Page 14 of Only Ever You
I shook my head emphatically. “Definitely not.” I paused, an old pain stinging in my heart. “I don’t want to travel. I’ve done enough of that. More than anything in the world, I want to be in one place. Willow Brook is where I was born and where I always wanted to come back to. I guess because when I was here, I felt—” I considered my words. “Settled. Maybe because of Gram being here.”
“Well, here’s the status. I’ve already talked to my attorney about it. Not just for you, but whatever I do, I need to know how to handle it. We could meet with her together, and she’ll line out how we need to handle it. For now, as far as baking full-time, your donuts are your thing. I don’t want to change that. For the other baking, how about I pay you an hourly wage? I can also add you to our health insurance. You need to work here twenty-five hours per week to qualify for that.”
“I am one hundred percent on board with this plan!”
Janet knew about my heart issue and that health insurance was a big deal for me. At the moment, I was paying through the nose for it.
She beamed. “Perfect! How about you start baking next week?”
“Works for me. Do I need to figure out a schedule with you?”
She shrugged. “Let me know what works for you. As long as we have the baked goods, I don’t care when you do the work.”
“I love you, Janet! I’d hug you, but I can’t.” I held up my hands, which were currently dusted in flour. “Air hugs.”
As the day went on, Josie and Casey heard the news about me coming on to bake full-time, and they were both ecstatic. Janet and I decided to wait on discussing any plans for me totake over the cafe until we hammered the details out and actually confirmed it.
That afternoon, as I was leaving, my phone vibrated. I glanced down to see a text from Parker.Pizza?
Chapter Nine
PARKER
“Parker!” my dad’s voice boomed through the phone.
“Hey, Dad,” I replied with a low chuckle.
“Just calling to see how you’re doing.”
“I’m doing,” I replied. “How are you and Elaine doing?”
“Good, good. I was actually calling to tell you we eloped,” he said as calmly as if he were sharing about the weather that day.
“Seriously?” I sputtered.
“Completely. I just needed to grow up and discover Elaine was special.” My dad sounded downright giddy about this news, his voice jovial.
“Oh, wow. Have you told Stella yet?” I asked, referring to my sister.
“Just got off the phone with her. We’re planning a poor man’s cruise for our honeymoon on the ferry. We got our own cabin and everything. There’s a stop in the Anchorage port, so we’re hoping to see you and Stella. We can rent a car and drive to Willow Brook.”
“Well, congrats. Text me the details for when you plan to visit. Of course, I’ll plan on meeting you one way or another when you’re nearby.”
“Awesome!”
My dad and I chatted for a few more minutes before he asked, “You seeing anyone? I kind of think it’s your turn.”
My mind instantly flashed to Luna, dialing back to the memory of that single kiss with her that afternoon years ago. Those few hours with her burned so deeply in my memory, every encounter with anyone since then had fallen short. And yet, I didn’t even know who she was. Not really.
“Parker?” my dad prompted.
I kicked my thoughts on track. “Not seeing anyone at the moment, Dad. I know you have high hopes,” I teased lightly.
“I just—” His voice hitched. “I love you, son. And, I know I kind of screwed up your childhood, but I want the best for you.”
“Dad,” I cut in. “Maybe things weren’t perfect when I was growing up, but I’m pretty sure nobody’s childhood is perfect. I always knew you loved me, and that’s the most important part. I’m just really glad you feel good about your life now. My life’s pretty good too. I have a job I love, I live somewhere beautiful, and I have good friends. I have you, and now, I guess a stepmom. It’s all good.”
A few beats of quiet echoed through the call. “I’m glad for all that, but I hate that you ended up in detention because I was a dumbass.”
