Page 44 of Booked for the Holidays
“A girl in my class said Dad must not be very smart if he works around tools all the time. Someone also said he only got the job because of his parents, and he doesn’t have to actually work to make money. But I know how much time he spends at the store. He’s there a lot. He could give some duties to other people, he just won’t. Uncle Lucas talked to him about it once, and my dad blew him off, saying something about personal responsibilities.”
“Mac, your dad is very smart. I got my degree in business management, and running a successful company is a helluva lot harder than being an employee at an entry-level position with a large corporation. Making all the important decisions? Paying people so they can afford to put food on their table? Figuring out budgets and insurance all by yourself while you’re not making millions of dollars a year? It’s really, really difficult.
“Girls your age can be mean. Some outgrow it. Others don’t. Maybe they’re bitter that your dad comes home for dinner every night, while theirs are distracted by their cell phones. Maybe they are jealous you get to hang out with him whenever you want. Or, maybe, they are brats who will never learn to be kind.”
“Yeah.” Mac nods. “Maybe.”
I know this is an important conversation for us to have, and I want to say the right things. I want to give Mac guidance and not dismiss her. What she’s going through is a big deal, and I can tell it’s weighing on her.
“Theo loves you so much. I’ve known you existed for like, two minutes, and I can tell you without any doubt, you are his entire world. What you say means a lot to him. Have you talked to him about how much he works? Or about the people who are being unkind?”
“No.” She puffs out another sigh. “Sometimes…” A frown and a shake of her head. “It’s too terrible to say.”
I shrug and take a sip from my drink. “There’s no judgment here. You can also keep it to yourself. Both are good options.”
“Sometimes I wish I had someone else to talk to besides him. Like a mom or a sister. Not in place of him,” she amends quickly. “Just like, they’re there too. Grams is nice, but she’s older. I feel like I’m alone with all these stupid changes I’m going through. If I told Dad some of this stuff he’d think it was his fault, like he did something wrong. He’dflipif he heard what that girl said.” Mac takes a breath after the long-winded revelation. “I love him, and he’s the best dad in the world. I know I’m his priority, but what about the other things that make him happy? He can’t love workthatmuch, can he?”
“How old are you?” I ask her.
“Twelve. I’ll be thirteen right before Christmas.”
“Your self-awareness is freaking impressive. Sweetie, he’ll listen to you. Nothing you can do will ever make him not happy. Trust me. If you think he works too much, you should tell him. And forget those girls. Someone’s job doesn’t define them as a person.”
“Can you talk to him for me?”
“Nice try, squirt. I’m at the bottom of the totem pole of people Theo cares about. I don’t have a lot of pull.”
Mac considers my statement thoughtfully. “That’s not true. He was really nervous to introduce us. He wouldn’t shut up on the walk over that afternoon and kept saying the stupidest things. When we left the store after meeting you, he was smiling in the car. He smiles sometimes, but not as much as he used to. And definitely not from letting me meet a stranger.”
I take another sip of my scalding beverage to keep my lungs from seizing. “He did?”
“Yeah. When I asked him about it, he told me to mind my business.”
I grin. I can picture it now. The roll of his eyes, the denial. The grumble under his breath as he insists she’s making things up. All bark and no bite, trying to change the subject from her prying questions.
“Wait.” Mac’s feet drop to the floor and she sits up straight. “You’re smiling, too!”
“Am not! You’re seeing things.”
“All you adults and your secrets. It’s unfair. What should I do about the girls?”
“Kill them with kindness. Invite them to the store. Ignore them. The nicer you are, the more likely they are to drop it. People hate when their words don’t have an impact.”
“You’re not that old, BB, but you’re really smart.”
“I appreciate your backhanded compliment,” I laugh. “Are you feeling better?”
“Yeah, I am. Thanks for talking with me. I appreciate it.”
“You can talk to me about anything. I’m happy to listen and give an unbiased opinion. Unless it’s something dangerous to yourself or others, my lips are sealed.”
“Do you have a boyfriend?”
I blush at the abrupt question. Damn kids and their lack of filter. “No. I don’t.”
“Why not?”
“For the record, there’s nothing wrong with being alone. I guess I’ve always kind of settled instead of holding out for the love I deserve. Which you should never, ever do, by the way. So now I’m just waiting until something feels right. Owning the store doesn’t give me a ton of free time, either, so packing in the dates is difficult.”
