Casey held back an instinctive argument. She didn’t mind beinginvolved. She felt like family—Teddy’s family, at least. She wouldn’t shut himout because things had gotten tense with Jacqueline last week. She’d stayedaway over the weekend, even though she knew Sean was over there. Based on pastexperience, she expected Jacqueline would want some distance from their nearconfrontation over Elle and that she probably wouldn’t be talking to her now ifit weren’t for Teddy.
“I’ll make sure the service knows to call me next time.”
“They tried.” She flipped on the faucet, washed her hands, thenswiped them with a towel. She shifted the phone into one hand and put the dishin the oven with the other.
“I can’t always answer right away. It wasn’t an emergency. Shecould have waited for me to call back.”
“It’s fine. I was close by. He knew I’d likely be here.” Sheleaned against the counter, listening for movement in the living room. Teddyhad fallen asleep in front of the television.
“Did he? I can’t decide if he’s been confused or just downrightstubborn, lately.” She sighed. “Either way, clearly, I have to have anothertalk with him about the sitter.”
“Maybe start by not calling her a sitter,” she said withoutthinking and braced herself for Jacqueline’s response.
But instead of the biting comment she expected, Jacqueline spokewith a softness Casey hadn’t heard from her in some time. “I just leftLexington. Traffic permitting, it’ll be about four hours. Can he stay with youand I’ll deal with him when I get home?”
“Of course. We’ll be waiting for you.”
“That sounds—um, thank you.”
She paused, certain Jacqueline had cut off a thought and replacedit with the sentiment of gratitude instead. “I’m making dinner for him. It’sbaked chicken. Do you want me to save you a plate?”
“That would be amazing, thanks.”
“Amazing? It’s just baked chicken. Don’t build it up too much.”
“I’ve been eating salads alone in a hotel room for two days. Homecooking is amazing.”Jacqueline’s smile came through in her voice. “I guess I should be happy hemade it two days with those poor ladies. I haven’t actually talked to theservice yet. Has he given any indication of what he put them through?”
“No. I’ll let you question him further when you get here. Besafe.”
Casey hung up with Jacqueline and dialed Nina’s number. They’dhad dinner plans, but she’d texted after Teddy showed up to let her know shehad to change them. Yet now she wanted to explain the complicated turn herevening had taken in a more personable way.
“Hey, I wasn’t sure I was going to hear from you,” Nina said whenshe answered.
“I’m so sorry about dinner. You know I hate texting stuff likethat.”
“I know. But you can’t fight tech progress. And you’re a busy,busy girl.” Nina’s teasing tone warmed Casey.
“Come have dinner with Teddy and me. I know it’s not the eveningwe’d planned, but we can still salvage it.”
“I think I’ll take a rain check.”
“I want to see you.”
“It sounds like you’re going to have a full house.”
“It’s just Teddy. Jacqueline won’t be here for a couple of hoursyet.”
“He’s her father. It’s uncomfortable.”
Casey sighed, but she didn’t argue. She’d understood Nina’saversion to being around Teddy and Jacqueline when they first started dating.Who wanted to hang out with their new girlfriend’s long-time ex? But anylingering insecurity surely should have dissipated by now. Casey had alwayskind of hoped they would reach a point where they could all spend a holiday oroccasion together, for Sean’s sake.
Certainly, she eventually wanted to see him get married and starthaving children of his own. She would be a grandmother someday. And she’dexpect that she and Jacqueline might both attend their grandchildren’smilestones. What would her life be like years from now if she was committed tosomeone who refused to be around while Casey was involved in that aspect of herfamily?
Chapter Seven
“I can’t believe you did this, especially after I went tothe trouble of arranging everything. I’ll probably have to try to find anotherservice now.” Jacqueline paced Casey’s living room, pausing only long enough toglare at her father occasionally. He’d been sitting on the couch when shearrived, looking completely unbothered, which, given her mood, only fired herup more. Casey had answered the door, then disappeared down the hall,presumably to her bedroom, so Jacqueline could talk to her father. “Are youjust trying to make my life harder? The whole time I’ve been gone, I worriedabout you. Then, after working all day and driving for four hours, I have tocome over here and pick you up because you can’t accept a little help.”
“You didn’t hear the way those sitterswere talking to me. I’m not a child.”
“Then why are you acting like a damn toddler?” She knew as soonas she’d said it that she’d gone too far.
Her mother had often said she only had to look at his face toknow what he was feeling. In fact, it was one of the reasons her mother hadfallen for him—one thing that set him apart from the other men she’d dated.Now, anger dominated his features. Jacqueline had seen him this mad only acouple of times in her life.
He rose and came to stand directly in front of her. “It seemsyou’ve wasted your time coming here. I am your father. And until you decide totreat me with the respect I deserve, I’m not going anywhere with you.” Heturned and strode down the hallway toward the bedrooms. Seconds later, heslammed the door to Sean’s bedroom with such force that the sound echoedthrough the house.
“Fuck!” She spun around, her fists clenched, and found Caseystanding in the doorway leading to the same hall her father had stalked down.
“Jacq—”
“No. No.” Jacqueline tilted her head back and raised her eyes tothe ceiling, trying like hell to control her emotions. Her anger churnedagainst the fear that she wouldn’t be able to figure out how to help him and keep her job andher sanity. She couldn’t handle all of that and the heartbreaking sympathy inCasey’s expression as well.
“He can stay here tonight,” Casey said.
She shook her head. “I—I can’t—”
“Hey, it’s okay.” Casey grasped her arm and steered her towardthe couch. “Sit down and
