Page 100 of Beat around the Bush
I nodded. “Yes.”
“And that’s why you want to stay in this middle-of-nowhere town? Because of some guy?”
I pressed my lips together. He wouldn’t understand. He was going through a divorce with the woman who was supposed to be by his side through everything. Of course he wouldn’t understand why I’d want to stay.
Heaving a sigh, I stood from the chair. “I’m not leaving Bell Buckle, Dad.”
A light knock tapped on the door, and Jacey peered in with the till in her hand. “Do you want me to count this out or…”
“I can do it.” I walked around the desk, grabbing the register till from her. “Sorry, Jacey. If you want to get out of here, you can. You don’t have to wait for me.”
“I’ll just take care of some things in the back. Come get me when you’re ready to leave,” she said.
“Okay. Thanks.”
She nodded and headed down the hall.
Setting the till on the desk, I stayed standing as I looked at my dad in the chair. “Can we talk about this later?”
“I have a meeting in Denver I need to get back for in the morning, so I’m taking the redeye out of here tonight.” He stood from the chair, straightening his shirt. “I have an extra ticket if you’re willing to leave.”
“I’mnotleaving!” What was so hard to understand about that? My life in Denver was just getting by. It was okay, but it didn’t make me feel how I felt here in Bell Buckle. How I felt when I was with Lennon. I wouldn’t trade what I had here for settling back in my old life. In the beginning, I might have, but somewhere along the way, I’d changed my mind.
He seemed taken aback by my outburst, and I was sure he was. It was rare that I spoke up for myself, but not because he forced me to cower. I just didn’t like hurting people's feelings by telling them things they may not want to hear because I felt a certain way. But I was done being quiet. The only way I’d be happy was if I finally stood up for myself andwhat I wanted.
Something changed in me the day I left Denver, and whatever this new bravery was that I felt was exactly what I needed. It’d been missing my whole life, and I found it here.
“Is this really what you want?” he asked quietly.
My eyes welled with tears, but I refused to let them fall. “It is.”
He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing with the action. Just that small movement showed a speck of acceptance, like he was finally understanding that I was serious in my decision. “If you want to talk further, you can call me. I’m sorry you’re not happy with me right now, Oakley.”
“It’s not that. I’m happy here. Don’t get me wrong, I was happy in Denver, too, but this is different. Bell Buckle feels like home.”
His face softened as he did his best to understand. He came around the desk, pulling me against his chest. “I love you, Oakley. All a dad wants is for his daughter to be happy, and if you’re happy here, then I just have to accept that. But please know that you can come back to Denver anytime. You’ll always have a room with me or your mom.”
I nodded as he let me go. “Thanks, Dad. I love you, too.”
“You’re going to be the one to tell your mother, though. Not me.”
I smiled. “That’s fine with me. Let me walk you out soI can finish closing.”
I led him to the front of the store and unlocked the door to hold it open for him. “Let me know when you get home safe,” I told him.
“I will. You be safe, too, okay?”
“Always am.”
“Love you, Oakley,” my dad said with a small smile.
“Love you, too, Dad.”
I watched as he got in his rental car in the parking lot, pulling out of the lot with his headlights illuminating the falling snow.
A small part of me hurt as I watched him leave, but I wouldn’t mistake that with thinking I made the wrong choice. Bell Buckle was right for me. Denver was in my past, the place that I grew up, but that didn’t mean I had to stay there forever to appease everyone else.
My life wasmine, and not everyone had to agree with my choices.
