Granting Wishes Page 17

  “Hey, I’m just saying nobody’s screwing anybody else in this house other than me and my wife.”

  “Ugh, Daddy, stop. You’re going to scar me for life!”

  “Honey, you should have said things like this before they got pregnant. It probably would have been the perfect birth control.” Miki snorted, tiptoeing so she could plant a kiss on her husband’s cheek.

  Dom picked that moment to walk in the kitchen and asked what the commotion was about.

  “Good gravy on a biscuit, your parents are talking about sex.” Chelsea shuddered.

  “Oh hell naw, I’m out.” Dom turned around and went right back out of the room. It made them all laugh even harder.

  “Oh, no you don’t. You get back in here, Dominic,” his mother shouted. “Don’t be shy about having a sex talk now. It’s a little late for that, don’t ya think?”

  It was one of the things Lilah loved about her family. Even in difficult times where circumstances weren’t ideal, they found something to laugh about. It didn’t matter if it was at each other’s expense.

  Chapter 29

  A month and half after Jade’s funeral, Dom was preparing for the day that would change his life forever. The first time he asked Chelsea to marry him he wasn’t aware she had fallen asleep. It stung when she didn’t reply, but he realized that it wasn’t the best time to be proposing marriage while laid out on the kitchen floor after sex no matter how amazing it was. It hadn’t been long afterwards that Jade had passed away. The timing at that point wasn’t right either. Now, things were starting to get back to normal. Fall semester was tough but he loved the challenge, and Peyton was adjusting better than he expected. Chelsea was a big part of that. She fit well in the motherly role and had taken her promise to Jade seriously. When she relayed the last conversation they had that day, he was shocked to say the least that Jade had said the things she did.

  It had taken quite a bit of planning with Jake, but they had found the perfect spot to build two houses on his ranch so their ladies could have the homes close to each other like they had always wanted. Jake had the papers drawn up and Dom was dipping into his trust fund to make the purchase. The only thing he was waiting on was one word from Chelsea. Yes. Ironically, Jake was waiting on that same word from Lilah before they broke ground and started getting the site ready for construction.

  The two men put their heads together and cast their differences aside. After all, they were going to be in each other’s lives forever it seemed. Now that Dom knew for certain that Jake wasn’t interested in Chelsea that way, things had smoothed over between them and they actually were beginning to genuinely like one another.

  The mission they were now facing was to come up with a traditional themed, duel proposal that their women would never forget. Even though Chels wasn’t close to her parents, he still felt like he should do the honorable thing and ask for her hand in marriage. He hadn’t seen her parents in years, but they still lived in a run down trailer outside of town. Going on a wing and a prayer, he stopped and picked up a flower bouquet for her mother and headed out of town. On the way there, he practiced his speech and straightened his tie at every stoplight. By the time he pulled down the bumpy gravel road, he felt like he had it down.

  The property was even more run down than he remembered. Not only was the driveway washed out and rutted, but there was junk lying around everywhere. Bags of trash that had been ripped open and strung out like it had been attacked by wild dogs, littered the ground. Her father’s old pickup truck was a rusted heap with two flat tires and a cracked windshield, and her mother’s station wagon had seen better days. The house itself was a depressing site. The porch looked like it was a rotted heap about to plummet to its death with one stair completely unattached and another with a hole on the right side. The entire structure seemed to lean to the left like it was tired of standing up straight. The sides of the house were streaked with rust and the screen door was hanging on one hinge.

  As Dom got out of his car he straightened his tie once more, and made sure his starched white shirt was still tucked into the back of his dark grey slacks. It occurred to him that while he was trying to look nice and be respectful to her parents, this whole thing could blow up in his face. Still, he stepped onto the rickety porch and prayed it didn’t go down. A knock on the door sent the dog inside to barking which set off a chain reaction to her father yelling at the dog to shut up and her mother to yelling at her husband to stop screaming at the dog. Dom shook his head and took a deep breath, still hoping for the best.

  The door swung open, and he was hit with the scent of stale tobacco and liquor. He offered a polite smile as shock registered on Mrs. Everett’s face when she recognized him. “Well, well, well, if it ain’t Dominic Cane. Come on in, don’t just stand there lookin’ like a door to door salesman.” Her hair was up in rollers and she was wearing a housecoat even though it was two in the afternoon. The yapping of her Chihuahua started up again as he walked into the living room.

  “Snickers, you little shit, shut the hell up would ya!” Mr. Everett didn’t bother standing up from his recliner that, much like his front porch, was leaning to the left a little. The man was wearing stained overalls and looked like he hadn’t shaved in a few years. His gray beard had taken on more of a yellow tone, filled with the stain of years of smoking. According to the side table that sat next to him, he was halfway into a case of beer.

  He should have stopped by earlier in the day.

  “Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Everett. I hope you don’t mind me stopping by unannounced. I tried to call the last number I had for you but it was disconnected.” Dom was still standing, looking around the room at the cluttered filth and nicotine stained walls. Once again, he couldn’t believe Chelsea came from two people who were the exact opposite of her.

  He thrust the flowers out towards her mother and smiled. “These are for you, ma’am.”

  “Shoot fire, I cain’t remember the last time I got flowers.” She smiled at him, showing several missing and rotted teeth, but her appreciation was sincere. That was all that mattered to Dom.

  “Mother’s Day. That girl of ours sent you them frilly ones that made you cry. Member? Or was ya too drunk to keep that in yer old memory bank?” Mr. Everett laughed until he coughed so hard Dom wondered if he’d recover.

  Mrs. Everett’s smile fell to a frown and he swore her bottom lip shook. “Why’d you hafta be so mean?”

  She looked at Dom and touched his shoulder, “Thank ya for the thought. It makes a lady feel good to get somethin’ nice from a handsome man like yerself.” He watched her wobble into the kitchen, picking a vase from under the counter. She was gentle in unwrapping the bundle and arranging it.

  “I’m glad you like them, Mrs. Everett. I remembered how you always had tons of flowers growing around the place when we were kids. I was hoping you still enjoyed them.”

  Another rotten toothed grin was sent his way. “I’m too old to keep up with all that now days, but I do love me some pretty flowers.”

  Mr. Everett was ignoring their conversation and watching an episode of Bonanza while sipping his beer. Dom stuffed his hands in his pockets and wondered at his sanity for coming here to do this. Neither one of them had bothered to ask about their daughter even though he knew they hadn’t talked in over a year.

  “You want a beer or something, Dominic?” She set the flowers on the coffee table and all it did was piss off her husband.

  “No, ma’am, I’m good, but thank you for the offer.”

  “Damn it, woman, I can’t see the television with that big, ugly thing in the way.” When he looked over at Dom, he had a sour look on his face. “Tell you what kid, never get married. Women’s is nothing but a pain in the ass I tell ya. Better off alone.”

  Dom had never wanted to smack someone upside the head quite as bad as he wanted to right now. He saw the smile on Mrs. Everett’s face fall again as she moved the flowers to the kitchen table. It was sad and tender the way she stroked her withered
fingertips over the petals of a fuchsia lily. For a moment he could see Chelsea in her. Though her blonde hair was now graying, she had the same green eyes and stature of her daughter. Once upon a time she was quite lovely to look at. Now she looked worn and frail. The years had not been good to her. It saddened him.

  “Well, there’s a reason I stopped by today if you have a few moments.”

  “I figured you must want somethin’.” Mr. Everett turned off the television and looked over at Dom, finally looking him in the eye. “You just gonna stand there or you gonna have yerself a sit down? Or is our furniture not good enough fer the likes of ya?”

  “No, sir. I didn’t want to intrude if you were too busy to talk.” Dom held his temper in check and sat on the edge of the orange floral patterned couch. Mrs. Everett sat next to him and patted his knee.

  “How is your family, Dominic? Is that twin of yours still running that do gooder place?” She tucked her hair behind her ear and it reminded him of Chelsea again.

  “They are all doing well, thank you. Lilah and Chelsea are doing great running our family charity. They’ve been a real blessing to the community of Sugar Creek and beyond.” He couldn’t help himself. If they weren’t going to bring up their own daughter, he damn sure would.

  “Oh, that’s nice.” Mrs. Everett looked proud until her husband spoke up again.

  “We sure ain’t got no blessings from that ungrateful kid. Must be nice she’s been helpin’ other folk ‘round here. Can’t even come see her kinfolk to check how we are. We could use some help now an then. Social Security ain’t so damn secure, I tell ya.” Picking up his beer, he took a swig and crunched the empty can in his hand. “Don’t just sit there woman, get me another, damn it.”

  Dom felt a sick pit of anger in his stomach as he watched Mrs. Everett jump up to do her husband’s bidding. No way in hell would he ever treat Chelsea with such disrespect. He wasn’t sure if what he’d planned was such a good idea. But now that he was here, he might as well finish what he’d set out to do. Once Mrs. Everett was seated again with her head hanging low, Dom reached out and patted her knee. When she looked at him he offered her a comforting smile.

  “Mr. and Mrs. Everett, I came here to ask for your daughters hand in marriage. I’m planning on asking Chelsea to marry me at a picnic on Sunday, but I wanted your blessings first.”

  Her father huffed, then laughed a little, but her mother put her hand to her heart and gave him a big smile again. She looked genuinely happy. “Why, Dominic! Isn’t that the sweetest thing? I didn’t know young folk even did such a thing now days.”

  “Would be nice to have some rich kinfolk.” Mr. Everett said thoughtfully, scratching his overgrowth of beard that housed no telling what. “Maybe that spoiled girl would pass some of them riches down to us. Only right, the way I see it. A kid needs to take care of her parents when they age, we deserve it for all the money we spent takin’ care a her.” He looked at Dom and sat forward in his chair, “Are you planning to honor her by takin’ good care of us too? Or are ya just thinkin’ to take her away from us?”

  “I plan on taking good care of Chelsea, sir. You’ll never have to worry that she’ll want for a thing.” Not that they were even concerned for their daughter. “I’m sure you remember I’m in med school now. I do have my trust fund from my parents, but even without it I’ll be able to take care of our family just fine.” His stomach rolled at the bright smile on her father’s face at the mention of his trust fund. Chelsea didn’t even care about his money. She was anything but spoiled.

  “Well, then I guess you’d be able to take care of us in our old age and bad health with all that money then wouldn’t ya, son?”

  The old man was already counting the dollars he could pilfer. It was disgusting. Dom was ready to tell him to go to hell and leave.

  “Stop that, leave the boy alone.” Mrs. Everett took Dom’s hand in her frail ones. “We’d be honored for you to take our girl’s hand in marriage. You’ve always been a good boy. I’d be right proud you was in our family. You would too, right?” she looked at her husband and gave him a nod.

  “I’m guessin’ so. Don’t see how it’d be a bad thing. Not like we see her anyways.”

  Dom bit his tongue. The man was a no good bastard but he was Chelsea’s father, so he held his thoughts in check for now.

  “I’d like to invite you both to a family picnic we’re having out at Kringle Farms on Sunday afternoon.”

  “That sounds lovely!” Mrs. Everett clapped her hands together and stood up. “Oh goodness, I don’t have a party dress no more. I have no idea what to wear. Your family is so fancy.” She began to fret and looked like she was really worried for her appearance.

  “You look jus’ fine now, we ain’t got no money for you goin’ out to get all gussied up. I’m on my last case a beer for Christ sakes.”

  Dom stood up quickly; it was enough of a shock to her father that he sat back in his chair setting it to rocking. The look Dom gave him was none too friendly. He pulled out his wallet and thumbed through the bills, handing several to Mrs. Everett, watching her eyes widen as she counted them. “Every beautiful lady deserves a new dress. This one is on me, Mrs. Everett.” Dom was turning back to Mr. Everett when he saw him rise out of his chair and hold out his hand. “There is enough there to get you something new to wear as well if you’d like, Mr. Everett, but that’s not for buying beer or liquor. I may help you out, but I’m not supporting your bad habits. Got it?” This wasn’t getting off to the best start, but he kept his voice firm and no nonsense. All Mr. Everett did was nod, and stumble into the kitchen, not saying another word.

  He pulled the map out of his back pocket and handed it to Mrs. Everett. “This is where the picnic will be. It’s on a part of the property I’ll be purchasing to build our home on if Chelsea says yes. I’d appreciate you keeping all of this a secret until tomorrow of course. You don’t need to bring a thing. I’ve got it all taken care of.”

  Nodding her head, she tucked it in her housecoat pocket. “Thank ya, Dominic.” She gave him a hug and kissed his cheek. Patting her back, he offered her a genuine smile.

  “Thank you for giving me a bit of your time today. Go pick out a pretty dress for tomorrow, and I’ll see you both at one.”

  He couldn’t get out of there fast enough. It seemed like a good thing to do when he decided to come out here, a respectful thing that Chelsea deserved. Now he had a feeling it was going to backfire on him, but it was too late. What’s done is done and he could only hope for the best. He was envious that Jake wasn’t going to have such a hard time of it when it came to the in-law department. That cowboy was a lucky bastard.

  ***

  Jake was feeling sick to his stomach. The papers he’d been served with were the last thing he wanted to receive today. Alana had followed through with her threats and was attempting to get rights and visitation with Roxy. It wasn’t going to happen, but it was a nuisance to have to deal with. Tossing the papers on his desk, he rubbed his hands over his face. The woman had a hell of a nerve to pursue this. Not once had she even asked to see Roxy. The whole thing was her bullshit way of trying to get to him. It wasn’t going to work. He’d run this by his lawyers office before he headed out to the Cane’s house. Might as well get it over with.

  He grabbed his black Stetson hat and shoved it on his head. For a moment, he thought about calling Dom to see how it went for him over at the Everett’s, but if it went bad, Jake sure didn’t need to hear that before he went to do the same thing.

  It was nerve wracking driving down the winding road to the Cane’s house. Lilah was supposed to be out with Chelsea and Sabrina doing some shopping so as long as it made it quick, he should be able to get in and out without her knowing he was ever there.

  Jake was greeted with a surprised smile and hug by Mrs. Cane, looking pretty as always. “Jake, it’s good to see you, sugar.”

  “Good to see you too, ma’am. I hope I’m not interrupting anything.”

  “Li
lah isn’t here, but you’re welcome to stay and visit if you’d like. No telling when those girls will get home.”

  “I’d appreciate a visit with you and Mr. Cane if he’s around.”

  Noting the surprise that registered on her face, he pulled his hat off and held it to his side. Damn nerves. The part he was worried about was how Mr. Cane would feel about the entire situation. They’d had their rocky moments and he didn’t want this to be one of them. It was understandable why he was protective of his baby girl. So when he came around the corner, Jake held his breath a bit until he saw a smile on his face.

  “Hello, Jake.” Noah strode up to him taking his hand in a firm shake, clapping him on the back.

  “Afternoon, sir.”

  “I made some sweet iced tea if y’all want to get comfortable I’ll go get us some.”

  “Thank you, ma’am.” I sound like a damn robot.

  “You know you can cut the sir and ma’am crap with us, Jake. I think we’ve been beyond that for a while now, don’t you?” Noah gave him a curious look as he sat on the cream colored leather sofa.

  He sat in a brandy colored straight back chair across from him and hung his hat on his knee when he crossed them. “Yes, sir…I mean yes, we are I suppose.” Pausing as he gathered his thoughts, Jake straightened the cuffs of his cowboy shirt and took a deep, calming breath.

  “I came to talk to you about Lilah. More specifically, the relationship I have with Lilah.”

  “Here’s a tall, cold glass of fresh and sweet sun tea, darlin’s. Did I miss anything?” Mikayla handed out glasses and Jake was grateful to have a sip of the cold brew to clear his dry throat.

  “Jake says he needs to talk to us about his and Lilah’s relationship.”

  Now they were both staring at him.

  He switched how his legs were crossed and set his hat on his other knee. They waited without saying another word.

  Clearing his throat, he sat forward and placed his glass on a coaster on the coffee table.

  “I’m in love with her,” he blurted out.