Hitched (37 page)

As she headed to retrieve her coffee cup again, Gavin finally accepted what he had to do today before he saw Allie. “Hey, do you happen to know where Dad and the guys are working today?”

Hayley looked over her shoulder in surprise. “Yeah.”

She always knew stuff like that. She was a cop, and Montgomery Contracting was a big company with lots of employees and trucks out and around town.

“I need to talk to him. And not on the phone.”

“Your dad?” She turned to face him.

Gavin nodded.

“Today?”

“Right now.” He said it firmly and that was enough for Hayley.

“The church,” she said.

“The church? There are like eight churches in town. Which one?”

“
The
church,” she said, changing the emphasis.

“Wha…” Then what she was saying hit him. “
The
church?”

“They’re adding on to the social hall,” she said. “They were just waiting for the biggest wedding of the season to get over with so they could tear things up.”

Gavin closed his eyes and ran his hand over his face. This had to be bad karma or something. If he believed in that kind of stuff.

“Okay,” he finally said.

“You’re going over there?”

“Have to.”

Hayley looked worried and intrigued at the same time. “If things get bad, call my cell, not 9-1-1. I’m not on duty today and I want to be first on
that
scene.”

“You’re hilarious.” But as Gavin headed for the shower, he had to admit that a big Montgomery family brawl in the middle of St. Mark’s Methodist Church wasn’t last on the list of possibilities.

Twenty minutes later he was on his way to the church, the knot in his gut tightening further with each block.

“Dammit,” Gavin swore ten minutes later as he pulled up in front of St. Mark’s for the second time in as many weeks.

Sure enough, his father’s truck was here. He could tell by the Garth Brooks CD case, the empty Snicker bar wrapper, and the very faded orange Grand Canyon National Park cap on the dash. He couldn’t believe his dad was still wearing that cap.

Gavin gripped the steering wheel and tried to calm down.

He needed to get this showdown with his father over with. The sooner he laid down the rules and said what he had to say, the sooner he could have some peace. And if he was going to live in Promise Harbor, he was going to have some peace. Even if it killed him.

But he
really
didn’t want to do this.

He climbed the steps at about a fourth of the speed he’d used the last time. Two weeks ago he couldn’t wait to get in there. Literally. If he’d waited, Allie would have belonged to Josh.

This time, he wanted to be anywhere else, doing anything else. Even having a picnic at Sophie’s place with Josh and company.

He really didn’t want to see his father.

He supposed he didn’t
have
to. But…well, yeah, he did actually have to. He’d gotten a call on his cell yesterday while he was running. It was from Ken Martin, the long-time vet in Promise Harbor. He said he’d heard that Gavin was moving home and he wanted to talk about selling his practice.

Wasn’t that convenient? It wasn’t like Gavin didn’t know his father and Ken had been friends and golf partners for years.

Convenient his ass. He had to nip this shit in the bud or his father was going to keep manipulating and interfering. There was no way Gavin was taking over the local practice. No way.

Gavin paused with his hand on the handle of the big, heavy oak door.

But maybe he should take it.

He didn’t love his dad getting involved when Gavin had specifically told him not to, but he also couldn’t deny that it was the perfect setup. This wasn’t like his sophomore science class where his dad leaned on the right people to get Gavin the B he needed to stay on the football team. This wasn’t like the party where the high school principal’s car ended up in the river and his dad worked it so Gavin hadn’t paid a penny or done even a minute of community service.

This time it made sense. It fit. It was something he’d earned—at least in part. He’d graduated top of his class in college and vet school. He was a great vet. Promise Harbor would be lucky to have him.

Even more, it would prove to Allie, and her friends and family, that he was serious. He was staying and that was that.

“Fuck.” He arm outstretched, hand still on the handle, Gavin let his head drop forward and his eyes close.

He couldn’t do it. He couldn’t take something that had come to him through his dad’s connections, whether he wanted it or would be good at it or not.

He’d made his life, his reputation, his relationships on his own, away from this place, for ten years. He could do it again. He’d work his way into the community and eventually establish his own practice.

And in the meantime, he’d make some money and work on his family relationships and see what happened.

“Dammit,” he breathed. His stomach was churning, his heart and head pounded, but this was what he had to do. To be with Allie, he’d do anything.

He shoved the door open, the old hinges creaking, announcing his arrival.

But he’d stepped into the sanctuary. The social hall was the east wing of the church. He strode down the aisle with purpose, just as he’d done two weeks ago. He, of course, replayed every second of that day in his head and knew that he’d do it all over again. He didn’t have a single regret.

Even as he crossed past the altar and then through the doorway that would lead to the hall where his dad and brothers were.

He wouldn’t change anything.

His dad was up on a tall ladder, facing where Gavin emerged.

“Gavin!”

His face broke into a wide smile that brought Gavin up short. He’d seen photos of his family over the years. His mother made a point of emailing him pictures from family gatherings and an annual Christmas card with a photo of her and his father. But he wasn’t prepared for the new lines on his father’s face and the gray in his hair.

“Hey, Dad.”

Greg Montgomery descended the ladder faster than he should have, but it only wobbled slightly as he jumped past the final three rungs and headed for Gavin.

He looked like he was going for a hug and Gavin instinctively stepped back. He definitely wasn’t ready for that.

“It’s good to see you,” Greg said, stopping a few feet away instead of enfolding Gavin.

“Thanks.”

“I’m glad you came by. Surprised, but glad.”

Gavin pulled in a deep breath. “Dad, up front, stay out of my business.”

“I…yeah.” Greg cleared his throat. “You mentioned that on the phone.”

“And I meant it.”

“Okay.”

He seemed sincere and Gavin felt his chest tighten. He wanted his dad to be sincere about a lot of things. He wanted this to be like any other son going to see his dad when he was home visiting.

But it wasn’t. It just wasn’t.

“Dad, this is going to be…” Fuck, he didn’t even know what it
was
, not to mention what it was going to be. He tried again. “This is hard.”

His dad looked uncomfortable, but he nodded. “I know.”

“I just…” There were a lot of things he wanted to say. Things he probably
should
say. Things he definitely shouldn’t say.

Then he looked into his dad’s face. Damn, maybe there wasn’t anything he shouldn’t say. Maybe they just needed it all out on the table.

“Gav, I know there are things you can’t forget.”

“You’re right,” he said. “There are things I can’t forget. And honestly, that’s what kills me, Dad.” He rubbed the middle of his chest, where everything seemed to be knotting up. “I look at you and I remember so many things. Like the time you got us behind the scenes at the aquarium. And how you had us make cards for Mom on Mother’s Day. And that you introduced me to the reruns of
Night Court
.”

His dad nodded, but Gavin noticed he wasn’t smiling. He knew the other shoe had to drop. Gavin hesitated. Did he need to keep going? Did he really need to say the rest? They both knew what was coming.

But he really did feel like he needed to lay it all out there.

“As much as I hate it and wish it was different, I also see the guy who hurt my mother and never got anything honestly in his life.”

Greg flinched, then cleared his throat again. “I know.”

Well, of course he knew
was Gavin’s first bitter thought. But then he watched his dad’s gaze skitter from his. Greg’s neck got red and he shifted from foot to foot. And like touching a live wire, Gavin felt a shock rock through him all the way to his feet.

His dad was ashamed.

This was so far from the angry, cocky man Gavin’s remembered from high school that he had a moment of disorientation. But this was his father. He’d recognize the cowlick—the same one he struggled to control—and the calluses on his big hands and the scuffed brown work boots anywhere.

Gavin was used to his chest and gut hurting when he thought about his father. It was Greg’s fault. He’d done it, he’d been the ass who’d messed everything up. But maybe ten years had given him some perspective or something.

Or maybe Gavin was just tired of being pissed off all the time.

Or both.

“Okay,” Gavin slipped his hands into his front pockets, “we both know what happened in the past. But there are about ten years to catch up on. Maybe we’ll just do that for now.”

Greg nodded. “Sounds good.”

Gavin looked around, not sure what to do next. “Where are Gabe and Garrett?”

“In a meeting with the church board,” Greg said, waving toward a doorway. “They’re really running the show now. I just come to pound nails anymore.”

At least he hadn’t said “screw things”, Gavin thought. Then grimaced and ran a hand over his face. None of it was funny. His father’s past, his family’s dysfunction, Gavin’s inability to get past it all. Definitely not funny.

But it felt…old. And tired.

He’d been hanging on to his anger and self-righteousness for so long now that it suddenly felt as if it had dried up and shrunk a little. It was still there. Still ugly—maybe even more so now that it had rotted for ten years—but it wasn’t as big and didn’t feel like it pressed on his heart quite the same way it used to.

He took a deep breath. “I came by to talk to you about maybe working with you for a while. While I get to know the community again, maybe put out some feelers about vet services.”

Greg was clearly shocked. “You want to work with
me
? With us?”

Not really, but it seemed like a good way to make some cash here while he kept paying bills in Alaska. He couldn’t stay on Hayley’s couch indefinitely. This would also show Allie he was trying at this family thing. “For a while.”

“I thought Ken Martin—”

“Ken called,” Gavin broke in. “I’m not doing that and you should know that.”

“I didn’t ask him to call you,” Greg said quickly. “We were just golfing and you came up.”

“Uh-huh.” Gavin felt exhausted suddenly. “It doesn’t matter. I’ll do it on my own.”

“Gavin,” Greg said earnestly. “It was bad timing, I know. But Ken and I are friends. Of course it came up that my son was finally coming back. He told me about his decision to retire
after
he’d called you.”

Gavin looked his father directly in the eye for the first time in ten years. There was sincerity there. And regret.

He tried not to be moved. He wasn’t—not really. Anything his father regretted was all his own doing. But the sincerity got to Gavin.

“Fine. Okay. I believe you,” Gavin finally said. “I’m still not taking over the practice. Not right now. I just need to…”

Fuck. He just needed to take one thing at a time.

“You can definitely work with us,” Greg said, when Gavin still failed to come up with more words.

That was all he wanted. He wanted work that would provide him a paycheck, a chance to reconnect with his brothers, maybe let go of some more of his anger toward his father, and concentrate on Allie. That was all more than enough right now.

“Okay,” he said.

Greg handed him a hammer. “You take the ladder. I’m getting too old for that stuff.”

Right. Gavin didn’t believe that for a second. But he took the hammer and climbed the ladder.

It was a start, at least.

Chapter Thirteen

Allie sat with her dad on the big swing in Sophie’s backyard. He had his arm over the back of the swing behind her, and she leaned into him. The scent of Tide and coffee surrounded her—the combination that would forever bring her father to mind.

The scene in front of them was very familiar too. The Brewsters, even Greta and her new boyfriend, Hank—it seemed everyone had been busy falling in love in the past two weeks—were gathered with Danny, Charlie and Lydia, Hayley and Jackson, and Devon and Josh.

Josh, as usual, manned the grill, while Sophie made sure everyone’s glasses and plates stayed full.