One night stand with my daddy's best friend

Bridget

I wasn't hiding in the guesthouse, really. Since I'd moved home, I'd spent most of my time there. It was where I lived and worked. But after the altercation with my dad, the few times I did venture out, it was awkward.

My sisters kept asking why my dad was upset with me. I didn't want to tell them I'd disappointed him. I worried they'd be afraid that they'd do something wrong and he'd ignore them too.

I didn't reach out to Dane over the last two days. I wanted to give my dad time to calm down and accept reality. Dane didn't contact me either. I told myself that he was either waiting for me to contact him, or like me was waiting for my dad to settle down. Sometimes, I worried he changed his mind after my dad's reaction.

I want you.

When he'd said those words the other night, we were in the throes of lust. My heart heard it as more than his wanting my body, and also wanting me too. Was I wrong?

No. I couldn't be wrong. He sought me out that night to talk, a dangerous thing to do at my father's house. He must feel something for me, right?

Friday evening, I had the windows open to air out the place, and I heard my dad and Lizzie on the patio.

"Troy, I understand how hurt you are "

"My best friend was fucking my daughter." My father didn't sound any calmer than he had the night he caught me and Dane. That wasn't a good sign. "Who is a grown woman and consented." My father growled.

"Troy, do you love your kids?"

"What the hell sort of question is that?"

"The way you're acting about Bridget, and ignoring her—”

"She has to decide between me and Dane." His words tore me in two. "Why? If she loves him and he loves her, why can't she have her father's love too?"

"I never said I didn't love her," he said, his tone sounding offended.

"It seems like you don't anymore, and the kids have picked up on that. You're so self-absorbed right now, that you don't notice how the kids are walking around on eggshells, terrified they'll do something, and you'll ostracize them too." I heard a chair scrape as if he was standing up and the motion shoved the chair back. "I don't need you lecturing me on loving my kids."

"Are you sure?"

I crossed my fingers, hoping Lizzie would make him understand. "What are you trying to say to me, Lizzie?"

"I'm saying that you hold the key to her and Dane's happiness, and because you can only think about yourself, you're withholding that from them."

"They don't give a shit about me. If they did, they wouldn't have fucked.

I blame Dane more. He's old enough to know better."

My hands fisted at my sides, angry that he still thought I was too young to make my own choices and be accountable for my decisions.

Lizzie laughed. "Don't let Jet hear you say that. Honey, I know she's your daughter and you'll always see her like that, but I don't think you realize that she's a woman. Frankly, she's always been more grown up than her peers. She had to be when she was with her mother. With you was the first time she'd been able to be a kid."

"And with you too." His voice sounded softer, and I hoped that meant he was coming around.

"But that doesn't mean she lost the skills and understandings she'd gained when she was practically raising herself with her mother. Yes, she's young, but she's also smart. And she's about to be a mother. She needs us, Troy. Not financially, necessarily, but emotionally. Are you really going to risk not seeing your grandchildren because Dane hurt your feelings?" "He's old enough to be her father."

"You don't think he knows that? Here's a man who has risked his life for our country. He came home to take care of a company for parents who, as far as I can tell by the way you explain it, emotionally withdrew from him twenty years ago. He's strong. He's brave. He's loyal. And it looks like he loves your daughter. What more could you ask for in a partner for her?"

"I'm tired. I don't want to talk about this anymore."

I strained to listen, but all I heard was the back door opening and closing. If Lizzie couldn't make him come around, any attempt I'd make would be hopeless.

The next morning, I ventured over to the house, knowing my dad was out with my sisters who played soccer on Saturday mornings. Lizzie was home with Eli, but this was his naptime, so I hoped to catch her when she wasn't busy.

I found her in the room she currently used for an art studio. After what I'd heard last night, I'd expected her to be on my side, but when she saw me, her expression suggested she was upset at me.

"I don't want to fight with him anymore," I said. "But I don't know how to fix it."

Her eyes softened and she motioned for me to sit on the chair she used when she was doing portraits.

"Your dad is hurt. All he's ever wanted was to protect you and do what's best for you. Right now, he's feeling helpless."

"I'm my own person now. He can't expect to control me or everything around me."

Lizzie sighed. "Honey, you're a twenty-one-year-old woman who had an affair with an older man who happens to be your father's friend, ran away, got pregnant, and is now living in the backyard."

I stiffened. "You asked me to come home."

"We did because we could tell that emotionally, you were struggling."

I crossed my arms over my chest. "I didn't need to come home. I could have managed up there." I hated that I sounded like a defiant teenager.

"I'm sure you could have, but to what extent? What would have been the toll on you emotionally? Physically? Financially, even?"

"I'm not stupid or naïve. When you list out my life over the last few

months, maybe I sound flakey but I'm not. And even if I am, it's my life to lead and consequences to suffer."

Her eyes shone with sympathy. "You have family, Jet. We help each other so you don't have to suffer. My point in listing what's happened in your life over the last few months is to tell you that your father feels he's failed to protect you." "I wasn't taken advantage of."

"I don't mean protection just from men, but from sadness, hardship, struggle. He'd do anything for you."

"Except accept that I love Dane."

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She pursed her lips. "You must see how weird that is for him. They were kids together. You're his daughter."

"I know. But you can't help who you fall in love with, right? I remember you and dad dancing around it. You were leaving before he came to his senses and shared his feelings with you. Dane and I fought it too, especially after we discovered our connections to dad."

"And where is Dane now? He left you to deal with your father by yourself."

"I'm glad he did. Dad was about to punch him. And you can't really expect him to come around after that, can you?"

Lizzie looked me straight in the eyes. "If he loves you too, yes."

I swallowed. She had a point. The doubt creeped up again. Maybe after the altercation, Dane changed his mind. Maybe I'd read too much into Dane's visit and words.

I couldn't control what Dane felt. All I could do was go with my own feelings and desires. "I don't want to fight my feelings for Dane anymore. I don't want to fight dad. I want his love, not to be smothered and judged."

"You think I don't love you?" My dad's voice startled me.

"Troy." Lizzie looked at her watch. "It's early. Where are the girls?" "Trisha Cosley said she'd take them out for ice cream with her kids after

the games. She'll drop them off this afternoon." He looked at me. "You think I don't love you."

"Not since the other night."

"The other night happened because I love you." His voice sounded as torn up as I felt. "All I want is for you to be safe and happy."

"I was safe and happy."

He huffed out a breath. "You lied to me."

"I didn't lie. I kept a secret."

He looked like he might argue that, but then he looked down. "I guess it's your right to keep some things to yourself, but Dane...when I think of the things he's done to you-"

"Don't think about those things," Lizzie stood and went to him.

"I could tell you the things I've done to him." It was the wrong thing to say, but I needed my dad to know I wasn't an innocent kid.

"Jet!" Lizzie chastised.

"What? I'm not being taken advantage of. I think it's clear that I've had sex." I motioned to my growing belly. "I know you see me as your little girl, but I'm a grown woman now, dad. I do grown up things, just like you and Lizzie. And I want what you and Lizzie have. I'd like it with Dane, although I'm not sure that can happen now."

He walked over to me, squatting down in front of the chair. "I don't want to let you down, baby girl."

"You haven't." I realized that much of what was going on with him had to do with how much time he'd lost in raising me because my mom had kept me a secret from him. "I don't have any resentment towards you about my life before I came here. I know without a doubt that had you known about me, you would have been there. You've never let me down, Dad. I just want to live my life, you know? Even if I make mistakes. I want you to love and support me, but you don't have to control me or fix things for me. I'm quite capable."

He took my hands. "I know you are."

"If you'd found me with anyone else, would you have reacted as badly?" "It wouldn't have been good, but it is hard for me to deal with the idea of

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I swallowed, knowing that this moment was the one that would decide how things would be as we went forward.

"If you love him and he feels the same, I can't stand in the way of that. I guess he's okay with you having another man's babies."

I pressed my lips together hoping my face didn't give away the final secret about the babies.

The doorbell rang.

"I'll get that. You two hug it out." Lizzie disappeared up the hall.

My dad pulled me in for a hug. Tears came to my eyes as relief washed through me.

"You have a visitor, Jet." By the way Lizzie glanced at my father, I knew it had to be Dane. "He's on the porch."

God, she wouldn't let him in?

I looked at my father who nodded in resignation.

I hurried to the front door, swinging it open. "Dane."

He smiled, looking past me nervously, before turning his attention back to

me.

"I thought you'd call. I can't believe you risked coming back here," I

said.

"What I want is here. I'm sorry it took so long."

I wanted to rush into his arms, but I was afraid my dad might backslide if he saw us like that.

"Will you come for a drive with me?" He nodded toward his car parked out front.

"Let me tell my parents." I left him on the porch and found my parents in the living room. My father was scowling but Lizzie was helping him maintain control.

"I'm going for a drive."

"Will you be back for dinner?" Lizzie asked. I hadn't had dinner with them since this happened, but I guess we'd reached a truce. Still, I didn't know what Dane had planned.

"I'm not sure. I'll call if I'll be back in time." She nodded.

I grabbed a sweater and purse, and headed out the door. Dane held the car door open and helped me into the front seat. As we drove away, I mentally practiced how to tell him that he was going to be the father of twins.