Page 65 of Finding Home

Thinking back to that day, I remember him telling me it wasn’t what it seemed. I’d been so livid, so hurt, that I didn’t really believe him. I just assumed he’d try to explain it away. I thought he was trying to convince me that he’d had the plans drawn up in case we changed our minds, meaning he planned to keep bugging us.

He’d looked guilty when I’d questioned him about it, so how could I think anything else? Dante has always been about business, making a profit, securing that deal. Who would have guessed he had this in mind?

I should have. I know who he is deep down. Way deep down. So far hidden that I finally decided that part of him would never break the surface again. But maybe I was wrong.

“I still can’t believe it,” Sam says with a shake of her head. “I never thought I’d see the day when your brother would go out of his way to do something for someone without expecting anything in return.”

“That still doesn’t excuse him for breaking Kylie’s heart,” Madi says with a frown. “And I’ve got to wonder if there still isn’t something in it for him.”

“Madi,” I admonish lightly, but I’m touched that she's looking out for me. I guess I feel a little guilty for thinking the same thing, and hearing her voice my thoughts amplifies that guilt.

“You’ll just have to ask Dante about that,” Knox tells Madi, then he turns and grins at me. “As for you, you need to get cleaned up. You’re all blotchy and snotty from crying.”

He waggles his eyebrows and leans in close. “I heard a rumor that Dante is back in town.”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

DANTE

Finally, I’m back in Willowcreek. It’s taken me a few days to get everything I wanted to do accomplished, but I’ve made it. My first instinct is to go straight to Kylie and straighten out my mess, but there’s something else I need to do first. Something that needed to get done for a very long time.

After loading my rental car with my luggage, I drive through town to my dad’s house. I haven’t been here in a long time and it feels strange, but not necessarily in a bad way. There are a lot of memories here, including many involving Kylie. Like Knox said, she has been a part of my life since I was a kid and it’s taken me all this time to realize just how special she is.

I park along the curb and just sit in the car for a few minutes. The house looks pretty much the same, although it could do with a coat of paint. The lawn is green and freshly mowed. Dad has never been one to have a bunch of flowers around. Instead, there are neatly trimmed hedges lining the outside of the house.

Getting out of the car, I walk up the sidewalk leading to the house. Halfway there, though, the sound of a saw reaches my ears, and I pivot and head around the side of the house to the backyard where the shop is located.

The smell of sawdust instantly hits me and for once I don’t feel bitter about it. I used to hate the idea of Knox wasting his time working with Dad in the shop, thinking he could do much more with his life. But now, as I step inside and breathe deeply, I realize that I was just being a prick. Why should I care what Knox does as long as it makes him happy?

Besides, it’s not all bad memories. I take my first look around the shop in years. In fact, Knox and I had a lot of good times here. Like when Knox wanted to surprise Dad for Christmas one year and tried to build a birdhouse for him, roping me in to help so he didn’t cut his fingers off. It didn’t turn out great at all, but Dad had seemed happy and had praised us for our hard work.

There were also times, mostly before mom left, when I’d come out here and work with Knox and Dad on projects. In my effort to put distance between me and family—well, really, between myself and anyone else—I’d forgotten just how much fun we’d had together.

My gaze travels around the shop and then pauses when my eyes land on Dad. He has his back to me, safety glasses over his eyes, ear protection on, and he hasn’t noticed me yet. It’s been years since I’ve seen him, and even with his face covered by a dust mask, I can still see the effects of age starting to settle in. He isn’t standing as straight as he used to and it looks like he’s lost a bit of weight since the last time I saw him. He’s not too skinny, but he’s definitely smaller than he used to be.

He turns off the circular saw, then lifts turns toward me. His eyes widen in surprise.

“Dante?” He strips off the mask, glasses, and ear protection in a flash.

I nod and walk farther into the shop. “Hi, Dad.”

After a brief hesitation, he grins and walks toward me. “It’s so good to see you!” He stops in front of me and gives me a once over. “You look good.”

Now that I’m here, I don’t know what to say or where to even begin. I’ve spent most of my life ignoring him, and now that I’m ready to try and mend our fences, I don’t know how.

“Knox has kept me up to date with what you’re doing. Well, besides what I find in the financials and real estate sections of the newspaper.” Dad smiles a bit shyly. “I’m proud of you for going after your dream and achieving it.”

It’s funny how hearing that he’s proud of me has such a profound effect. I almost feel like a little kid again, showing my dad a picture I drew and him telling me how wonderful it was. I guess no matter your age, hearing a parent is proud of you really means something.

“Thanks,” I say, not sure how else to answer.

“How do you like New York?” he asks into the silence that follows. “I don’t think I’d like all that hustle and bustle and noise, but you’ve always wanted more, so I figure that kind of fast lifestyle suits you.”

I nod. “I like New York. It’s perfect for my business and I can get whatever I need quickly.”

Dad frowns, cocking his head to his side. “But you’re not completely satisfied, are you?”

My emotions must be written all over my face. Something else I’m not used to. Somehow, after realizing I love Kylie and opening my heart, I’ve lost my ability to appear cool and nonchalant. I hope it’s not a permanent thing, at least not when it comes to dealing with my clients.

---