Page 34 of Take This Heart (Windy Harbor #1)

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

SOLIDARITY

GOLDIE

I smile the whole way home.

That smile drops when I see Ava Piper walking out of my house.

What the hell is she doing at my house?

She’s opening her car door as I park and jump out of mine.

“Tell me you’re not bothering my dad with your nonsense.” I slam my door and stalk toward her.

She turns and leans against her car, folding her arms across her chest. “Your dad can fight his own battles, Goldie.”

I get in her face and she straightens until we’re standing eye to eye. “Leave him out of this. You want a fight on your hands? Bring it. You and I can go at it all day, but he is off-limits.” I tap my chest and she scoffs.

“I’ve been dealing with girls like you my entire life,” she says. “You think you’re better than everyone else…handed everything on a gold platter and expect the little people to bow to you.” She takes a step closer and I smell her citrusy body wash.

She smells terrific, dammit.

“I don’t know how you think you know me, but I assure you, I’m not the jerkface you’re painting me out to be.

Privileged? Yes. Better than everyone else?

Not even close. You wanna come after my artwork?

Fine. But trying to turn the town against my family is going too far.

Do you even know the man you’re siding with?

From what I’ve heard, you haven’t known Bruce for very long and this fight that he tries to keep stirred up all the time goes back to our grandfathers.

” I shake my head. “Why do we have to continue this? It doesn’t have to be this way. ”

“It didn’t end with our grandfathers,” she says. Her voice is shaky when she adds, “And I may not know Bruce well, but at least he’s claimed me. He’s proud of me and wants to know me—that’s all the reason I need to stand by him.”

She turns and gets in her car, screeching out of my driveway. I stand there confused, staring after her.

What was that?

I go inside and look for my dad, but I can’t find him. When I knock on his door, I hear a muffled hello and a little yip from Kevin.

“Dad, are you okay?”

He clears his throat. “Yes.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m gonna rest for a while, okay?”

“Oh, okay. Of course. Sorry. I’ll let you rest.” I pause. “Would you like me to take Kevin?”

“No, he’s good. He’s cuddled up here next to me.”

That makes me smile. “Aw, okay, you two. Get some sleep.”

The morning visits to Milo’s apartment continue throughout the week.

My dad has another chemo treatment and my quick morning trip to the cafe before he wakes up is the only reprieve I allow myself.

I draw ideas on my sketchpad next to Dad’s bed while he’s napping.

This time has been worse. He’s had a rough week.

We haven’t even talked about Ava being here—he’s either been sick or sleeping.

Milo stops by to visit and to work on the property, but I don’t spend the night at his place, even on Friday night.

He understands that I want to be with my dad and doesn’t push it.

Instead, he sneaks candy in for my dad, brings him word finder books and puzzles, and watches movies with us.

On Saturday, my brothers come into town and when they walk in, they catch me crying in Dad’s bathroom.

Dad’s sitting in a chair in front of the mirror and I’ve shaved one side.

His beautiful wavy white hair has fallen out in chunks this week and this morning, he asked me to take it all off.

Tully is the first one to find us, and then the rest of them file in.

There’s a big hugfest, more tears, and then I get to work. When I’m done with Dad’s head, Tully motions for him to get up and sits in the chair himself.

“All off, please,” he says.

I’m a blubbering mess.

“I do mine too!” Grayson says.

“Oh, let’s keep yours,” Dad says. “You’ve got the best hair!”

Grayson feels Dad’s head and sticks out his lip. “I want to see my head.”

When Tully’s done, Camden sits down and gets his shaved. Noah is next.

“I do mine too!” Grayson says again.

“But your hair is so, so good,” I tell him.

“I like their heads.” He points at Tully and Camden and gasps when I do the first swipe over his dad’s head.

I gulp back tears and Grayson pats my leg.

“It’s okay, Auntie. Dad says hair grows back.”

“You’re right.” I sniffle.

Dylan hands me tissues and I blow my nose.

“You guys don’t need to do this,” Dad says.

His lip trembles and then he straightens his shoulders and his eyes brighten the way they do when he’s about to tease us.

“I don’t need to impress anyone,” he says. “You guys still need to find the ladies.”

Camden and Tully smirk, smoothing their hands over their heads.

“With these faces, I think we’ll be okay,” Tully says, studying himself in the mirror. He pats Dad’s cheek. “And you’re still a stud, Dad. You could get any lady you wanted to.”

“No way,” Dad says, laughing.

Camden takes a selfie of the three of them.

“Everybody okay?” Milo calls.

“I’ll go get him. We have to keep this on the down-low until we’re done or the grandmas will protest,” Noah says.

“You’re not wrong,” Dylan says. “They’re gonna lose their shit when they see all of us.”

“Let me touch, Daddy,” Grayson says.

Noah leans over and Grayson cackles.

“I do mine too,” he says. “Please, Auntie.”

“If your dad says it’s okay, I’ll do it.”

Noah sighs. “It’ll be a while before it grows back. Are you sure you’re okay with that?”

Grayson nods excitedly and when Noah stands up, Grayson takes his place.

“Can I do a little mohawk?” I show him where I’d leave a little hair and he shakes his head.

“Like Dad and Papa and the uncles!” he says.

“Okay!”

He makes us all laugh with the way he squeals and cracks up with each swipe I do over his scalp.

“Hold still!” I say, giggling.

More selfies are taken when he’s done. My face is one big red splotch in the photos, but I’m smiling so big at Grayson, it doesn’t matter.

Dylan is the last one to sit down.

Kevin winds through everyone’s legs and rolls around in the hair.

“Oh my goodness, Kevin, you’re gonna be a mess!” I fuss at him.

Dad points at me as I’m shaving Dylan’s head and Milo walks in to hear him say, “Don’t you dare shave yours off, buttercup. That would break my heart.”

I open my mouth to protest and he shakes his head. I’ve always wanted to do whatever my brothers are doing and this time is no different.

“But, we’re in this together—” I start.

“Absolutely not,” Dad cuts me off. “Please, baby girl. The thought of you cutting this off kills me.” He runs his hand over my hair and shakes his head.

Milo’s eyes are wide when his eyes meet mine in the mirror. He leans over and kisses my cheek, wiping the tears off my face.

“Looks like I’ve missed quite a party,” he says.

My face crumbles and Dylan yelps. “Hey, watch the head. I don’t want nicks.”

I sniffle and laugh and get through the haircut. Dylan had the longest hair of all my brothers and is the most vain about it, but he’s grinning when he stands up.

“I kinda like it. No one’s gonna recognize me, but I still look badass,” he says.

“Hasn’t humbled you at all,” I mutter.

Everyone moves into action to start the clean-up. I step to the sink, wash my hands, and move to get the vacuum when someone clears their throat.

I turn around and Milo is sitting in the chair. I put my hand to my mouth.

“No,” Dad says, shaking his head. “Don’t do it. I’ve caught my daughter playing with your hair all week.”

Tears stream down my cheeks.

“If he’s a real man, he’ll do it,” Tully teases.

“Tulls!” I yelp.

“Does he have it in him?” Noah adds, nudging Camden.

“I think he does.” Camden nods.

“Nah. And anyway, bet you can’t look this good,” Dylan says, rubbing his head.

“You guys are the worst,” I say.

Milo just laughs and nods. “I’m not scared. Say bye to this goodness, Golo,” he says to me in the mirror.

“Aw, he’s pulling out a nickname and everything,” Tully says. “I think he’s really into you, Golds.”

“I’m going to kill you guys,” I mutter under my breath. But the tears keep falling even as I’m laughing.

Milo looks back at me. “Do you need to sink your hands in it one more time before it goes?”

My brothers all shudder.

I move in front of Milo and put my fingers in his hair—because I want to, and to gross my brothers out. I lean down and take my time kissing him, despite the protests.

He kisses me back, not deterred in the slightest by my dad and brothers.

“This just got you so many points,” I whisper in his ear.

“Ew, no whispering,” Dylan says.

I smack Dylan’s shoulder and move into place behind Milo, letting out a ragged exhale. I do one long buzz, Milo’s beautiful dark hair falling to the ground in one large clump. A tear drips down my cheek and Milo’s eyes caress me from the mirror.

This is the moment I realize I’m in love with him.

“We were just kidding, dude. You didn’t have to shave your head,” Tully says, earning a glare from me.

“It wasn’t for you,” Milo says, his eyes never leaving mine.

Dad squeezes his shoulder and Milo puts his hand on top of Dad’s, patting it twice.

“Don’t listen to these guys, Milo.” Dad’s eyes well up and he shakes his head. “You’re all too much, but I sure do love ya. Every single one of ya. That includes you, Milo. Dammit, you’ve all got my waterworks going.”

“Love you, Dad. And you’re all right, Milo,” Noah says.

Coming from Noah about a man I’m seeing, that is high praise.

One by one, my brothers thank Milo for this gesture.

He waves it off like it’s the least he can do.

I finish shaving him and lean down to kiss his shiny head.

“I don’t think you could possibly know how much this means to me,” I tell him softly.

He puts his hand on my cheek. “It hurts seeing you cry.”

He stands up, dusting his shoulders. He turns and looks at me.

“What do you think?” he asks.

“Your head is an odd shape, but I still like it.”

He frowns and turns quickly to look in the mirror.

I step on my tiptoes and stare over his shoulder. “I’m just kidding. You’re still ridiculously beautiful.”

He turns and tickles my sides before wrapping me in a hug.

“And you’ve totally won my heart with this one, Mildie,” I add.

“Is that right?” he asks, grinning.

A screech makes me jump.

“What is going on in here?” Grandma Donna cries. “Oh, fer crying out loud. Your hair.” She goes to each guy and wrings her hands as she stares at them. She makes a face when she sees Noah and Camden. “You need the hair, honey.”

She pats their shoulders and they just laugh.

“Nancy!” she yells. “You won’t believe what these hooligans were doing while we were makin’ peanut brittle!”

She tuts as she looks at her grandsons and lets out a little whimper when she sees Grayson.

“All your beautiful hair,” she says, sighing.

When she gets to Dad, she takes his hand.

“You still look handsome as ever, Everett. Stella would still swoon over you.” She pats his cheek.

"I’m not so sure about that, but thank you,” Dad says.

“What about me, Grandma?” Dylan asks.

“It could be worse,” she says. “You could’ve done this in January and then you’d freeze your patooties off.”