The Best Man (Blue Heron #1)(86)

“Oh,” Maxine said, smiling in a wonderfully conspiratorial way. “One of those. I get it.”

Faith felt like giggling. Two glasses of wine, only nachos since noon. “Anyway, back to you, Maxine. What do you like to cook?”

Her phone vibrated, her cue to go to the bathroom. “I’m so sorry. Excuse me for one second,” she said, sliding out of the booth.

Jack met her at the entrance of the restrooms. “Dad says it’s a go. He likes what he’s heard so far.”

“Yes!” Faith said, elation rising up like a geyser. Finally, she could look at Dad and see a happy man, rather than a lonely widower doing his best.

“This is so weird, Faith. I feel like we’re pimping out our father.”

“No, we’re not! Don’t you see, Jack? Dad could get married again. He could stop missing Mom and be happy.”

Her brother gave her an odd look. “I think he’ll always miss Mom, even if he did remarry, and he’s not unhappy, Faith.”

“Well, you’re next, so be nice to me or I’m throwing you to Colleen, and the hyenas will pick over your bones.”

“So, love is in the air, huh? Since Levi, ah, drove you home?”

She couldn’t help a smile, remembering the other night.

“Oh, God,” Jack said. “Sorry I asked.” He walked back to his table.

Faith took a minute to use the bathroom. Her cheeks were flushed. She looked a little...dreamy. Maybe Levi would come over tonight and shag her silly, since Sarah’s Twitter feed said he’d dropped her off and all.

The stall door opened, and Jessica Does came out.

“Oh. Hey,” Faith said, abruptly turning on the water. Didn’t want Jessica to think she just came in to gaze at her reflection.

And, oh, crap. Jessica was Levi’s old girlfriend. Would that come into play?

“Hi.” Jessica washed her hands, too.

“How are you?” Faith asked.

“Fine. You?”

“Fine.”

With that, Jessica reached past Faith and grabbed some paper towels from the dispenser, her movements so sharp that Faith actually ducked. “Jesus, Holland,” Jess said, rolling her eyes. “You think I’m gonna slap you or something?”

“No, no. I didn’t. I just...”

“Whatever. Bye.”

Jess was gone, ever the princess of manners. Didn’t matter. Dad’s potential wife was out there.

Faith’s phone buzzed. It was a text from Colleen, for God’s sake. Faith had nothing against phones and texting, but really. Colleen was in the same building. She opted not to read it but speak to her friend instead. Maxine, a live human, was waiting for her, after all. Faith opened the door and went out, only to see her father standing there.

“I really like her,” Dad said. “She seems really nice. Tall, isn’t she?”

“Mmm-hmm. Great clothes.”

Dad smiled. “I noticed that, too. Your mom was quite snazzy, too. Like you.”

This time, the guilt punch wasn’t quite so strong. “Thanks, Daddy.”

Her dad folded her into a hug. “I appreciate this, sweetpea. I really do. You’re awfully good to your dear old dad. So maybe I’ll swing by the booth, pretend I just dropped in, how’s that?”

“That’s great.”

Maxine was delicately nibbling on a nacho when Faith got back.

Huh. Nail polish, definitely a professional mani, but there was something...

“There you are! Hello again.” Maxine smiled.

Her phone buzzed again. Colleen, being a pain in the butt. Still, two in one minute, it must be important.

She clicked the “view” button. The message consisted of one word. She-male.

Huh?

Oh.

Oh, no. No, no. Faith glanced at Maxine.

Oops.

“Faith, honey!” Oh, futtocks. It was Dad. “I haven’t seen you all week,” he said, winking to make sure she knew he was lying like a four-term senator. “How’ve you been?”

“Hi, Dad,” she said in a faint voice.

“Oh! How nice to meet you!” Maxine said. “I’m Maxine. You have an absolutely wonderful daughter.”

“I couldn’t agree with you more,” Dad said, sliding next to Faith. “And two more like her, I’m happy to say.”

Faith’s brain was white with commotion. She thought back frantically to the eCommitment profile she’d filled out for Dad...she had clicked on man seeking woman, right?

“Hi, everyone.”

Holy crap, it was Honor. So not good.

“Sweetheart!” Dad said.

“Hello,” Maxine said.

Honor looked at her, then did a double take. “Oh. Um...hi. Sorry. I’m Honor. I...I didn’t realize...um, I didn’t mean to, uh, interrupt.” She gave Faith a look that was simply incredulous.

“So, Maxine,” Dad said. “I had no idea Faith was meeting you tonight. What a happy coincidence. I just happened to drop in, and now you can meet two of my daughters! How nice!”

So the old fox had decided to go for it, laying it on quite thick. “Dad,” Faith said, “Um, Honor has to speak with you, right, Honor?”

“Absolutely. It’s kind of important, Dad.”