?? After shaking their hands, Willow watched them leave, curious as to the dynamics of the family. How they just behaved made no damn sense, but who was she to judge? She had her own warped relationship with her father. As a matter of fact…
Whipping out her cell phone, she hit speed dial and waited for him to pick up. The moment his smooth voice sounded over the line, she exploded. “How dare you go out and solicit business for me from freaking Phillip Whitmore and his bitchy daughter!”
“Whoa there, wait a second. You’d think my daughter would be happy I’m sending business her way.” Walter chuckled, like he had no idea how mad he’d just made her.
“I told you I wanted to try and make it on my own, not count on you to send your business contacts my way.” She blew out a harsh breath, knowing she sounded like an ungrateful bitch. Worse, she sounded just like Amanda Whitmore.
That was the slap of reality she needed. “I’m sorry. I guess I’m just sensitive about everything right now. I’ve gotten this far without your help and the minute I move into a store front, you’re sending customers my way as if you’re afraid I might not make my rent payments.” Whipping off her black-framed glasses that she didn’t even need to wear, she wearily rubbed the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes.
“I didn’t send Phil to you because I’m afraid your customer base might dry up. I sent Phil because I’m proud of you, sweetheart,” her dad explained. “You’ve come so far in such a short amount of time, and I want you to be a huge hit. I knew Phil’s party for his daughter’s silly new business would bring you a lot of attention—and business. That’s why I did it.”
Her heart softened and she opened her eyes, leaned back in her chair. His words warmed her heart, as much as she hated to admit it. It was the respect, the gratification she’d been looking for from him for…years. Her father had always been there for her. Not her mother, never her mother, but she could always count on her dad. “I appreciate the referral so much, Dad. I really do. Maybe next time you could warn me though? His sudden call felt sort of out of left field.”
“We’ve been playing golf together for years. In fact, I was on the golf course with him when he started talking about the hair extensions business he was funding for his daughter. He wants her to be on her own when she gets married. Her fiancé is a deadbeat, according to Phil.”
“Really?” Oh, this was interesting.
“Doesn’t want to work, extremely lazy. Mandy’s always begging for money so Phil thought he’d start a business for her, and she could take over. I didn’t have the heart to tell him it was a losing venture. Not that he would listen to me anyway.” Her dad chuckled. “They’re calling it Wig It.”
Willow frowned. “But they’re selling extensions, not wigs.”
“I know.” Walter sighed. “Trust me, I know. The daughter wanted to call it Wig Out, but Phil said a firm no on that suggestion.”
Willow started to laugh, the tension slowly easing out of her shoulders. “I hope you never looked at my business like Phil Whitmore does for his daughter.”
“I’ll confess, at first I wondered if starting a cotton candy catering business was the right thing to do. You do have to admit it sounds like a bit of a stretch. I was afraid you might be wasting your time.” His voice softened. “But you’ve made such a go of it, never giving up on your dreams. I’m proud of you, Willow. More than you’ll ever know.”
Hearing him say those words eased the tightness in her chest, the icy cold grip on her heart. Her father believed in her. Was proud of her success. She never thought she would see this happen. That she could actually do something on her own, without her father’s help. “Thanks Dad,” she said softly. “I’m just following my dream.”
“Of making sure everyone eats more cotton candy?” She could hear the humor in his voice, and it made her smile.
“No, that I can create something that belongs just to me. That I don’t need to stand in the shadow of you or my mom or anyone else,” she answered.
“How is your mother?” He always asked. She rarely could give him an answer, since she didn’t talk much to her mom.
“I have no idea.” And didn’t that hurt? Her mom thought she was wasting her time living in Monterey. She’d begged Willow to come live with her in Europe when Willow had been a teen. She’d wanted her to become a model and live in Paris, walk the catwalk and become some couture designer’s muse.
Willow’d had no interest. Fashion was so not her thing and she heard horror stories of how the girls were treated. Forget it. She’d rather make it on her smarts than her looks any day. She didn’t want to be just another pretty face.
Though it never hurt to hear those sweet full-of-praise words Nick offered her so easily.
Frowning, she shoved him from her mind. Their forced date was scheduled for tonight, and she hadn’t heard from him. Not even a simple text like he promised. Not that she wanted to focus on his crappy treatment of her, what with everything going on with her business, but still. He wasn’t making good on his promises.
And that irritated the life out of her.
“You should let her know about your latest success,” he encouraged. “I’m sure she’d be proud.”
Yeah, right. She so didn’t want to talk about her mom right now. “I’ll call her,” she promised blithely, not meaning it whatsoever.
“Good. So you’re not mad at me for sending you potential clients? You know you’re going to make a killing after you do the Whitmore party. The Wig It launch.” They both laughed.
“I hope so.” She paused. “But it’s right before Christmas.”
“What day exactly?” he asked.
She told him the dates, heard the disappointment in his voice. “I’m going to Aspen. I leave the twentieth and won’t be back until just before the New Year. I’d hoped you could go with me.”
“That’s sweet, Dad, but there’s no way that’s possible.” Great, she was going to spend Christmas all alone. Oh, she bet Sheridan would take her in, but did she want to hang out with the two lovebirds and watch them slobber all over each other on Christmas Day?