Chapter 10
Dustin parked his car on the back side of Castle Vineyards and climbed out. Before his dad had died, he’d had no desire to ever return to this place.
He didn’t mind it anymore though, especially since his mother had removed anything and everything that reminded her of his father.
He couldn’t really blame her. There wasn’t a single thing about the man he could remember ever finding redeemable. He was able to fool everyone in the town of Sweetheart about what a great guy he was, but his children and wife knew he was a monster.
Dustin took the steps up to the main house and walked inside. “Mom?”
“In the dining room!”
“The formal or the family?” he called.
“The family, of course.”
He chuckled. “Of course.”
People who thought the house he owned now was huge had never been inside his childhood home. Eight bedrooms, two dining areas, and three living rooms plus a game room, not to mention the six bathrooms made it almost double the size of his three thousand square foot home.
He made his way down the hallway toward the family dining room, ignoring the pictures of him and his brothers in their youth. As he stepped into the room, he found his mother sitting at the head of the table, drinking coffee and reading the Sweetheart Gazette. Her blond hair was swept back into a classic up-do, and she wore a pink dress with a white sweater.
“Hello, Mom. How are the ins and outs of Sweetheart?”
“Well, let’s see. Peter Lynch was pulled over for another DUI last night. Oh, and Sissy and Daniel Stewart are expecting their first child.” She snapped the paper closed and leveled him with a heavy stare. “And apparently, you have a live-in girlfriend.”
“It’s not like that. Rylie needed a place to stay, so I am renting her my pool house. It’s strictly business.”
“Is it?” His mother said those two words so coyly that he stiffened. “Because from what I understand, the two of you were seen late last night at the gas station on what looked suspiciously like a date.”
“First of all, as my mother, you should really know by now that I don’t date. Secondly, I was just her designated driver. We stopped off to get coffee and I drove her back to the pool house where I left her untouched.” Dustin poured himself a cup of coffee. “Now, are you satisfied that you got the whole story?”
His mother shot him a disgruntled glare. “I swear, I don’t know what is wrong with you and your brothers. I am not going to live forever and I would love to have at least one daughter-in-law and a few adorable grandbabies to spoil. Is that too much to ask?”
“Well, Mom, if we’re being honest, I think that most of us realize we’ll be really shitty husbands considering the example we had.”
She dropped her cup onto the saucer, and some of the black coffee spilled over the side.
“That’s not funny, Dustin.”
He paused while scooping a slice of quiche onto his plate. “I was being serious.”
She appeared genuinely surprised. “Why would you think you were anything like your father? Not one of you would ever…” She cleared her throat and when she spoke again, it came out hoarse. “You are all good men and I expect any woman would be lucky to have you.”
Dustin shifted in his chair, uncomfortable with her praise. He didn’t really think that marriage would turn him into an abusive prick.
It was the settling down in general that scared the wits out of him.
“I don’t think any of us have met a woman that makes us want to settle down.”
“From what I know of her, your Rylie Templeton is a nice girl.”
“She isn’t mine.”
“Just the same, maybe you ought to take a second look at her. Finding a pretty girl is one thing, but a woman who is good and kind is another.”
Dustin gave his mother a sour look. “Have you seen Rylie, Mom? She is gorgeous.”
“Then you’ve got the whole package within your grasp.”
Dustin sighed. “Is this why you invited me to brunch? To play matchmaker?”
“No, actually. I want to get rid of your father’s boxes, but I don’t want to donate them locally. I was hoping that maybe you could drive them into Sacramento or something and drop them at the Goodwill?”
Dustin lost his appetite. Not because he didn’t want her to get rid of his dad’s things; hell, he’d burn them if she’d let him. It was that they couldn’t seem to have one conversation where the old bastard didn’t make an appearance.
“You know they will come pick the stuff up for you, right?”
“I know, I just wasn’t sure if you wanted to look through it first. The other boys have, but you’ve never checked to see if there is something you might want.”
Dustin set his fork down with a clink. “Let me be very clear. There is nothing I want from that man. I don’t need to look through boxes of shit that are just going to stir up a bunch of memories I’d rather forget. All right?”
“Of course, Dusty, I didn’t mean—”
“It’s Dustin. Has been for a long time.”
The rest of their brunch was eaten in silence and he took several calming breaths. He shouldn’t have snapped at her, but asking him if he wanted anything from that son of a bitch…
Then she’d called him Dusty. He hadn’t been Dusty since before his eleventh birthday. Not since the boy he’d been had been beaten and tortured out of him.
You need to be a man. Stop hiding behind your mama’s skirts, you little candy ass wimp.
Dustin wiped at his mouth and stood. “The quiche was great Mom, but I’ve got some stuff to do today.”
He could tell she was hurt, but he couldn’t stay there another minute. He needed something to distract himself and banish the ghost of his father from his mind.
He came around the table and kissed her cheek. “I’ll come see you again soon.”
* * * *
Rylie had gone to the same church her father had been taking her to since she was a little girl, and as she left, she cruelly thought it was about time that Pastor Dan retired. He was just so…boring. She’d almost fallen asleep twice during his sermon about the dangers of online dating.
Of course, her exhaustion had nothing to do with drinking too much or the late-night walk with Dustin Kent.
As she parked in front of the Sweetheart Cemetery, she tried not to dwell on his promise to stay away from attached women. There were plenty of single women in town for him to hook up with, and there was absolutely no innuendo that she was even in the top ten of his hook-up list.
Not that she wanted that anyway. She was happy without a man mucking up her life.
She got out of her car and walked across the green grass between the tombstones. When she finally reached her father’s plot, she sat down, holding a fresh bouquet in her lap.
“Hey, Dad,” she said softly. “I know you’ve been watching everything that’s been happening, and I’m sure you’re upset, but I’m okay. Really.”
There wasn’t a sound or a breeze that gave her some sign her dad was listening, but she knew he was there. He was always with her.
“I’m staying in Dustin Kent’s pool house and I know what you’re thinking, but he’s really not a bad guy. I think he’s just been through a lot and learned that the only way to survive bad stuff is to be a total jerk and keep people at arm’s length. He didn’t have to help me, but he did. And that’s why I am going to give him a real chance to be my friend. No preconceived notions.”
She picked up the dead flowers from last week and replaced them before standing. “Same time next week? I love you. Miss you, Daddy.”
Just before she turned, she noticed the headstone next to his was starting to get overgrown and she grit her teeth. Bending over, she pulled out the obstructing plants and put them in the plastic bag she’d brought for garbage. When the words on the gravestone were uncovered, they read, Here lies Willow Anne Templeton. Beloved Wife and Mother.
Rylie turned her back on the lies and headed back to her car. She wasn’t going to let this one thing ruin her day.
An hour and five minutes later, she knocked on the back door of Sierra Animal Rescue, and waited for one of the kennel technicians to answer. Sundays were her favorite day of the week. She got up early, went to church, and then stopped by the cemetery to say hi to her dad. She changed out the flowers by his headstone, and traded in her church clothes for a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. After visiting her dad’s grave, she always needed a pick me up, which is why she went to the rescue. Spending a few hours with adorable dogs and cats always brightened her spirit.
The door was pushed open and Tayler Gibson smiled at her. “Hey, Rylie! The dogs were just asking where their special treats were.”
Rylie laughed and handed the basket of freshly made dog biscuits over to the other woman. “I would never disappoint the fuzzbutts.”
They moved inside and walked down the hallway until they reached the end of the kennel area. A white tub with clear liquid sat at the edge of the concrete with a blue bleached-stained towel on the other side.
“What’s with the tub?” Rylie asked.
“We had a puppy come in with parvo today, so we’re just being cautious.”
“Oh, no! Poor baby. Is he going to be okay?”
Tayler’s lips flattened. In her late thirties, Taylor’s hair was in a crew cut, and her blue eyes were filled with shadows. Rylie didn’t know how she was still running the rescue; after some of the things Rylie had seen as a volunteer, it tore her up inside.
“Mya took him to the vet, but he was pretty emaciated, so we’re not sure if he’s going to make it yet.” Rylie’s eyes filled with tears, and Tayler squeezed her shoulder. “I don’t want to make you sad; I know this is your happy time.”
Rylie sniffled, wiping at her watery eyes. “Thanks. Is Raider still here?”
At the mention of Rylie’s favorite dog, Tayler snorted. “Yes, and he’ll probably be here until you decide to take him home. I swear, that dog only tolerates the rest of us. When people try to visit with him, he just ignores them.”
Rylie didn’t want to be thrilled by this news, but she secretly was. Raider was special, and she’d wanted him from the first time she’d seen him. “I’m still looking for a place that allows pets. There aren’t a lot of rentals in Sweetheart.”
Tayler frowned. “You’re looking for a new place? What about Asher?”
“Oh, we broke up. I am staying in a friend’s pool house until I find something permanent.”
Tayler’s face brightened. “Well, good for you. I didn’t want to say anything, but I never liked that guy. You can tell there is something really wrong with a person who doesn’t like animals.”
“Thanks, Tayler. If you hear of any rentals, can you let me know?”
Tayler nodded. “I’ll keep my ear to the ground if I hear of any place that takes pets. Does it have to be in Sweetheart?”
“Well, not too far outside. I don’t want a long commute.”
“Understood. You go have fun and I’ll take these to the other residents.”
Rylie smiled and slid the homemade peanut butter treat she’d made especially for Raider from her back pocket. She stopped just outside his cage and said, “Hey, buddy, did you miss me?”
At the sound of her voice, the muscular pit bull bounded to his feet and let out a series of booming barks. His long thin tail wagged straight in the air and his gray body wiggled with joy.
Rylie’s heart warmed as he ran for the door of the cage. The burns on the left side of his face and ear had healed months ago, but the hair would never grow back there. She grabbed his leash off the gate and after unlocking the heavy metal door, stepped inside. She kneeled and was immediately drowned in doggy kisses. Laughing, she wrapped her arms around Raider and kissed him on the side of his head.
“I missed you too, bud.”
Rylie had fallen in love with the dog the first time she’d seen him. He’d been locked in a cage in the infirmary, growling at anyone who came near. He’d been brought in by a Good Samaritan who had seen a bunch of boys light the poor dog on fire. The man had put out the flames and rushed him to the rescue. They’d been keeping him on antibiotics and pain meds while he healed, but he didn’t trust anyone and they had to sedate him in order to treat him.
But Rylie had seen past his aggression, recognizing the fear in his eyes. He’d had his trust completely broken and needed to learn that not all humans were evil.
So, she’d come in every morning before work after Asher had left, sat outside his cage, and talked to him. Sometimes she even read him stories. Several weeks passed and when she showed up, Raider’s tail would wag. He started taking biscuits from her and soon, the staff was following her lead. He stopped growling and the first time Rylie took him into the yard, she learned that he loved to chase a ball.
She’d begged Asher to let her adopt him, but he hadn’t wanted a dog. She’d started slowing down her visits after that, knowing she couldn’t have Raider hurt. Yet people kept passing him over because he was aloof with everyone but her.
Rylie sat down and let Raider climb across her lap and roll over for belly scratches. “You are such a big goofball.”
His upside-down smile never failed to delight and cheer her, and she leaned over to kiss his nose.
“Do you want to hear about my week before we go play ball? I gotta warn you, it’s a bit of a doozy.”
Raider woofed softly in response and Rylie took that as a yes.