Page 92 of The Love Ambush
“Two weeks ago,” Trisha says with a fond look at my father. “Your father is just the kindest, most generous man I’ve ever met.”
“Well, he did abandon his family without a word or any sort of support,” I say, because I can’t hold back. “I’m not sure I’d call that kind, but I’m glad you’re happy.”
Trisha’s smile doesn’t fade, though her eyes narrow. “Oh, he told me all about that. Your mother forced him to leave and threatened him with all kinds of legal action if he didn’t stay away.” She pats my shoulder. “Addiction is one of the great evils of the world.”
I twist to look at my father over my shoulder, and he nods along, like this is all true, even though Mom didn’t start abusing opiates until a good six months after he left.
“My heart has been broken since the day I was forced to walk away, but having you girls with me is already putting the pieces back together,” Dad says.
Sophie frowns, clearly doubting his version of events, but Emily looks up at him like he’s her favorite pop star come to life.
Dad’s chin lifts, and he steps away from all of us. “Brodie’s free. I better take my chance to congratulate him.”
He grabs Trisha’s hand as he hurries away, waving to grab Brodie’s attention. Sophie turns to me, eyes wide. “He was lying about Mom, right?”
“He might really believe that’s what happened,” I say, trying to give my father the benefit of the doubt.
“Dad wouldn’t lie,” Emily says, arms crossed over her chest.
I held her while she cried for my father and tried multiple times to call him and beg him to come home. It’s not as easy for me to trust him as it is for her. “Everyone’s got their own version of every story, right? What matters is that he’s here now.”
At least until I figure out what the hell he’s actually up to.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Levi
I’ve been circling this ballroom all night, trying to get close to Gentry and failing. I can’t even get close to her father, who has somehow become best friends with everyone here. He didn’t say more to me than a ‘hey, Brodie’s friend,’ in passing, just like he did when we were kids. Either he’s dismissing me as a guy who can’t do anything for him, or he knows I was behind Brodie finding him and telling him not to come to the wedding.
Finally, right after dinner and before the cake cutting, I bump into Emily and Sophie. “Hey, girls,” I say. “Have you seen Gentry?”
“She left,” Emily says. “She said she had a headache, but I think she just really hates our dad.”
“She doesn’t hate him,” Sophie says.
“Then why was she so rude to him?” Emily asks. “He’s going to leave again if we aren’t nice.”
“If he leaves again, it won’t be our fault,” Sophie says, like she’s said the same thing about ten times tonight. “Just like it wasn’t our fault the first time. Right, Levi?”
“Right,” I say. “Parents have to stick around no matter how rude their kids are.”
“Whatever,” Emily says.
“Gentry said you’d give us a ride back to the farmhouse after everything’s done?”
“Of course,” I say. “Just find me when you’re ready to go.”
“Think we can go now?” Sophie asks. “All the fun stuff is over and the music sucks.”
I’ve already given my best man speech, and Brodie and Daphne won’t even notice I’m gone judging by the way they don’t seem to see anyone but each other. “I’m ready.”
The girls hug their new cousins goodbye, and we head out into the crisp evening air. Sophie and Emily are quiet, somber. I don’t point out that they didn’t say goodbye to their father. For all I know, they’ve said everything they need to say to him.
I could ask, but it’s not my place. The last thing I need to do is stick my nose in without talking to Gentry first. I might not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I learn from my mistakes.
“What did you think of the wedding?” I ask once we’re all in Brodie’s SUV and on the road.
“It was kind of boring,” Emily says. “I mean, I’m happy for Brodie and everything, but I thought it was never going to end.”
