Page 7 of Strip It Down (Spoiled by My Blue Collar Man #4)

Sayer

It’s been a hell of a day, but in truth it was my mood more than anything. I need to find a way to apologize to Gentry. But I can’t get her attention or find the right words.

Pulling into the driveway, I’m pleased to see her car still here.

Walking in to the house, I pause in the doorway to the dining room.

She and Dad are setting the table. Like fancy setting the table.

They’ve even moved Ayla’s highchair from the kitchen bar where we all usually eat. “What’s going on?”

Dad looks up. “I invited Gentry and another friend to join us for dinner. I want to talk about my cruise trip. Hurry up and shower. You’ve got fifteen minutes to make yourself presentable — as in smell better.”

I wonder which one of the guys is going with him. He hasn’t said. Doesn’t matter. This may be my chance to apologize to Gentry after dinner. Crossing to my sweet little girl, I give her a quick peck on the top of her head. “Dada does stink. I’ll be right back and hug you.”

After my shower I splash on some cologne before choosing a better pair of jeans and white dress shirt. If I’m going to need to grovel, I want to look like a gentleman.

Rushing downstairs, I hear a woman’s laugh before walking into the dining room. Gentry is holding Ayla and talking animatedly to another woman. Dad is pouring wine. There are only four place settings besides the highchair. Dad’s friend is a woman. Dad’s travel companion is this woman.

Gentry catches my eye and walks over with my little girl, slipping her into my arms. “Don’t say a word. Take four deep breaths. This is all good. She makes him happy.”

Dad looks at me. Taking the woman’s hand to lead her over. “Son, this is MaryKatherine. She and her daughter opened the new coffee shop about a year ago. Turns out Gentry use to baby sit for her daughter.”

The woman holds out her hand and I take it. “I’ve heard a lot about you Sayer, thank you for your service. I’m glad you’re home safe.”

She makes a face and smiles at my daughter. “And this little one, sure has her daddy’s eyes.”

Gentry walks in with a lasagna pan in her hands. “To the table everyone, dinner is served.”

Dad’s dating. What did I expect? He loved mom and we were broken when she was taken from us so suddenly. But that was twelve years ago. I left for the military ten years ago. He’s been alone all this time.

Every leave I’d come home, and he’d be wrapped up in the business so there’d be something here if I every decided to come back.

Work and waiting for me to visit. I never once asked if he was seeing someone, if he had someone to care for, or to care for him.

I assumed he was hanging with his buddies, but we never talked about that.

I don’t really taste dinner, although Ayla seems to enjoy it.

She has cheese and red sauce in her hair, on her shirt and hands.

But every time she emptied her plate, she reached for more.

She even ate her green beans. As the meal comes to a close, it finally dawns on me.

“MaryKatherine, did you make the lasagna?”

She blushes but nods. “My kids didn’t like the acid in regular tomato sauce, so I learned how to make it milder with a creamier cheese. It always seems to go over well.”

“Thank you, it’s delicious and this is the best she’s eaten without ranch dressing in a long time. I appreciate you bringing dinner for all of us. If you’re free this weekend,” I glance at Gentry, “If both of you ladies are free, how about Dad and I grill?”

Dad leans back in his chair and his shoulders finally relax. “That sounds like an excellent idea, son.”

“I need to get this little one in the tub but leave the dishes. I’ll take care of them once she’s settled.

You all did the work, it’s the least I can do.

” After wiping my daughter’s hands and stripping off her tomato smeared dress, I carry her to the bathroom.

Removing my white shirt before its ruined, I kneel on the floor and prepare her bath. “How about bubbles, tonight?”

Only when she’s playing in the water and I’m kneeling at her side, do I take a deep breath. Dad is dating. He’s making a new life. He’s starting over. Starting a new chapter in his life. As he should, he’s only fifty. The heart attack was a scare, but he’s taking better care of himself.

Life isn’t stagnant, it ebbs and flows. Change is new opportunities. Change is good.

Lifting my girl from the water, I dry her then her hair, before cuddling her to my chest. “Dada loves you, Ayla. With my whole heart.”

She cups my face in her little hands and kisses me. Tonight is filled with firsts.

Once she’s settled with her new puppy stuffie, I go down to the kitchen to find its all cleaned, and Gentry is just grabbing her purse and keys. “Your Dad took MaryKatherine home.”

“You knew, didn’t you?”

“Not for sure. I’d seen them together at the coffee shop a few times. It was the way they looked at each other. She’s been divorced about eight years. Her husband was a bully. She deserves a nice guy.”

“Thank you. I have a feeling that you were the support they both needed to tell me.

“It’s time I make a confession of my own.” I continue quickly before she can walk out. “What I said the other night was wrong. It came out wrong. I didn’t believe it at the time. I knew you were never his girl or his type of girl. I was jealous.

“Gentry, I’ve had a crush on you forever. More than a crush. Every woman I’ve met, I’ve compared to you. I know you never saw me that way. But… Well, I was jealous of him. He at least got to pretend you were his.

“I promise I won’t make working with me awkward. I can control myself.”

“You know I’m a lot older.”

“Four years, three months and twenty-seven days. My dad was two years younger than Mom. And I’m pretty sure that MaryKatherine is older than that. Studies show that anything less than ten years does not matter at our age. Maybe when we were ten and fourteen, but not now.”

Something flashes in her gaze, before she turns to leave. A flicker of hope opens up in my chest.

“I need to go. I’ll see you in the morning.”

I walk her to her car and watch her drive away.

After checking on Ayla, I grab the baby monitor, a water, and sit on the porch. I either scared Gentry completely off or maybe cracked the ice.

Dad pulls up, and walks toward me, shoulders stiff.

“She’s a nice woman. I like her. I’m happy for you, Dad.”

He drops into the chair next to me. “I didn’t know how to tell you, son. Then when you were wrapped up in the mess with Ayla’s mom, it didn’t seem like the right time.”

“How long?”

“I’ve known of her and seen her around for years.

Last year when you visited, she and her daughter had just opened the coffee shop.

A couple of the guys and I started meeting up for coffee and a Danish before work once or twice a month.

Then I’d stop in when I was in town and…

well, if I sat at the counter we’d talk.

“You know I?—"

“Dad, it’s okay. I just hope you didn’t feel you had to wait because of me. You deserved companionship after all these years. I was gone. I left you alone.”

“Son, you did what you were supposed to do. You followed your dream. I wasn’t ready yet back then. Still missed your mom.

“The more MaryKatherine and I got to know each other, well things began to change. We started dating. She-uh-she was the one who noticed I might be having a mild heart attack and made me go to the hospital.”

“Damn, I liked her before you said that. Now I’m downright in love her. She’s the one going on the cruise with you, right?”

He clears his throat and nods.

“Oh shit. When you told me I could have the house—were you, are you wanting or planning to move in with her?”

“Since she helps her daughter with the coffee shop, it would be easier if I moved in with her.”

“Dad, I’ll find a nanny or daycare while you’re gone. If not sooner. I promise. If you want to start-ah-sleepovers now I can handle this alone at night. Ayla is my responsibility.

“You’ll still be okay working out of the office here, right?”

“Yes.” He grins. “Might take you up on the sleep overs, but we’ll wait until after the cruise to move in together.”

I give him a fist bump like we’re a couple bros, then we both laugh.

“I’m glad you’re happy.”

“’Bout time you went after what you’ve always wanted, don’t you think, Son?”

“Yeah, I’d like to. But she’s got walls. I think it’s more than the age difference but…. We’ll see.”

“She and MaryKatherine get along. Maybe she can put in a good word for you,” he says as he stands and heads into the house.