Page 6 of Obeying the Owner

“Gramps, if you retire, you won’t have to worry about your safety,” Gwen suggests.

Mom snickers, nodding. “Right. His fate is in his own hands.”

I shake my head. “No wonder I have no faith in women. My mother openly discusses offing my dad.”

“I think your lack of faith has more to do with your horrible past choices,” Mom drolls. “Although one of them resulted in giving us a beautiful granddaughter.”

“Thanks, Gram. I’m glad my parents met, but I’m thankful they’re not together.”

“You are?” I ask. She’s never mentioned anything of the sort to me before now.

“Yep.”

“Why?”

“You two can’t get along for more than ten minutes. Why would I want to live in a house full of arguing?”

Shit. I had no idea she felt this way, and now I’m ashamed of every single argument Claire and I have had over the years.

“I’m sorry that’s how you feel. I guess your mom and I need to do better.”

One of her shoulders jumps with a shrug. “It’s not a big deal.”

“It is to me. I never want you to be uncomfortable around your mom and me.”

Claire and I band together for Gwen’s sake when needed, but for the most part, we’re like oil and water. If it wasn’t for her getting pregnant with our daughter, all we would’ve shared was a week-long fling. But I’m thankful for Gwen every single day. She’s the best thing in my life, and obviously, I have to do better when interacting with Claire.

“Co-parenting must be so hard,” Terry offers.

I ruffle Gwen’s hair. “When you have a great kid like I do, it helps.”

“Dad.” She sighs with frustration as she smooths out the long brown strands I mussed.

“Who wants dessert?” Mom asks, and we all shout simultaneously, “Me!”

* * *

Once home, I change into a pair of pajama bottoms and an old white t-shirt. My mom sent extra chocolate cream pie home with us, and it’s calling my name as I wander back into the kitchen.

“Looks like we had the same idea,” I say to Gwen as she pulls out a stool at the counter. She licks some whipped cream from her thumb and smiles at me.

“I couldn’t resist. And I won’t even be here tomorrow night, so I figured I better have some now.”

“Yeah, this pie won’t last until the next time you’re here.” I grab a plate from the cabinet and join her on the other side of the island, sitting on the stool next to her. “Gram’s food is too delicious to pass up.”

She hands me the knife, and I cut a generous piece for myself.

“It’s a good thing you work out so much, or you’d have a jelly belly like Dean,” she says, mentioning her stepfather.

I laugh and then remember I shouldn’t encourage her. “Be nice. Dean’s good to you.”

“I know he is. That has nothing to do with his rapidly expanding stomach. He claims he’s being supportive by gaining baby weight along with Mom. But I think he’s nervous about becoming a dad and he’s eating his feelings.”

Jesus, my kid is astute.

“It’s only natural he’d be nervous.”

“Were you?” she asks.

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