Draw Me Close (32 page)

“Hey, Dad.” Mel walked up behind Lindsey. “What are you doing here?”

Hearing Mel's voice, Eden rooted around searching for her mother, so Lindsey handed her over while she waited to see if her father was planning to own up to the reason for his visit. She figured there probably was no time like the present to get it all out there. Despite the fact that she knew Mel would let her have it when they were alone.

“Uh, I actually just came by to apologize to your sister.”

Lindsey's stomach flopped. She really couldn't believe he was going to say it, but she had to admit, she admired him for it. She knew her father tended to live in denial so this was pretty huge for him.

Mel turned to Lindsey, pushing Eden's fist out of her face. “What for?”

“Melanie, I'm not proud of it. But your sister's been helping me out the past six months. Well, she's always helping me out, but it's been … more, lately.”

“Helping you out?” Mel asked, confused. She turned to Lindsey. An awkward silence hung in the air between them and finally their father continued.

“I also need to admit to you girls that I have … a gambling problem.”

Mel's eyes closed slowly as she whispered, “Dad.”

“I know, Mel. I know you're ashamed of me.”

“Dad, stop,” Lindsey said, hating the pitiful tone of his voice and the sadness in his face. No matter what, he was their father. “We're not ashamed. Just—”

“No, Lindsey,” Mel interjected. “Don't cover for him. Dad, this is a load of crap. Did you know Lindsey is broke? How could you stomach taking money from your daughter when she doesn't even have a home to live in anymore?”

Lindsey fell silent. It was hard to argue her sister's logic. But at the same time, she needed to stop letting Mel stand up for her. She could handle this herself.

“Dad, Mel's right. I am broke and I was accepting that for now because I thought you truly needed my help. And you do need help, Dad. But I can't be the one to help you. You need to get some counseling.”

“You're right, Linds.” He looked off to the side, not wanting to meet their eyes. “Guy at the casino overheard our conversation. Said he's had a problem for years. Gave me a flyer with a number on it.”

“So he was still at the casino, but giving out advice?” Mel asked dryly.

“Hey, didn't say he'd cured himself. Just said he understood,” Isaac Morales bit back. “I'm not expecting you girls to understand. I'm not asking for your sympathy. I just don't want this to come between us for good.”

“It's a good place to start, Daddy. Call the number. It can't hurt. But you can't ask me for money ever again.”

“Or me,” Mel said. “We love you, Dad, but you can't do this to your kids again.”

Lindsey looked at Mel in shock. Had their father been swindling them both?

“You're right, girls. I'm gonna knock this. I'm gonna try. And I am sorry, Linds. I mean it when I say I never meant to hurt you.”

Those words sounded familiar “I know, Daddy.”

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a check. He handed it to Lindsey and she read the amount. Four thousand dollars. Instantly she was flooded with relief for her own situation, but then concern for her father's. “Dad, did you use the rest of the money—”

“The rest of the money caught all my bills up and then went into the bank. I need to find a new job. I left the casino immediately after I cashed out. Haven't been back yet.”

“Yet,” Mel said. She glanced over Lindsey's shoulder at the check. “So you won this money?”

Isaac nodded. “It's a little hard to go out on a win like that. Makes me want to go again, but I realize that's the problem. I'm trying, girls.”

Lindsey sighed. “You can do this, Dad. I know you can. And thank you.”

She gave her dad a quick hug and after a few moments he got in his car and left. Mel, Eden, and Lindsey headed back up to the condo.

“Why didn't you tell me, Linds?” Mel asked.

“Well, clearly you've given him money, too. I didn't know that.”

“It was a few years ago and I told him it was not going to become a habit.”

It made Lindsey feel marginally better that she hadn't been the only sucker in the family. Just the most consistent.

“You know you can stay here as long as you need,” Mel said as they went up the steps.

“I know, but you guys are a family. I need more space and I need to figure something out soon.”

“I want you to tell me if you're struggling. Okay?”

Lindsey nodded, grateful to her sister.

“One more word of advice?” Mel said before they went up the stairs. “Get that check cashed ASAP.”

Lindsey laughed. “Already planned on it.”

Once she was back in her room she pulled out Derek's comic and placed it on her bed. Her life had been in such limbo lately. So many things had come to a head and she wasn't sure what was right or wrong any longer. Thankfully, her resentment toward her father had now ebbed a little. It would take time, but she wanted to forgive him. Everyone messed up and everyone deserved forgiveness. She'd recently learned that forgiving someone relieves a real physical burden. It takes a lot of strength to carry anger on your shoulders and she didn't want that any longer.

She owed that insight to Derek as strange it seemed. It made her smile to think how far they'd come together. His comic was a true starting over. And she missed him, thought of him. And she knew for certain that she was deeply in love with him.

She recalled the last thing she'd said to Derek.
Trust yourself.
Right now she planned to take her own advice.

*   *   *

For the fourth time Friday afternoon Derek walked to his office doorway and looked at Molly. She obviously didn't even have to lift her head to know he was standing there because her gaze stayed on her computer as she spoke.

“You've asked me four times. Don't you think if it had come I would have brought it to you? Good grief.”

“Sorry. Of course you would.” Derek sighed.

Molly finally glanced over, her face full of concern. “What are you hoping will come today?”

“Just … something. Nothing to be worried about.”

“
Right,
you pacing the floor is very convincing.” She laughed and then shook her head. “Go focus on something else. I can see the mailbox from my window so as soon as he pulls up I'll know.”

Derek nodded. “Okay. Thank you, Molly.” He stepped over behind her desk and looked out the window.

“Scram. I can't work very hard at perusing Pinterest while you're standing here. I feel guilty.”

“Sure you do,” Derek said.

He walked back into his office and plopped down in his desk chair. It was ridiculous to be so anxious. He wasn't even certain Lindsey would reply. Then again he hadn't been certain she'd reply eight years ago. But she had.

The problem might be the timing. She'd have gotten his mailing yesterday. For him to get something back today she'd have had to put it right back in the mail. Why had he put his office address? It was Friday. If she happened to put it in the mail today he wouldn't get it until Monday. No, he'd just have to swing by tomorrow and check the box. He made a mental note to get the key from Molly before she left.

Good Lord, he was going insane.

He heard Molly's chair creak from the front room, followed by her footsteps. He shot out of his chair and into the front office.

“You gonna race me?” she asked with a grin. Derek could see the mail truck out the window.

“Give me the key. Hurry.” He held out his hand.

“If you go now you won't need it. He'll just hand it to you.”

Derek picked up his pace and headed out the front door. Their mail guy was chatting with Mike as he dug through the piles in his truck.

“Hey, man,” Mike said with an odd grin. “What are you doing out here?”

“Just getting the mail. Obviously,” Derek said. He'd never met the mailman, but apparently Mike spent a lot of his workday shootin' the breeze.

“Well, like I was sayin', Jack.” Mike gave Derek a sidelong glance as he continued to speak. “Have your son just bring it over. I can look at the brakes.”

“Thanks, Mike. I appreciate it. Never can be too safe.”

Derek wanted to yell for them to hurry it up but waited patiently. Finally Jack the mailman reached out and handed Mike the mail.

“Later,” Mike said to Jack as he pulled away. Derek waited anxiously as his friend took his sweet-ass time sifting through the envelopes.

“Man, I was really hoping for some catalogs today. Or a magazine. I haven't gotten a magazine in a while.”

Derek sucked in a breath. “Can you hurry?”

They shared a mailbox. Or rather, Mike used Derek's office mailing address since technically the back of the building didn't have its own. Finally handing over the stack, Mike gave him an odd look.

“Fine. Here. What's gotten your ass in a twist?”

“Nothing. Just need to get back to work.”

Mike gave him a smirk and turned around. He spoke over his shoulder as he walked back toward his shop. “Quit freaking out, man. It's in there.”

Derek froze and turned to Mike. His best friend turned and began to walk backward. He held up his hand and pointed at Derek. “I told you Anne tells me everything.”

Shaking his head, Derek walked back into his office as he sorted through the mail. Mike had said it was in there.

“Find what you're looking for?” Molly asked from her desk.

Finally his hand closed around a small blue envelope and his entire body exhaled when he saw Lindsey's name in the upper right corner. “Yes, I did.”

Derek tossed the unimportant mail on Molly's desk and instantly retreated to his office. He thought he heard her mutter something about him being no fun but he didn't have time to care. Shutting the door, he rounded his desk and sat down while carefully opening the envelope.

Inside was the same paper he'd sent her. Same two-paneled comic, his side filled out and hers …

His tense expression slid into a grin as he read her response.

“We have met. One of the best days of my life, actually. I'm Lindsey.”

Derek felt as if he could nearly cry with relief, but it was her note at the bottom that did him in.

I love you, too. Always have, always will.

Without hesitation Derek picked up his pencil and began a new drawing. The first time they'd played this game it had lasted a while. And they'd both enjoyed it, passing the comics back and forth, flirting through their words. There was no hurry this time. They'd botched this second chance enough already and he wasn't going to do it again.

Mike and Anne's wedding was the following weekend. They would see each other at the rehearsal and of course at the wedding. She would be dressed up, beautiful, as she always was. It was meant to be a happy occasion, but he wouldn't survive it if he wasn't able to touch her. Kiss her.

That meant he had exactly one week to woo the woman of his dreams. The woman he loved. He had to convince her that this time it would be worth it. This time they would come out on the other side together.

 

Twenty-Five

Lindsey pulled into the driveway of Anne and Mike's completed farmhouse. She'd seen it so many times, in so many stages, but today it finally looked like a home. Twin black rockers sat to the left of the front door, lilac pennant banners ran the length of the porch railing, and two giant urns flanking the steps were filled with ferns.

Mike had moved in a few days ago—along with almost all of their possessions—but Anne and Claire wouldn't officially move in until after the wedding.

Callie burst through the front door and ran down the steps toward Lindsey's vehicle, blond curls flying around her head. Lindsey opened her driver side door and waved.

“Need help?” Callie asked, a little breathless.

“Sure. There's a box in the back you can grab.”

The past few days all of the girls had been busy tackling odds and ends for the wedding. Callie had obviously baked the cake, as well as various cupcakes and cookies for the dessert table, and also helped Anne with whatever came up. Lindsey had been in charge of various decorations and place cards. For that she'd found the most perfect giant vintage frame with ornate filigree. She'd painted it, run burlap twine strings across the width, and hung each hand-printed kraft paper card on the strings with a mini clothespin. Another of her projects had been preparing all the various signs for the ceremony and reception, and the past few days had been a flurry of spray and chalkboard paint, glue guns, and ribbon. She and Mel had done a lot of the work together on the deck at home—it had been fun. And she loved how everything had come out.

Anne, Lindsey, and Callie had agreed to meet today to do some staging so they could get a few teaser photos for the blog. The official wedding post would come when the professional photographer had their photos ready from the actual day. But the readers were clamoring for a peek. They'd shared the process with them, asked for their input, and now everyone was anxious.

Lindsey grabbed a handful of handmade signs from her backseat and followed Callie up to the house. Once inside she couldn't believe the transformation. The ambiance of the space had changed dramatically. It felt … happy. Complete. Anne had clearly been there decorating, since many of the pieces from her current home hung on the walls. The entryway table Lindsey had made held a selfie of Mike, Anne, and Claire from the day of the proposal. Next to it sat a painted Mason jar full of fresh flowers.

In complete awe, Lindsey walked down the hallway to the living room. She sucked in a breath as she took it all in. Together Anne and Mike had purchased some new furniture. It was gray linen, a bit modern but warm and inviting lined with pillows of various coordinating fabrics. The mantel Lindsey had stained was also covered with silver picture frames. Of course against the wall sat a massive flat-screen TV. Totally Mike's touch.