Page 100 of Guarding Over You
“Then what happened?”
“We had a few more words, but nothing loud. Gracie didn’t even look up from the movie she was watching in the car. Julie pulled in and I told her about you. She backed me and said it didn’t need to be shared with the courts. I even said who you were, your family and who they were. Billy had no words to that.”
He grinned, but she couldn’t see it. “Except for Clay, we are all pillars of the community. Even Ash now that he’s calmed down.”
Ash’s biggest issue was having fun and not taking a lot seriously. Maybe going out partying and being seen with a lot of women.
Clay, he was just mean in many people’s eyes. Nottothem, but many were still fearful.
His brother was in a better place in his life, but it was hard to wipe out people’s opinions in small towns.
“Julie asked about any updates on what was going on. I told her what I knew, which wasn’t much. Told her that the hospital was taking it seriously and I was taking all the precautions I could.”
“Being smart.”
“I am. I should be scared. There are parts of me that are, but I’m trying not to let it overrun my life. I’m glad it’s been quiet and I hope it continues. Now my biggest worry is meeting your family tomorrow.”
He’d told his mother about Arden a few days ago. He didn’t think he could keep it a secret anymore.
Did he get a bit of a tongue lashing for hiding it when Ford, Clay and Ash knew? Yeah, he did. Right there with Gale when she found out.
But tomorrow he was bringing Gracie and Arden to the farm, letting her run around some, go into the cafe, see the kitchens, and have some fun.
He was still going to be Dr. Blaze in the little girl’s eyes for another day, he was positive. And maybe it was for the best.
“There is no reason to be worried. My family is great. If anything, you’ll get to see how we all argue and bust on each other. Another side of me I don’t show many.”
“I think it will be nice to see. I’m looking forward to it.”
“Then why are you nervous?”
“Because I haven’t met a man’s family in almost a decade.”
“You never talk about Billy’s family. Are they around?”
“His parents live in Round Lake. They’ve got a small house on the water. I don’t think they liked me that much and they kept their distance. They have a strained relationship with Billy because of his addiction.”
“So they don’t even see their grandchild?”
“On holidays they did, but right now with the way things have been with the court appointed visits, they don’t want to be involved in it. We’ll have to see how the holidays are this year. We haven’t crossed that bridge yet. Things went downhill right after Christmas last year.”
He didn’t need to ask more.
“There is time yet for it,” he said.
“That’s my feeling. Each visit seems to get Gracie closer and maybe once Billy sees I’m settling in, he’ll calm more and focus on him and Gracie.”
He wasn’t so sure of that. “One can hope.”
She laughed as if she knew he didn’t believe the words he’d said. “Tell me about your siblings’ names. You made a comment about it before and I never found out why. They are all on the uncommon side, but there is a theme?”
He knew when a topic was being put to bed and he’d honor it... for now.
“My father’s family has had the orchard for generations. My mother, she was with my father since her teens. She always knew what her life would be and how it’d turn out with him. My father loves the land. My mother loved anything my father did, but it’s never been all about him either.”
“That’s very sweet.”
He found that funny because most wouldn’t look at his parents and think they were sweet and sentimental.
