Page 187 of Contempt

I told her I understood why she didn’t like me, and I knew I hadn’t done myself any favors in that department, but she’d never have to worry about me hurting her daughter. I told her I may be an asshole, but I’m the asshole who adores her daughter, and I’d sooner cut off my own arm than break Parker’s heart. I told her if Parker ever gets married, it’s going to be to me. If she ever gives her grandbabies, I’ll be their father. I told her I was completely serious about her daughter, that it’s not a game to me, and there is virtually no chance we will ever break up. Then I told her since what we both wanted was to see Parker happy, it might be a good idea if we tried a little harder to get along.

My speech seemed to ease some of her anxiety while probably contributing to a few new sources.

But since then, I think she’s gotten used to the idea that I’m not going anywhere. More than that, seeing me with Parker every day, I think she finally believes me. While she was tentative about me being her daughter’s boyfriend, since I announced my intention to be herhusband, she realized itwouldbe best to embrace me.

Personally, I don’t care about Gemma’s motivations or if she likes me. But it’s important to Parker, so I had to take care of it.

I watch Gemma being a neurotic mess, and my father’s steadying grip on her arms as he pulls her in and demands to know what’s wrong. I expect her to say she can’t find her purse since that’s what she was just bitching about, but she looks up at him and says, “Maybe this isn’t right. Parker has panda makeup on.”

He blinks at her. “What?”

“I know it’s just us, but I do want a nice photo of us all together to remember it by. And what if…?”

He stops her before she can continue. “I’ll make sure Parker is ready. You just go upstairs and find your purse. Grab a different one if you need to. We have to get going.”

“I’m not even sure about these shoes,” Gemma murmurs, but she turns and heads upstairs anyway.

My dad watches her until she’s out of sight, then he comes over and approaches me. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”

I nod, and he takes a seat on the couch beside me.

“I need to ask a favor.”

“Need a Xanax for the wife?”

He appears unamused. “No. Parker’s costume, why is that happening?”

“School thing. She was fundraising to save pandas. Dressed up for the occasion.”

“All right. Well, when we leave, can you get her in the shower?”

I smirk. “Now that’s a favor I can grant.”

He ignores my comment and soldiers on. “I need you both dressed and ready to leave at around 9:30. The event ends at 10. Wear something nice. Have Parker wear a pretty dress, something somewhat formal.”

I frown. “Why?”

“Because I need you to meet us at the marina at 10. The plan was for it to be a surprise, but while surprising Parker is fine, given our history… I wanted to talk to you ahead of time.”

Meet him at the marina?

I sit up a little straighter.

“I know you haven’t gone out on the boat in some time,” Dad begins. “I don’t want to bring up bad memories for you, and I’m not sure this will even make sense to you, but… your mother iswhyI want to do this. It’s the last place she was happy, the last place she waswith us. The sea is her final resting place, and in a sense, I feel like if we do it there, some part of her is with us. And I truly believe she would like Gemma. That she would give this her blessing if she could.”

“You’re going to marry her.”

He nods slowly, his blue eyes glinting with emotion. “That’s the plan,” he says, almost gently. “I want to do it tonight, on the boat. The captain can marry us. It will be just us, an intimate thing. Gemma hasn’t been married before, but she knows I prefer a very intimate wedding. I married your mother by the water. I’d like to marry Gemma there, too, but I would like your blessing.”

I stare at him, my jaw locked and my arms crossed. My father isn’t a man who can be intimidated, but I can tell from the tension in his body, he’s uneasy about what I’m going to say.

With reason.

But, for all the resistance I put up when he first moved Gemma in, I don’t have it in me to object now. Not only would I break my dad’s heart, but Parker would be so pissed off, she’d bury me in a grave of angry green octopuses.

“You have it,” I say simply.

The tension eases out of his shoulders immediately. “Thank you, Landon.”

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