Page 97 of The Lies I've Told
“Is it much like it is here? Foster care, I mean.”
I sort of shrugged. “I guess it depends on where you end up and with whom,” I said. “There are people who mean well and have their heart in it and those who don’t. Unfortunately, in the city where I grew up, I think the heartless outweighed those in it for the right reasons, and I wasn’t given the best upbringing, but at least I had brothers. Foster brothers. And that made it bearable.”
He nodded silently to himself, thinking for a moment before replying, “Well, I don’t know much about that, but I do know what it’s like to grow up poor. Dirt poor. The only reason I was able to go to college was because I could throw a football. And thank God for that; otherwise, I wouldn’t have met her.” His eyes drifted to his wife.
“It all worked out,” I found myself saying, my own gaze finding Millie.
He agreed, “It did, but there were days early on in our marriage where I would work myself to the bone, scared to death we’d run out of money—or worse, I’d fail the legacy her parents had given to us with this inn. I didn’t stop working, didn’t stop moving, until Molly took over a few years ago.” He chuckled under his breath. “I think I’ve spent more hours sleeping in these precious years of retirement than I have in my whole life.”
I joined him in laughter.
“I know the feeling,” I said. “I just earned my biggest payout on a show in my career.”
“Will it hold you?” His voice held the concern of a father.
“For a while,” I answered. “For a good long while.”
Our eyes met and held.
“And then? What’s your next move?”
I knew where he was going, what he was asking.
Are you going to leave Millie high and dry after this job finishes?
What are your real intentions with my baby girl?
This was my opportunity to put his doubts to rest.
“I don’t know,” I answered honestly. “Over the last few weeks, my priorities have shifted. My career is still important, but it’s no longer the primary focus in my life. Millie is. So, where I sculpt no longer matters as long as she is next to me.”
His gaze narrowed, until, finally, a large hand rose up to my shoulder, pulling me into a welcoming hug. “That’s all I needed to hear. But, if you could talk her into staying here, I’d buy you a house as a wedding present,” he said in a low whisper, patting my back before stepping back.
My eyes widened in shock.
“Enjoy the fireworks,” he said before taking his wine and heading off toward the grass. He looked over his shoulder and gave me a thumbs-up.
I followed his lead, grabbing the beer and wine off the table and walking back to Millie.
“Looks like you and my dad were having a meaningful talk over there,” she said as I took a seat and handed over her rosé.
“I’m pretty sure he offered to buy me a house.”
“What?”
“Nothing,” I said.
“Oh! The fireworks are starting!” She cuddled up to me, both of us ignoring the ridiculously humid temperatures as the first firework lit up the sky.
“What were you doing on this day last year?” she asked.
I thought back, trying to remember my Independence Day a year ago.
“You’re smiling,” she said.
“That’s because I just realized what I was doing at this moment one year ago.”
“If you say banging another chick, I will literally end you right here.”
