Gone Country (Rough Riders #14)(66)

“Drive safe.”


“I will.”


She pulled back and really scrutinized her mother. It sucked that little snot Sierra was right. Her mom did look happy. Very happy.


“What? Do I have woodchips on my face or something?”


“No.” Rory fingered the short ends of her mom’s hair and smiled. “So is Ainsley gloating?”


“About what?”


“She told you if you cut your hair, you’d hook yourself a man. It appears she was right.”


Chapter Twenty-One


“No offense, but there’s nothing in these boxes that I can use for my report,” Sierra complained.


“You did call Vi and thank her, right?” Then a thought occurred to him. “You didn’t tell her this information is worthless, did you?”


“God, Dad, way to think so highly of me. I’m not a completely thankless brat.”


Speaking of brat… Gavin held his tongue and waited for his daughter to continue.


“When I called Vi to say thanks, after like the millionth time you reminded me, she asked if she could pick me up at the bus stop tomorrow and take me to Spearfish.”


“Why?”


“Because Amelia’s birthday is coming up and she wants me to help her shop for presents. She needs my advice, since she hasn’t ever really shopped for girls.”
 


Vi skewered him with a hard look. “That gives me the right to spend my own damn money however I see fit. I bought gifts for my other granddaughter, so it’s only fair I do the same for Sierra. And don’t forget, you wouldn’t let us buy her anything for her sixteenth birthday. Then today she sees me buying things for Amelia’s birthday? How do you think that made her feel?” She jabbed her finger at him. “Exactly like you do. Like you aren’t really part of the family. Like some family members matter more to me than others.”


“Fuck.”


“Why did you move here, Gavin, if you didn’t want your daughter to be part of our family? You expect her to stand at arm’s length like you do? She is not you. You are her father, but you shouldn’t have the only say in whether we can build a relationship. Doesn’t what she wants matter?”


“Oh, trust me; she’ll be your BFF if you keep buying her things every time you’re together.”


“That’s the only reason Sierra could possibly want to spend time with me? That’s bullshit. You’re making horrible assumptions about her. And about me. That girl is not shallow, and yet I suspect sometimes you treat her like her mother. So you shouldn’t be surprised when she acts exactly how you treat her.”


Gavin’s jaw tightened.


“I’m not trying to buy her love. I’m not fostering a relationship with Sierra to get to you either, because if I thought I could buy your love? Son, I would’ve gladly paid the price the day you came looking for us. As far as today? I won’t apologize. I won’t let your paranoia and distrust ruin the wonderful afternoon that I got to spend with my granddaughter.”


They stared at each other without speaking.


Gavin knew Vi had several legitimate points, but he was still pissy.


“I can’t deal with this right now.”


It wasn’t until he went looking for Rielle that he realized she’d witnessed the whole scene…and he’d left her in the kitchen.


Rielle should’ve snuck out when she had the chance. Maybe she still could. But one look at Vi’s miserable face and she knew she wouldn’t. Especially after Vi drained her drink. “Want another?”


“I’d like to have the whole damn bottle.”


“To drink? Or to smack Gavin upside the head?” Rielle asked lightly.


“Both.” Vi studied the ice cubes in her glass. “I wasn’t in the wrong.”


A statement Rielle let lie.


“I keep hoping he’ll come around.”


“He will. However, it may take more time than you think it should.”


“Being pushy, am I?”


“No. Gavin has his own way of thinking.” Rielle didn’t say more. She wouldn’t violate the trust he’d placed in her.


“He’s being ridiculous if he believes I was trying to buy Sierra’s affection. When he lived in Arizona, I followed his parameters. But then he moves here, down the road from us, and I’m still supposed to wait for him to give the green light so I can get to know Sierra? Or she can get to know me? Gavin sure doesn’t have a problem with Charlie spending time with Sierra, or that Charlie buys her food and little tokens every damn day. But he objects when I do essentially the same thing? That feels a lot like punishment and a little like manipulation.”


Rielle agreed. “So you, or Charlie, or both of you haven’t brought any of this up with Gavin?”


“No. We’re aware of Gavin’s boundaries. Before he moved here we kept contact casual because we were afraid if we pushed too hard, he’d cut off all contact with us.” Vi’s chin trembled, but she firmed it.