren’t supposed to hear that,” Jeanie replied haughtily, straightening her plum cardigan over a floral blouse.

“Speaking of children knowing everything,” Daniel chimed in. He’d been quiet the whole time watching the parade, unless spoken to directly by his grandchildren. Now his gaze pierced Zachary. “How are things going at the clinic?”

“Everything’s fine. We’ve been able to maintain a full schedule, it’s almost like they didn’t miss a beat,” Zachary said.

Daniel gave a quick nod. “People have been receptive to you being there?”

“Much to Charlie’s chagrin, yes.” Zachary smiled, thinking of her throwing down the gauntlet in the beginning.

“I’ve always loved her,” Jeanie said.

Daniel grunted.

Zachary knew his dad loved her too. “She keeps things running smoothly, Dad. You’d be proud.”

Daniel looked away. “She’s fantastic. Perfect for the practice.”

Zachary cleared his throat. “I agree.”

“There’s something you need to know, though.” Daniel’s face was twisted with concern.

“No, not today,” Jeanie said urgently, her hand landing on his forearm.

“We’re approaching the end of the year, Jeanie. With Dr. Kamath’s orders, I need to make sure things are moving in the right direction.”

Zachary looked at his parents. “What’s going on?”

Daniel turned his gaze toward him. “The practice is in trouble.”

Zachary nodded slowly. “I found a few things I’d wanted to discuss with you. ”

“There’s a lot of…debt. I had to take out another loan recently, and I’m behind on payments.”

“Wait, another loan? I didn’t come across any of that paperwork.”

“You wouldn’t. I’ve had the documents at the house.”

“How bad is it?”

“I can show you later.”

“Dad. What about your accountant? Hasn’t he been involved with this?”

“He’s a SOB who took off and left us high and dry,” Jeanie chimed in.

Daniel looked away. “I fired him, Jeanie.”

“What?” Jeanie sat higher in her chair.

“It’s true, he’s a son of a bitch, and he was screwing things up,” Daniel said in a harsh whisper. “So I fired him. I never got around to hiring someone new this year.”

She sank back against her seat.

“I’ve held my prices for years, working with our clients to make sure they could afford the care they needed, but with these other clinics getting bought out and lowering their rates, it’s become too much.

The point is, I have a large amount of money due at the end of the year, otherwise, the practice will close.

I’ve started to pursue options to sell.”

Zachary’s stomach lurched. “You mean Neptune, right? He came to the cookout to see you,” Zachary added when his dad’s eyebrows rose.

“Yes. Neptune is a very likely possibility. They’ve already drawn up an offer.”

“You’ve heard what’s happened to the clinics they’ve bought. They’re taking over, making them all the same. Driving out places like us. ”

His dad paused, then continued softly, “I’m running out of options. If I can get a partner, that could help offset some of the money.”

“Charlie wouldn’t be able to do that?”

“It’s not right. It needs to stay within the family right now. I can’t in good conscience transfer this over to her. It’s like giving a gift of debt. The practice would hardly be part of it.”

“I thought you considered her family,” Zachary spat the words through gritted teeth.

“You know it’s not the same,” Daniel said.

Silence hung over the room. If Charlie learned about the dire straits of the clinic, she’d be crushed. Financially, emotionally…

If she heard the words they’d just exchanged, it’d do her in just as badly.

“I can’t keep this from her,” Zachary said.

“Find a way. Until I can convince you to buy into the practice with me. Those are our choices.”

Zachary stared at him. Selling to Neptune was an adamant no from him.

But buy into the practice ? The one he’d chosen to leave?

The one he’d been removed from without a second thought?

That’d mean moving back to Wisconsin. Uprooting his life in Chicago.

Taking the practice right out from under Charlie.

It meant working with Charlie. As her boss. As the owner. Seeing each other every day, no longer in a temporary situation. What would that mean for them? When things finally fizzled out between them, then what?

She wouldn’t want to leave, and he’d hate to be the reason she did. He couldn’t shatter her dreams .

“Dinner’s ready!” Sandra appeared at the living room entrance, a proud Vivi by her side.

“Uncle Zachy, you’re sitting by me!” Vivi exclaimed.

“Perfect,” Zachary said, forcing a smile.

Unfortunately, the table wasn’t going to be enough distance between him and his father.