Page 19 of Perfect (mis)Match

And that was part of the problem with my father. He was good company, fun to be with, always up for a good time, but when circumstances called for more, he disappeared. He had a trail of failed relationships as proof of his inability to work through challenges. He and I got along fine, but I wouldn’t consider him someone I could count on. For sure, he hadn’t been someone Mom could count on, way back when he was on his “starter” wife instead of just having ended things with wife number four.

“What’s up? I’m sort of in the middle of stuff,” I said.

“I’ll be quick,” he answered. “I just wanted to let you know I’m about to book an experiential vacation. Just making sure my dates won’t interfere with anything Summit has planned, like theEvermorelaunch.”

I sighed. He was always chasing aftersomething. Damned if I knew what, though. For most people, retiring is about relaxing and taking it easy. For my dad? It’s about one hare-brained, thrill-seeking adventure after another.

“What does ‘experiential’ mean, Dad? And don’t be vague.”

“Microdosing in Costa Rica!” he answered. “It’s called the Open Eyes for All retreat.”

I closed my eyes and rubbed my temples. “Dad,seriously? You’re going to another country to do hallucinogens? How is that even safe? Or legal?”

“I’ll be under the care of a shaman, it’ll be fine. My buddy Todd from the adventure race group did it and said it changed his life.”

The adventure race group, the mountain climbing club…his hobbies kept getting more dangerous. He was spry and fit for his age, but I knew he was taking risks that didn’t make sense.

After the close call with Nana Dee, I felt stronger than ever that I needed to help him downshift and realize life in the slightly slower lane was his best bet. I wasn’t about to lose him to one of his dangerous tough-guy activities.

The challenge was figuring out how to convince him not to do something he thought he wanted. In the past, we’d argued, I’d presented facts, I’d stopped talking to him…nothing derailed him once he got an idea in his head.

It was a quality I’d inherited.

Theonlything that slowed him down was family, specifically me. He’d been absent for most of my early life, but he swooped back into my world in a big way, and now he wanted to make up for lost time and ensure I had all the things he’d missed out on. A loving partner. Children I’d be present for. A legacy.

I glanced at the door Piper had just stormed out.

Maybe I could convince him I was going on exciting adventures in my own life, and I needed him around to be a part of them? So rather than jumping out of airplanes, he could get his thrills forging bonds with his future daughter-in-law, a.k.a. the mother of his potential grandchildren? It was the only thing I could think of that might stop his self-destructive behavior in its tracks.

Even if it was all make-believe.

It wasn’t exactly honest for me to try it, but I needed to save my father from himself. At this point, a Hail Mary pass was my only hope. I’d worry about the fallout later.

“So Dad, I’ve been meaning to tell you…” I swallowed my distaste for what I was about to do. “I, uh, I met someone.”

Piper’s beautiful face flashed through my mind.

“Did you now? That’s wonderful! WillIlike her?”

It was a jab about Maya. My father had hated her, but he hadn’t told me until we’d broken up.

“How would you like to meet her and find out for yourself? Let’s all go to dinner together.”

I ignored the nagging voice telling me there was no way Piper was going to agree to it.

“I’d love that! Name the time and place, and I’ll be there.”

I started pacing around my office as the realization of what I needed to do came into focus. Piper was going to gloat. Make me work for it. Damn it, Ihatedthat she had so much power over me.

But this wasn’t just about me. I hated needing a single person this much, but I was willing to do just about anything to save my father from himself.

“I’ll talk to her and get back to you,” I said through gritted teeth. “And don’t book that trip yet, okay? At least let me look into it first.”

“You got it,” he said agreeably, making me freeze in place. I hadn’t thought he’d listen to me. Last time I’d tried to talk him out of an adventure, I’d lectured him for anhourwithout makinganywhere near this much progress. Damn. I knew he wanted me to settle down, but I hadn’t known he wanted itthisbadly.

Okay, gotta see this through,I reminded myself. There’s nothing dumber than screwing up a successful strategy. When you’re winning, keep winning.

“What’s the lucky lady’s name?”

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