A Father's Name(27)



Eli Keller had fallen head-over-heals in love a few years ago, and now was terminally afflicted with fantasies of happily-ever-afters.

“What about you?” Eli repeated. “It’s all him and his problems standing in the way of you dating him, hmm?”

“Sure it’s him. I don’t have any problems.”



Eli’s teasing evaporated, and she looked serious. “Tucker, we’ve been friends for years. I’ve watched you with men—”

“Hey, don’t say it like that. You make it sound like I’ve had a long line of men.”

“No, that might not be as troublesome as the fact that the few guys you go out with are men you’d never seriously consider anything long term with.”

“I’ve dated some very nice men.”

Eli nodded. “You did. But you didn’t find any of them nice enough for more than a few dates.”

“I practice a catch and release system of dating.” She’d explained that philosophy to Eli in the past and they’d laughed, but Eli wasn’t laughing now, so she added, “I like my independence.”

“I think it’s more than that. Bart’s father did a number on you.”

No way was Tucker using that lame crutch. “Eli, that was years ago. I was a kid, and so was he. I certainly don’t believe I can never find love because one teenage fling didn’t work out. Give me some credit.”

“Then what is it?” Eli asked. “I’ve never figured it out.”

Tucker sighed, not sure she had either. “I know when Bart was little, I worried about bringing a guy into the mix. You hear horror stories about men who resent raising other people’s sons.”

“Zac didn’t, doesn’t, resent raising Johnny.”

Tucker had seen Eli husband with their son, and there was no doubt in her mind that Zac thought of Johnny as his own. “I know. I said, when Bart was little. I eventually figured out that I was strong enough to protect him if need be, but that odds are, any guy I fell for wouldn’t require it. So, that’s not it. Maybe once, but not any more. I date. And I like to think I open myself up to the idea of each man’s potential. The problem is, I’ve never met a guy I wanted to spend more than a few dates with. I want…”

“What?” Eli asked. “What are you looking for in a guy?”

“I want a partner. Someone I can relate to. Someone who accepts me for who I am, not who they want me to be. Let’s face it, I’m not the traditional woman. I’ll never spend my time cooking gourmet meals, or ironing some guy’s underwear. I need him to being willing to accept that I’m happiest in the garage with grease under my fingernails, and paint smudged…everywhere. When I find that in a man, I’ll snag him.” She made an X over her chest. “Cross my heart.”

Eli sighed. “Okay, that will have to do.”

Tucker laughed. “I’m glad you think so. And while I love it when you visit, I suspect you didn’t come see me to harangue me about men, or my lack thereof.”

“No, the haranguing was spontaneous,” she said with a laugh. “I actually came over to invite you to a Hurrah-the-School-Year’s-Over Party, otherwise known as a Keller excuse to get together at my house.”

“And by invite, you mean attendance is mandatory.” Since Eli married into the Keller family, Tucker had been to more than a few Keller parties; she knew the score.

“Now, Tucker, you know I’d never say that. Mrs. Keller, she might say it. Okay, so she often says it. You can be sure she’ll expect you, your dad and Bart there.”

“Every time I show up at a Keller function, the official and unofficial family has grown.”

“Kellerized,” they both said in unison. Years ago, when Mr. and Mrs. Keller discovered they couldn’t have children, they’d adopted six, including Eli’s husband, Zac. Over the years, they’d continued to add to the family without any more formal adoptions. When Eli married Zac, Tucker got Kellerized through osmosis, then her father and Bart were added as well.

“Will Laura and Seth be there?”

Eli nodded. “With the baby.”

“You had me at baby,” Tucker admitted. “We’ll be there.”

“Why don’t you bring Tyler and Jace, too,” Eli offered.

“I’m not going to have you trying to set me up with him, Eli Keller.”

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