Page 56 of The History in Us

“Yeah, I think I’m going to call my dad.”

“A girl always needs her daddy,” Tuck agreed as she stepped out the door, pulling it closed behind her. Only moments later, a stern sounding voice filled my ear with greetings.

“Hey, Dad.”

“Hey, baby.” The instant I heard the endearment, tears spilled. “You okay?”

“I’m good. Just busy. Lots to do at school and work.”

“You know I think you work too hard.” While we didn’t have too much, we had more than many in our small town. My father invented some gizmo that earned him a large sum of cash when I was young. College was a luxury but also mandatory. As my dad never fully finished his advanced degree, he didn’t want that to happen to me. He encouraged me as best he could, but he knew I was struggling.

“It’s all good. Just lots of projects and group outings.”

“Outings? Is that code for parties?” He laughed. The infamous Jess Carter had been a popular man in high school, and it carried over when he returned to Elk Rapids. Our family was social, gathering once a week to enjoy each other’s company. We celebrated birthdays and our town’s summer festival, Harbor Days. We were party people, minus me.

“I wish,” I muttered. My dad knew I didn’t have an active social life. That’s where Penelope came into play for me, but even with her wild side, I didn’t have half her expertise in social ability.

“Seeing someone?” he hinted. I giggled as I thought, leave it to my dad to be blunt. I swiped at my damp cheek, hesitating a moment as I didn’t know how to answer.

“Who is he? Do I need a shotgun?” I chuckled half-heartedly again, knowing he was kidding. We might live backwoods but Jess Carter wasn’t a man of violence. “Anyone I know?” he added as if he’d know anyone in Chicago.

Actually…

“Nope, no one you know. And just to clarify, we aren’t dating.” I swallowed the lie, accepting the fact that the Levi Walker of today was not the boy my father would remember. I choked on the reality of the second statement. We weren’t anything I could define, but dating wasn’t it.

“Katie…” My dad was processing and I could almost see his jaw clench through the phone.

“How’s Mom?” I asked, too cheerfully, too swiftly. I needed to change the subject before this conversation turned to areas I couldn’t explore with my dad.

“Em’s good. She misses you. We all do. You’re coming home for Thanksgiving, right?” My shoulders fell at the thought. A large, exuberant family was what I needed, but it also brought moments of loneliness for some reason. I thought of Levi and wondered what he’d do for Thanksgiving. He didn’t have any family to return to, and I realized I was the one suddenly ungrateful for what I had.

“Dad, would you mind if I brought a friend home for the holiday?”

The silence again told me he was working his jaw in concentration.

“Friend is code for the man, right?” he asked quietly, trying to contain his concern.

“Dad…” I dragged out. It was too much to ask. Too much to explain. I didn’t even know where I stood with Levi and bringing him home would make a statement, a statement I was certain Levi didn’t want to make. Not to mention, how could I explain AJ? Here was a single man, with a child of nearly eight months, and only a few months out from his previous relationship. The scenario wouldn’t sit well with my father. When put in perspective, it didn’t sound good to me either.

“Let me talk to Em. She’s not home yet tonight. Daisy had cheerleading.” My younger sister was very active in high school.

“Okay. I gotta go, Dad,” I said, but silent tears trickled down my face again, betraying my need to end the call.

“Okay, baby. Love you.”

“Love you, too.” The click of the phone cut the connection, and I fell back on my bed, silently letting tears take me to sleep.

* * *

I shouldn’t have been upset to go to the scholarship dinner alone. I was used to being alone, but after weeks and weeks with Levi and AJ, my solitude wasn’t as comfortable as it had been before. I ignored Levi’s calls, finally texting him to say I’d just see him at the dinner. I picked up an additional shift at Vintage Vine as I often found inspiration working within the confines of the recycled treasures.

“What happened?” Sidonia asked the moment she saw me.

“Do I look that bad?” I asked, taken aback.