AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“After the party, I mean. I still want to stick to the plan. I just…I didn’t mean we have to leave right away.”
Duncan nodded and smiled. “Right. Will you tell me about him? I’ve never asked, and I’d like to know more.”
He guided me to the deck furniture, and together, we sat down.
I was completely affected by his attentiveness. I paused a moment, wanting to make sure he really was going to listen. That he really wanted to know. Part of me imagined that last night had been a dream. That I’d wake up, and he’d be the same old jerk he’d been.
His attention didn’t leave me, so I began.
“His name is David Astor, and he was a schoolteacher.”
As had happened during my run with Hazel, my chest began to lighten. Aside from the texts checking in on his well-being with Sarah, I hadn’t spoken of Dad to anyone in days.
“He always said he wasn’t a manly man.”
“Manly man?” Duncan asked.
“Yeah,” I said with a nod, thinking of the rose garden I’d explored earlier. It made me wonder if Duncan had been the one to request the garden be installed, or if it had just come with the house. Probably the latter, since he’d only just purchased this place.
“Take your roses out there. Most men don’t care about flowers, you know? But he did. He was a student of life. He loved learning and used to read up on everything, including flowers and horticulture. Roses were always his favorite.”
“Is that why they’re also yours?” Duncan asked.
“How did you even know? He always gave me roses on my birthday. Like you did.”
“I heard you say something once,” Duncan said with a little shrug. Like giving me my favorite flowers was no big deal. “What else? What else about your dad?”
I stared toward the window, seeing the couches inside. “He always said he was never the pocketknife-carrying, fix-it-all kind of guy,” I said with a laugh, the memory tugging at my heartstrings. “He was more of a Shakespeare-reading, music-playing, history buff kind of man who’d rather read a book than play a sport. He appreciated beauty in all its forms.”
Duncan took my hand and stroked it with his fingers. The touch sent a chill clear up to my shoulder.
“You miss him, don’t you?” he asked.
I sensed the lens of his attention zoom, blocking out anything else but me. His penetrating focus made my skin tingle, and his question opened up a new wound that had been building inside of me for far too long.
“I hate that I’m referring to him in the past tense,” I said, the admission becoming more real because I’d finally allowed myself to voice it. “I hate that I talk about him like he’s already gone.”
“He’s still there.” Duncan’s tone was reassuring, and yet not all at the same time.
Because I knew he meant well, but the truth was painful. Dad wasn’t there, not really.
“I know, but his mind—” My voice caught.
I lowered my chin, wishing I wasn’t so emotional.
“The doctors say hopeful things, but the research is so limited.”
Compassion filled his expression. He put his arm around my shoulders, and I gave in. I leaned against his chest, welcoming the stability he offered. I hadn’t felt heard and comforted likethis in so long. I rested my head against his chest, so his heartbeat drummed in my ear.
“It’s hard for you to be here, isn’t it?” His voice rumbled. “I get why you want to go home.”
“You know how you keep telling me it’s not safe around you?” I said, straightening so I could see his face.
Duncan’s expression was wide open. He nodded and stroked my hair away from my shoulder, allowing his fingers to brush my collarbone in the process.
“It’s not,” he said.
“That’s ironic, because this is the safest I’ve felt in a long time. I do miss him, Duncan, but it’s hard to be around him, too. I know that makes me selfish to say it. I don’t know how to act around him sometimes. I mean, I forget he’s not who he used to be.”
