Page 110 of Restricted List

I could use a nice stress reliever.

thirty-four

Rory

“Merry Christmas, Dad!” Isay happily as I shrug off my coat after walking through the door. I haven’t seen him since he talked to Cole, and I’ve spent the past couple of days figuring out how to act like I don’t know that he asked him to spy on me. Faux happiness is what I’m going with.

“There’s my baby girl,” he says as he steps into the entryway, coming over and wrapping me up in a tight hug.

“Dad, I’m twenty-six. How long are you going to call me that?”

He laughs as he loosens his hold on me. “You’re always going to be my baby girl, Rory. Just like I’ll always be your Daddy.”

I have to bite my lip to hide a smile. When I’m with Cole, Daddy and baby girl take on a whole new meaning.

A far morefunmeaning.

I can’t wait to see him tonight.

“Is that Rory?” I hear an older woman’s voice ask from the living room.

“Nana!” I shout, running off as my dad chuckles behind me.

She meets me at the end of the hall, and I immediately throw my arms around her.

“I thought that was you I heard,” she says, hugging me back happily.

“I had no idea you were going to be here,” I say, a bright smile on my face. “Is Pap here, too?”

“He’s raiding the snacks in the dining room,” she laughs. “Goodness, we missed you so much, Rory.”

“I missed you, too. It’s been too long.”

I haven’t seen my Nana and Pap in a few years now since they live in Colorado. And while they may be my mother’s parents, I’ve always had a great relationship with them. The apple fell far from the tree with her.

“Jane said she’s sorry she couldn’t make it.”

I sigh and shake my head. “Nana, you and I both know that isn’t true.”

She lets out a deep breath. “I still hold out hope that one day my daughter will realize how spectacular her own daughter is. She did send a gift with us, though.”

Every time she sends a gift, it proves how little she actually knows me. I can’t imagine this will be any different.

Nana gives me a sympathetic look as I sigh. “I know she’s not the greatest with gifts, Rory, but maybe this year is different.”

“I’ll believe it when I see it,” I mutter under my breath as she steers me away from the entryway and into the living room where my Pap is now waiting for us.

“There’s my favorite granddaughter!” he says, lighting up as he sees me.

I smile and take a seat next to him. “I’m your only granddaughter, Pap.”

“Because my other kids were evidently only capable of making boys,” he laughs. “Too much damn testosterone.”

He wraps an arm around me as I lean my head on his shoulder. “I’m so glad to see you both.”

“Come out to Colorado sometime then. You know where to find us.”

“I’m in Colorado every season,” I chuckle. “But we’re usually too busy to get away during the series. That and taking care of Sage keeps me occupied.”

---