Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 71679 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 358(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71679 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 358(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
Okay, I know my dad is for sure shell-shocked now because that is not a normal thing to say. That is not a normal reaction.
“Dad, no,” I groan, finally forcing my tongue to work again. “He said fake married. But we’re, uh…looking into options for that.”
My dad shifts in the lawn chair, not just because they’re butt-numbingly uncomfortable or because his leg is hurting him. “I didn’t really know what to say, so my welcome to the family sticks. Unless you hurt my daughter. Then all the scary dad threats and buckshot in the ass stuff applies. But not really. Because I don’t own a shotgun, though I could borrow one. However, I would probably shoot my own foot off, so probably not, unless I could actually shoot it off. The damn thing’s been giving me so much trouble. But also, probably not. So we’re going with the honor thing you were talking about.”
“Dad!”
He stands up and walks over to Leon, leaning heavily on his cane. He claps him on the shoulder, and Leon freezes. All his lean muscles bunch up and go rigid, but I can’t see his face. I’m scared to see his face. “It’s going to be alright, son. I think you need to hear that more than anything. You seem like the good type, and someone needs to tell you that—someone who has seen enough of life to know. If my daughter married you, I’m sure there was a good reason. All the money in the world couldn’t motivate Darby to do something that wasn’t already in her heart. Welcome to the family.”
That’s what does it and pushes me over the edge. My tears dribble down my cheeks. I feel like my chest could burst, and I have no idea how Leon is taking it. He’s silent, but that’s his way. He wouldn’t lose it in front of my dad, but when was the last time someone told him it was going to be okay? When was the last time he felt a sense of family? I didn’t know he didn’t talk to his mom. It’s just him and his sister, but she’s not a dad figure, and she never will be. Also, he’s older. He’s the one who does the looking after, and he won’t have it any other way. He can’t see it any other way, even if she’s sassy and keeps him in line. She probably tells him she loves him all the time, but does he let himself believe it? When was the last time someone told him it was okay, that he was safe, and they loved him?
My dad lifts his hand off Leon’s shoulder, and I get out of my chair, walking over on legs that feel rubbery. Thank goodness it’s only a few feet between us. I can’t sit in his lap and hold him. I also can’t fall to my knees, throw my arms around his waist, and hide in him. Not in front of my parents anyway. I settle for a hand on his shoulder, but he’s warm through his T-shirt, and he’s trembling. He’s trembling, but he doesn’t push me away or try to evade me. It’s only another second before my hand turns into arms that wrap around his neck as I lean into him from behind. Kissing the top of his head, I hear his sigh.
It’s okay. You’re safe. I could love you if you’d let me.
When was the last time Leon was able to trust anyone but himself? Maybe Kitty, but anyone outside their tight circle? He leans back hard against the chair and then lets out another sigh, a softer one this time but just as weighted. He lifts his hand and sets his fingers over mine, and they are fire.
My mom comes walking back out of the cabin, right on freaking cue. She walks over to the fire, and the three of us are deadly silent. She blinks, looking into each of our faces. Her eyes linger the longest at my dad standing next to Leon’s chair. “What did I miss?” She has the bush pie makers in her hand and a bag of supplies in the other.
“These two got fake married so he wouldn’t get deported, and this is actually her boss that I was sitting here insulting the whole time, so that’s awkward, but everything might work out,” my dad said in classic dad fashion, filling her in.
The bag drops from my mom’s hand, probably doing a number on the loaf of bread and the jar of jam in there, and the bush pie makers clatter to the ground. She uses her favorite saying, which is so, so classic mom fashion. “Holy smokies and mustard.”
And yeah, that’s about freaking right.
15
LEON
“Ohhhhh myyyyyyy gooooooood goddddddd!” Darby collapses on the bed beside me, throwing herself down, her hands over her eyes. That exclamation is one of utter relief that somehow, we made it through a whole day with her parents, and now it’s over and done, and they know everything.