Page 73 of Home Tears

Dani readied herself. “What with?”

“My father is coming into town tonight, and he wants to stay at my home.”

“Whoa.” Jonah hadn’t said a word. “What? Your dad?”

“You don’t understand. My father. Is coming. And he wants to stay—at my home. At my house. My house, where I’m supposed to be having a party tonight and people are supposed to be giddy and drunk and laid. And Kate and Robbie are supposed to kiss tonight.” She stopped, pressed a hand to her stomach, and took a deep breath. “My father cannot step one foot in my home. He will ruin everything.”

“Oh.”

Kate and Robbie were going to kiss?

“He will not ruin my poker night. We’re going to dress as carnies tonight. That’s the plan. The back-up is animals. Kate’s going to be one of those belly dancers. Bubba’s the bearded lady, and I was going to dress as the blind hostess. I need him to stay somewhere else, and I’m going to tell him it’s my house.” She grasped Dani’s arm. “Please don’t judge me. My dad’s not like normal dads.”

“Hey.” Dani held up one hand in surrender. “I’m still trying to figure out who my dad might be. No judgments here.”

“Oh, good.” A few tears from relief leaked out. Even Aiden’s grin was a little shaky. “All we need is a place—a very nice place—and most of my stuff can be transferred there. I’ll hire people for all the moving. Of course, whoever’s place we stay at, we’ll have to get rid of their pictures and keepsakes, but we can do it. We can do it! I just need your help. You don’t have a job. You have time.”

Dani took a step back, on instinct.

Aiden rushed inside, producing a thermos from behind her back. Aiden poured the rest of Dani’s coffee into the thermos and grabbed her arm again. “We can take my car.”

Dani managed to grab her purse and keys before she was dragged outside. “So, whose house are you going to use?”

“That’s the problem.” Aiden frowned as she gulped some coffee. “I’ve been thinking about that. My dad’s wealthy. He’s going to expect a certain type of house and our house won’t pass muster.”

“He’s never been to your house?”

“Hell no! Are you kidding? My father is stuck-up, rich, and thinks mansions grow on trees.”

“So, who has a mansion for use?”

“I’ve been racking my brain, and I can’t really—Robbie! Robbie just bought a huge house. That’s perfect. He didn’t move in too long ago. He probably hasn’t had any time to collect furniture, and I’m betting Lori got rid of most of his personal belongings. Lori’s the type who would do that. That’s great!” Aiden’s eyes lit up in anticipation.

“What am I in charge of?”

“Okay—we’re going to Robbie’s. He should be at the office right now. You charm Kelley Lynn, get his keys from her, and I’ll head in to schmooze it over with Robbie.”

“Me and Kelley Lynn? No.”

“Yes.” Her head was bobbing up and down. “The girl’s been biding her time before she pounces on you.”

Dani frowned.

Aiden continued without thinking, “Everyone knows—Erica knew you were coming back. She made all her friends promise to be really nice to you. Only Julia’s the stick-in-the-mud. Kelley Lynn promised, but she thought you needed time to adjust being back home, so anyway, Kelley Lynn will only be too happy to help us. She’ll probably even help with decorations.”

“Decorations?”

“Yeah. Anything Robbie has won’t be good enough for Father Dearest.”

Aiden raced around a corner, and Dani grabbed the door handle to keep from falling. “Won’t your father think it’s weird that you give him your house and don’t stay there?’

“No. He’ll think I did it to spite him.” Aiden shrugged. “It’s something I’d do. The problem is,” Aiden continued, rambling to herself, “is that I need really rich stuff, but I can’t afford to buy it all.”

“What about your kids’ rooms and their stuff?”

“Oh, no. I’ll just tell him that they stay at the nanny’s house. He’ll believe that. He has no clue.”

Dani was taken aback.

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