Page 62 of Five Alarm Love
Taking extra time to remove her shoes and collect herself, Lou finally sat down on the other end of the couch from her father.Gordy wasn’t in the living room.He must be resting in bed.
“Why were you like that tonight, Dad?”
“Like what?”All innocence.Not going to fly.He knew what he had done.
“Giving Tuli the third degree.”
Dad pressed his lips into a hard line and stared at the post-game Seahawks recap on the TV.“I only want what’s best for you.”
“Tuli and I were telling you what was best.”
“Are you sure?”
“We are adults making choices, so it’s right for us.Maybe it works out, maybe not.But I’m interested enough to want to see where this relationship goes.”
Mom sat in the rocking chair, a crossword puzzle on her lap.“I like Tuli.Always have.Nice guy.”
Dad turned toward Lou.“Are you sure you don’t want to date other guys?Someone with a more solid future?”
“What are you saying?”
“Look, Tuli is a nice guy.Your mom is right.But he has that injury that’s still affecting him.”The words seemed to spill out, like a dam breached.“Both his parents had issues.He might be higher risk for addiction.And what kind of job is a social media influencer, anyway?All I’m saying is, don’t settle.Look around first.”
Lou reared back as her jaw dropped.“You do understand he almost died in that accident last spring, yet he is still back to work?Give the guy some credit.Lumping him in with his parents is kind of low, Dad.”Dinner congealed in her gut.“It’s even more testament to his character that he has made something of himself, given that start to life.Settling?You’re kidding, right?”She paused.“Besides, I looked around before.That only got me hurt.”
Mom said, “Honey—” Hard to know whether she was talking to Lou or Dad.
He lifted an outstretched hand.“You could go out with some other guys.See what else is out there.Hunter has some friends…”
“I’m sure he does.”
“Why the attitude?He’s your cousin.Besides, he’s solid.We’ll probably use him as our coordinator for the mining project.”
Studying her father, she asked, “Why?He hasn’t lived here in years.Did you check references?All of a sudden, he comes back to town and gets into the management of a future mine.”
“He’s from here.He’s family.Hunter understands Yukon Valley and the Koyukon group’s culture.That guy is going places.”
“As opposed to a person like Tuli, is what you’re saying.”
“Louise!”Mom said.
“It’s true.”God, she hated conflict.“You’ve been sour on Tuli since I told you we were hanging out as more than friends.”
“Well…” Dad shook his head.
Mom gently interjected, “Have you told him about the genetic issues?”
Lou’s eyes stung.“Yes.”
“And?”
That might be the bigger wedge.Not Dad and his vision of a brighter future with Lou and Mr.Mining’s superior friends.
“Tuli seemed to understand the test results and what it meant.”
“Probably hasn’t sunk in.”Dad crossed his arms and leaned back on the couch.
Lou blew out a big breath.“You two have way too much time on your hands.Go stir the pot elsewhere.Hang out with Bruce and Aggie.They like meddling in people’s lives.”
