Page 299 of Unexpected Ever After

“What?” she grins. “I think we’re well past formalities now, don’t you?”

“No,” Zelda whispers harshly.

“Come on, we’re all friends here,” her daughter tries to convince her. “By the way. Nice dimple.”

“I don’t have any dimples,” I say, confused, and Zelda chokes on a cough while Merritt has a frightening twinkle in her eye.

“Umm,” Zelda tries to wade in but it’s like a car crash and none of us can look away.

“You do on your ass,” Merritt says helpfully.

“I do not.”

“You do,” both mother and daughter say at the same time.

“Well…” I start. “I’m glad we can all be adults here.”

“Of course,” Merritt agrees.

“I’m glad you feel that way because I’ve been meaning to ask you about your intentions where Wyatt is concerned.”

“No comment.”

“That’s what I thought,” I reply with my own grin now. “Now that that’s all out of the way, how about I take you both to lunch?”

“That would be nice.”

“Of course, Daddy-o.”

Zelda changes her shoes and grabs her coat and we all head out to our cars. Merritt chooses to drive herself into town, probably so she can escape as soon as possible.

One thing is for certain, she might be calling me a cute father nickname to goad me, but I like it more than I thought I would. I want to be their dad. I just hope I’m worthy of the honor.

Chapter 10

Zelda

ANYMORE

Nervous. I’m more freaking nervous than a long-tailed cat in a house full of clog dancers. All because Court showed up at my house last night and offered me all the dreams I thought had died the first time my husband beat the crap out of me.

It’s hard to let go of girlish dreams but when your front teeth have to be capped because a fist to the mouth snapped them in half, it’s as good a time as any to let them go. Afterward, I promised myself no more.

That, of course, was also wrong. But, before my first boyfriend knocked me up and stole all my hope and wishes, I’d wanted to get married. I wanted a fairytale wedding to the man of my dreams. A man who would love me so much, he thought everything about me magnificent. And we would settle down in a little house in our hometown. I’d have his babies and keep his house while he worked at the automotive factory. He’d be the best husband and father to our babies, and I’d be the best wife and mother ever. And we’d live happily ever after, in bliss.

Then a couple years after my teeth were capped, somewhere between changing cars on the highways between there and here, and hiding out in my refuge, I gave up. Like the pirates of the Caribbean said, “Abandon hope, all is lost.”

I made a happy life with my girls in Alaska. I built a small business that helps see us through. And my girls grew up to be everything that I’d hoped to be. Parker, collected, driven, and successful; Audrey, not only a talented nurse but a fantastic mother; and Merritt, strong and brave.

And then Court Davies blew in with his wavy blond hair and muscles. I tried to push him away and he wouldn’t go. He likes me for me and damn it all to hell if I’m not more than halfway in love with him.

Not only was he not upset when Merritt caught us in the fields with his pants around his ankles, but he laughed it off and gave her as good as she gives when she teases and pokes. Then he took us to lunch and spent the time getting to know my daughter—not as a colleague but as a man in my life who’s actually interested in my family that I love above all else.

He made me wonder what it would have been like if I’d had a true partner this whole time. What would it have been like if the girls had had a father who guided them into adulthood with love and kindness and not a hard fist and a punishing belt?

The worst part of all? Court makes me want things. He makes me feel like it’s not too late to have all my dreams come true. And then I remember that while I may still be young, my children are grown and gone. That I have a granddaughter to spoil, but my days of bottles and diapers are gone.

Court may be older than me but he’s still in the prime of his life. A man like him would want his own babies. To get to walk the halls with them, to watch them take their first steps, and all the life steps that come after. There’s a woman out there to settle down with him, build a home and a life, and raise those babies. It’s just not me.

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