Then I was in their embrace, smelling my father's familiar cologne, his arms strong as he rocked me back and forth like he had Grams. I wanted to stay there in my dad's arms, soaking up his love, as fragile and illusory as I knew it was.
With a tight squeeze, he said, “My beautiful baby girl. I've missed you so much.” Leaning back, he took in my face and touched the same spot under my eye that Grams had. “Such a pretty girl shouldn't work so hard. I'm sending all you girls to the spa. You need a day off. You need a vacation! I'll get it all set up.”
I wanted to ask where he was getting the money to pay for us to go to the spa and if he had it could he please pay me back. Obviously, I couldn't do that because a) I doubted he had the money to send us to the spa, and b) if I asked for it I'd have to tell Grams why he owed me money.
Out of the corner of my eye, I took in Grams beaming at my father, and I knew that I wasn't hiding his debt just because I didn't want her to know I'd been stupid enough to lend him money.
I was partly doing it because I didn't want Grams to know her son had sunk low enough to scam his own daughter.
Maybe he didn't scam you, I tried to convince myself. Maybe he has the money—or at least some of it—and everything is going to be fine. I wanted to believe that was true.
I stepped out of his embrace and looked away, fiddling with the knot I'd tied in my apron. As soon as I was out of his immediate sphere he turned back to Grams and Mom, soaking in the love and approval beaming off both their faces. Grams was so happy to see him, she couldn't contain herself.
“Darren, Sheree didn't tell us you were coming today! I'm so glad I made a special dinner anyway. We've just about got the shop closed up, why don't you come back to the house with us, and we'll have a family dinner. You can tell us all about your adventures while we eat.”
My chest ached at the hope in her voice, hope I knew echoed in my own heart.
I could see the end from the beginning.
He was going to disappear along with my mom as abruptly as he'd appeared, and everyone would be the worse for his visit but him.
I'd told myself so many times that this is just who he is. I can't take it personally. That he isn't capable of loving like other people. I'd been able to live with those lies to myself right up until I'd let him sell me on his business plan and had handed over all that cash.
I'd believed for months that he'd come through. Now, looking at him, I wanted to hold on to that last shred of hope that everything was going to work out.
Dinner was excruciating. My father sat in Grams' spot at the head of the table telling story after story. People he met in Tampa, a card game where he won big, and the bulldog puppy in the final pot that he'd almost brought home with him. My mother and Grams hung on every word. I watched my mother's face, rapt with love and admiration, and wondered if I looked at Royal like that.
Was I just one more Hutchins woman to fall for a smooth, charming guy with nothing underneath? Was Royal really everything he seemed? Or did I just find him so attractive because a part of him reminded me of the Dad who was never quite there for me?
Was I really falling for Royal, or did I just have daddy issues?
For a second, I wished my dad had never come back, even if he did have my money.
Royal was not my father.
I knew that. I did. And still, seeing my dad—his thick, dark hair, similar build, and wickedly charming smile—all I felt was doubt.
I waited until dinner was over, until my mother and Grams had picked up their plates from the table and headed for the kitchen. My father stayed where he was, handing me his plate as I approached, so I could clear it for him. I took it, holding back the impulse to slam it over his head.
Aware of my mother and Grams only a closed door away, I didn't bother to soft-pedal. “Dad, you haven't been answering my calls. Do you have the money to pay me back? You said you'd have it months ago, and I'm running out of excuses for Grams.”
Annoyance flashed across my father's face. He gave a shake of his head as if flicking it away. In a blink, his smile was back. “Daisy, honey,” he said in a low tone that wouldn't carry to the kitchen, “I don't have it yet, but I will. I promise. That's why I'm here. To see my girls and do a little business.”