Page 68 of Loved By Tandy

MATTHEW

Donna marches into the kitchen, her eyes red. “How could you? Mom loved you more than anything and spent her whole life taking care of you, and this is how you repay her? By replacing her with your high-school sweetheart?”

I expected my kids might be surprised but not mad. “Replacing her? I’m not trying to replace your mom. She isn’t replaceable.”

She swipes at tears. “Think of how it looks. As soon as Mom is gone, you rekindle a romance with your high-school sweetheart and move her into the home you shared with Mom. I’m guessing you wanted to get us all together so we could cheer on this new fling, but I won’t do it.”

My daughter was always closer to my wife than she was to me. So I’m trying to understand, but it stings.

“I thought my kids would be happy that I found love again.”

“A love that you have evidently had on hold since high school. What happened? Did Tandy not want you until she found out you had a nice big ranch and savings from a successful business? A business Mom helped you run.” Her chest heaves.

Daniel and David walk into the kitchen and stop when they see Donna’s red face.

This is not what I imagined when I planned a family meeting. “Donna is upset.”

Daniel nods. “That is kind of obvious. My question is why is she upset?”

She wipes her face. “Did you know that Dad has reconnected with his high-school sweetheart and moved her into this house? He’s probably gathered us all together to announce that he’s getting married again. Then she’ll get more than all his attention. She’ll get half of everything here. Mom would hate that.”

David shakes his head. “Tandy isn’t like that. Have you even met her?”

“We bumped into each other just long enough for me to hear how much Dad pleases her.” Donna crosses her arms. “You are a grown man, but if you go through with this and marry her against all our wishes, I’ll…” Sobs drown out whatever she planned to say.

“Please just listen to me.” Feeling ignored and talked over, I’m trying to rein in my anger.

“You have to choose, Dad.” When her husband peeks into the kitchen, she runs to him.

A second later, the front door closes.

Daniel and David exchange a look. Then Daniel says, “For the record, I don’t have a problem with your getting married. I think Donna is having a hard time because she misses Mom. She probably just needs some time. And David seems pretty certain that Tandy isn’t after you for money, so I’m not inclined to think you’re being blinded by love.”

David rubs his face. “Tandy isn’t after Dad’s money. She owns lots of property in town, and she just bought a pretty good-sized ranch. The woman isn’t hurting for money. Believe me.”

I’m not sure where David’s learned this information, but he’s had a business in town for many years. And while I know most of the ranchers in the area, he is more connected to the business realm.

Tandy and I haven’t talked about her assets. It was never really an issue. But hearing that she owns property in town—other than her house—is a surprise. “You mean like houses?”

“I mean like the strip mall with the donut shop, Haley’s photography studio, and Delaney’s store. Why do you think they get such great deals on rent?” David leans against the counter. “I should probably shut up now.”

I don’t bother to ask how he knows. And it doesn’t make one lick of difference to me what Tandy does or doesn’t own. I love her just a little more now that I know she’s been giving my daughters-in-law great deals on rent. But that wasn’t even because of me. When she decides she likes you, you get all the good things from Tandy. That’s just how she is.

Daniel pats my shoulder. “I’ll talk to Donna. No promises because unlike me, she can be a bit stubborn.”

David and I both laugh, which is exactly what Daniel expected.

But the second of levity dissolves quickly.

“I’m going to find Tandy.” I head down the hall, angry and upset.

My daughter rarely calls, barely visits, and now accuses me of replacing her mother. Losing Catherine was hard on all of us, and grief is different for everyone. I get that, and I’m trying to be understanding. But the things she said about Tandy were uncalled for. And just plain wrong.

When I walk into Tandy’s room, she’s packing a bag.

“What’s going on?” I try to sound calm, but it’s not really working.

Tandy gets down on her hands and knees, probably looking for her cats. Those two have taken to hiding under the bed when company arrives. It started after the grandbabies were over. “I’m trying to find Chip and Dale.”

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