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It was my turn to ask. “You okay?” I flicked a look toward the hall Frankie had disappeared down then back to Dad.
“Some days, I can think about her and I’m fine. Other times…I miss her. Then I wonder why I miss her when so much was wrong. It’s a challenge.”
“You’re allowed,” I told him. “I know I never liked her. I hated what she did to Frankie. The more I’ve learned about her, not a huge fan of what she did to you.”
“We’ve never really discussed her,” Dad said, then he spared a glance toward the hall. “We don’t have to start now.”
“You and Frankie talk though.” I knew this. I’d heard them and I left it alone. Her feelings toward her mother would always be complicated. Just like Dad’s were. Mine were much more delineated.
“Sometimes. She reminds me of her mother, but—not in a she is just like Maddy way. Not remotely. But, she’s all the good pieces of Maddy if she had—if she had let herself be happy with life.”
Hard for a sociopath to be happy, I supposed. But then again, I wasn’t sure how much of her issues were mental health and how much had been she was just a bitch.
“You kids being together…”
We were hardly kids anymore.
“I don’t know,” Dad groaned as he pushed to his feet. “I guess I’m feeling my age. Frankie suggested I start dating again.”
“I thought you had gone on a couple of dates.” I glanced toward the hall and then followed him into the kitchen. I had a feeling she was giving us time.
“More business acquaintances,” he said, then opened the oven. The smell of the Beef Bourguignon filled the air as he removed the covered pot. I’d seen Jeremy use those before—it was a brassiere or a braiser maybe…whatever, it cooked food. “More often than not these are business meals.”
“You’re not ready,” I said, folding my arms. “Do you need me to do anything?”
“Absolutely not,” he told me as he set the covered pan on the top of the stove. “We’ve both learned we have weaknesses in some areas.”
I chuckled. “Look, at least you don’t mind it when I walk in the kitchen here.” The table was already set or I would offer to do that.
“You blew up Jeremy’s oven—twice. I can understand why you are still grounded from the kitchen.”
We shared a grin, and then his smile faded.
“I’m not ready. I just told her that a few months ago. I know she worries about me. But I think I’m—alright with being on my own. I’ve still got to win favorite grandfather, and the lack of dating means I have more time to win over the grandkids.” The lack of any sarcasm promised he wasn’t kidding and at the same time…
“You know, I’m alright with it if you decide you do want to try dating.”
He lifted the lid on the Beef Bourguignon and the scent was enough to make my mouth water. He opened a warmer and pulled out fresh dinner rolls that had a bit of honey on them, or at least they smelled like they did.
“Have you been raiding Jeremy’s recipe box?”
Dad chuckled. “Actually, yes and no. Jeremy got that recipe from your grandfather. This is the first time I’ve been able to make it right. It seemed appropriate.”
Yeah. It did.
“As for you being alright with me dating, I appreciate it. I really do. Maybe I’ll get there, eventually. I’m pretty satisfied with my life right now. I have you kids, I have your kids and soon, we’re going to have two more babies to spoil.”
Frankie drifted out of the hall and the small smile on her lips suggested I hadn’t been wrong about her giving us time. “You okay?” I checked regardless and she held up her cell phone. “Oh, Izzy sent pictures of—what is that?”
I stared at it, frowning.
“Flowers,” Frankie said. “From a boy at school.”
I scowled. “They aren’t back at school yet.”
“Nope.” Her smile was so cat with the canary, I couldn’t fault her but at the same time. Who was giving flowers to our little girl? “Apparently, his mother drove him over and he rang the bell and delivered them. He also added a card.”
She swiped the screen to the left and the little greeting card with his careful little handwriting did not make me feel better.
