subjects you don’t want to discuss with your dad…
“Mom’s doing great,” Marley said brightly, handing him his glass as she curled herself on the other end of the sofa. She tucked her feet under his legs and took a sip of the bourbon. She made a face.
Luckily, her dad didn’t look up from his computer. He took a healthy swig of the bourbon and set it down on the coaster.
“How is she holding up in—”
“Guatemala,” Marley interjected. “That’s what I’ve been telling people. It’s easier that way. Simpler. I’d appreciate it if you could back me up on that.”
Her father frowned. “You aren’t still sending her money, are you?”
Marley set her glass down with a thunk, missing her own coaster by a foot. “Dad, can we not talk about this?”
Her father looked up and shrugged. “Whatever you want, honey. You know I’m just concerned about your financial security.”
“I appreciate that,” Marley said tightly, not appreciating it much at all. “I’m here in Bend for a fresh start, Dad. No one here knows my mother is a criminal, so maybe you could keep that information to yourself?”
Walter raised one hand. “Say no more. So did you meet any men at the charity event?”
“What?”
“Events like that are a great place to meet single people who have their financial priorities in line. It could be a nice way for you to find someone.”
Marley sighed, wondering if it was too late to turn the conversation back to her ex-fiancé or her long-lost mother or root canals or anything more appealing than this. Magoo hopped up on the couch beside her and rested his head in her lap. She stroked his ears as Magoo began the tedious process of bathing her arm with his tongue.
“I already found the best guy on the planet,” Marley said, scratching Magoo beneath the chin. “Magoo is a more likeable guy than anyone I’ve ever dated.”
“I don’t doubt it. But wouldn’t it be handy to also have a guy who walks upright and can pick up the tab at a restaurant?”
Marley shook her head. “I’m not looking for a rich guy, Dad. I’ve had enough of that to last a lifetime.”
She waited to see if he took that as a personal insult, but he merely shrugged. “Money comes with perks, Marley. It’s a fact of life.”
“It comes with drama, too. I was serious the other day when I said I’m done with rich guys. I want to meet someone more blue-collar. Someone more normal . Someone with different priorities than the men I’ve dated before.”
Her father raised his eyebrows but said nothing, turning back to his computer. Marley wriggled her toes under his leg, feeling six years old again and eager to please her father with something she’d made out of macaroni and paste.
“There’s a very nice wildlife specialist at the museum. Derek.” She paused and bit her lip. “I mean Darin. Anyway, I might try dating him. He seems like a very nice, normal, down-to-earth guy who probably doesn’t have a bank account the size of Texas.”
Her dad sighed. “Just be careful, Marley. You know how you can be with money.”
The words felt like a knife between the ribs. “How I can be with money,” she repeated, digesting the words. “I’ve built my entire career around money. Around handling donors’ contributions with wisdom and aplomb and professionalism.”
“And I’m very proud of you, honey.” He patted her knee. “It’s just a shame things haven’t gone as well in your personal life. But if you find a good man who can—”
“You know, Dad, I’m really tired.” Marley jumped up, done with the conversation, done with her drink, just done . “I think I’m going to turn in for the night.”
Her father looked at her and sighed. “I only want what’s best for you.”
“I know that. We just have a different opinion about what that is.”
Her father nodded and took a small sip of his drink. “Good night, sugar. Sleep well.”
Marley nodded and bent to kiss him on the cheek.
“Mom’s doing great,” Marley said brightly, handing him his glass as she curled herself on the other end of the sofa. She tucked her feet under his legs and took a sip of the bourbon. She made a face.
Luckily, her dad didn’t look up from his computer. He took a healthy swig of the bourbon and set it down on the coaster.
“How is she holding up in—”
“Guatemala,” Marley interjected. “That’s what I’ve been telling people. It’s easier that way. Simpler. I’d appreciate it if you could back me up on that.”
Her father frowned. “You aren’t still sending her money, are you?”
Marley set her glass down with a thunk, missing her own coaster by a foot. “Dad, can we not talk about this?”
Her father looked up and shrugged. “Whatever you want, honey. You know I’m just concerned about your financial security.”
“I appreciate that,” Marley said tightly, not appreciating it much at all. “I’m here in Bend for a fresh start, Dad. No one here knows my mother is a criminal, so maybe you could keep that information to yourself?”
Walter raised one hand. “Say no more. So did you meet any men at the charity event?”
“What?”
“Events like that are a great place to meet single people who have their financial priorities in line. It could be a nice way for you to find someone.”
Marley sighed, wondering if it was too late to turn the conversation back to her ex-fiancé or her long-lost mother or root canals or anything more appealing than this. Magoo hopped up on the couch beside her and rested his head in her lap. She stroked his ears as Magoo began the tedious process of bathing her arm with his tongue.
“I already found the best guy on the planet,” Marley said, scratching Magoo beneath the chin. “Magoo is a more likeable guy than anyone I’ve ever dated.”
“I don’t doubt it. But wouldn’t it be handy to also have a guy who walks upright and can pick up the tab at a restaurant?”
Marley shook her head. “I’m not looking for a rich guy, Dad. I’ve had enough of that to last a lifetime.”
She waited to see if he took that as a personal insult, but he merely shrugged. “Money comes with perks, Marley. It’s a fact of life.”
“It comes with drama, too. I was serious the other day when I said I’m done with rich guys. I want to meet someone more blue-collar. Someone more normal . Someone with different priorities than the men I’ve dated before.”
Her father raised his eyebrows but said nothing, turning back to his computer. Marley wriggled her toes under his leg, feeling six years old again and eager to please her father with something she’d made out of macaroni and paste.
“There’s a very nice wildlife specialist at the museum. Derek.” She paused and bit her lip. “I mean Darin. Anyway, I might try dating him. He seems like a very nice, normal, down-to-earth guy who probably doesn’t have a bank account the size of Texas.”
Her dad sighed. “Just be careful, Marley. You know how you can be with money.”
The words felt like a knife between the ribs. “How I can be with money,” she repeated, digesting the words. “I’ve built my entire career around money. Around handling donors’ contributions with wisdom and aplomb and professionalism.”
“And I’m very proud of you, honey.” He patted her knee. “It’s just a shame things haven’t gone as well in your personal life. But if you find a good man who can—”
“You know, Dad, I’m really tired.” Marley jumped up, done with the conversation, done with her drink, just done . “I think I’m going to turn in for the night.”
Her father looked at her and sighed. “I only want what’s best for you.”
“I know that. We just have a different opinion about what that is.”
Her father nodded and took a small sip of his drink. “Good night, sugar. Sleep well.”
Marley nodded and bent to kiss him on the cheek.
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