Page 114 of A Little Naughty

Pushing open the door, I’m surprised to see it’s cleaned up and neat. It’s also empty. I guess I should’ve called before I came instead of assuming he’d be here.

Returning to the kitchen, I open the cabinet under the sink to check the trash. I’m relieved to see it’s empty, and no bottles are on top of the refrigerator. Inside the fridge is a plastic container of what looks like leftovers on the top shelf. A loaf of bread is beside it, along with eggs, milk, and a six-pack of RC Cola.

Dragging my palm across my mouth, I try to understand what this means when the screen door opens. I watch as my dad hesitates on the landing, actually scuffing the bottoms of his boots on the entrance mat.

He’s dressed in clean jeans and a long-sleeved shirt that might have been ironed, and he does a little jump when he sees me.

“Raif.” His face relaxes with a smile, and he walks over, pulling me into a hug. “What are you doing here, son?”

“What are you doing?” He smells clean, and I step back, noticing his hair has been combed.

“Just getting back from my meeting. Sheila gave me a ride.”

I look out the door and notice a white Camry leaving the driveway. “Who’s Sheila?”

“One of Bender’s friends.” He walks into the kitchen, stopping in the center of the room. “Why are you here?”

“I said I’d check on you. I’m just in Eureka, not Australia.”

He looks around like he’s unsure what to do. “Can I get you something? I only have water and RC cola to drink.”

“I’m good. I don’t need anything.” I’m not sure how to ask this, so I just ask it. “Did you stop drinking?”

“Well…” He scratches the side of his jaw. “Maybe. Ben got me hooked up with this program. I’m not supposed to say I’m ever done drinking, but it’s been a few weeks now.”

A flicker of hope ignites in my chest. “The place looks good. It cleans up all right.”

He nods, stepping to the door. “I got all that crap out of the carport, and I hauled a bunch of junk to the landfill. I’m not so good like you are with the beds, but I’m keeping the weeds out.”

“You should’ve called me. I could’ve helped you.” Actually, now that I’m saying it, I probably couldn’t in my condition.

“Nah, it gave me something to do.” He looks up at me. “Ben said you were recovering anyway, and you got that new wife and all.”

We’re quiet, and a shaggy black-and-white mutt walks across the yard and lies down in front of one of the lawn chairs facing the chiminea. Even the dog doesn’t seem afraid, which always bothered me in the past.

The meanness is gone, and I never knew how much I wanted this until now, looking at the cleaner yard, the swept porch, the half-full refrigerator. It’s like a fist I’ve been holding in my chest relaxes.

Exhaling deeply, I grip his shoulder. “Mom would be real proud of you, Dad.”

He looks up with the same blue eyes as me, and his face wrinkles with a grin. “She’d be real proud of you, son.”

Man, I hope she would. It was pretty much the only thing keeping me going until I met Jemima.

“Maybe you could come to town and have dinner with us some night.”

“I’d like that.” Hope lights his eyes, and I’m not letting this progress go.

“Thursday night work for you?”

“I’ll be there.”

CHAPTER33

JEMIMA

“What do you think of Harold Waters?” Monay’s long nails flick against the arcana cards as she shuffles them. Nikki sits across the table from her, watching curiously.

“I think he’s easily influenced.”

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