Page 60 of Wanting You

Her father’s eyes went wide as he looked back at Tanner. “You don’t say! That is fascinating. I don’t think I’ve ever met a professional skier.” He shifted slightly in his chair before leaning a little closer. “So tell me, what exactly does that mean? Did you compete in the Olympics? Do you have any gold medals?”

Folding his hands on the table, Tanner shook his head. “I competed in two Olympics, but never placed. I do, however, hold several national titles, and I’ve competed in several Alpine World Cups. And while an Olympic medal would have been great, I’m very happy with everything I’ve accomplished.”

“As well you should!” Ronan said. “Good for you! Your parents must be very proud of you!”

He nodded. “They are.”

“And now you’re teaching kindergarten? That seems like a complete one-eighty for someone like you. I would think you would have gone on to coach or be a spokesperson.”

“Oh, I am a spokesperson for a major company, but it’s not something that I could make a career out of. Besides, I’ve always wanted to be a teacher. Skiing was just something that went from being a hobby to a little something more for several years. Now I’m exactly where I was always meant to be.”

Chloe listened to him and couldn’t help but notice how passionate he sounded.

And instantly wondered if she’d ever sounded that way when she talked about her job.

Of course you have…everyone always says how much you light up when you talk about teaching. Stop comparing yourself, dang it!

“Good for you,” her father said, sounding like he was proud of Tanner, even though they just met. “And you’re dating the best teacher this little town has ever seen! You could learn a lot from my Chloe.”

“Dad…” she whined.

“What? Can’t a father brag about his daughter? Especially when she’s won awards, too?”

“It’s not a competition,” she murmured.

“Okay,” Ashlynn said loudly. “Back to you being here to take care of Mom. Now that I think of it, I really don’t think this is a good idea.”

To his credit, their father didn’t look the least bit offended. He took a slow sip of his drink before he addressed them all. “I know every one of you has ideas about how you’re going to juggle your jobs and your busy lives while taking turns to help Marie. And while it’s all very commendable, it’s not practical.” He paused for a moment. “The last thing she wants is to be a burden.”

There was a collective round of snorts and murmurs of disbelief.

“Dad, I don’t think you’re familiar with the current version of who Mom is,” Billie said diplomatically. “She kind of…thrives on being a martyr. I think I speak for all of us when I say it’s going to be worse if we don’t all inconvenience ourselves a bit to help her when she gets home.”

Frowning, Ronan shook his head. “Then it’s an even better thing that I’m here. I know staying out of your lives for all those years was a mistake, and this sort of thing just confirms it. Now, I can’t tell any of you not to make time to help your mother, but I am telling you not to disrupt your entire lives to do it.”

“Dad,” Levi began, but his father stopped him.

“Son, you’ve got a company to run. Almost every business in town relies on you for their advertising needs.” Then he looked over at Jade. “And you run a very successful coffee shop every single day while being a great mom to Silas.” Then he looked at Billie. “I don’t even know when you sleep, Wilhelmina.”

“Dad!” she cried in mortification. “No one calls me that! Ever!”

“Bah,” he said, waving her off. “It’s a fine name!”

“Oh my God…”

“Fine, I don’t even know when you sleep, Billie. Happy?”

She nodded.

“You’re already overextended between all the baking you do and helping both Jade and Ashlynn with their businesses. When’s the last time you did anything that was just for you? Heck, when’s the last time you went away for a few days and just had some fun with your friends? Or a boyfriend?”

Groaning loudly, Billie gently banged her head on the table. “Make it stop.”

“We get what you’re saying, Dad,” Levi countered, “but…”

“Ashlynn, your salon is always busy! Your customers are willing to wait weeks to get in to see you. The first year of business is critical. You can’t just take time away or go to work grouchy because you spent too many nights with your mother and she made you crazy.”

That made them all snicker a bit.

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