Make a Wish (Spark House #3)(63)

Seventeen


WALKING THE TIGHTROPE


GAVIN

Larissa collects her daughter and excuses herself, flitting to another family like a drunk bee. I turn to my mother-in-law and give her a stern look. “That was not okay.”

She rolls her shoulders back. “I didn’t say anything others weren’t already thinking.”

“Harley is my girlfriend. She volunteers at the school, she spends time with Peyton because she cares about her, and I care about both of them. Belittling Harley in public is not a good way to win points with me, and you’re certainly not going to win points with Harley either.”

She purses her lips and laces her fingers together, dropping her head slightly. It makes her look repentant, but I’m not sure I buy it. “I’m concerned about the influence she’s having on Peyton. What happens if this relationship doesn’t work out? What kind of damage will that do to Peyton?”

“The influence she’s having?” I say, my voice laced with incredulity. “She’s fostering Peyton’s creative side, and she’s always giving her opportunities to play and have fun and be a kid. What’s wrong with that?”

“What about structure and rules and consistency? What will happen to all of that if you and Harley don’t work out? She’s young.”

“She’s twenty-eight. Last I checked that’s considered a full-blown adult.”

“She’s almost a decade younger than you.”

I cross my arms. “My parents are a decade apart, and they worked out just fine.”

“You know boys mature slower than the girls. I’m still trying to catch up to you, Kay-kay,” Kyle says with a smile.

“You’re not helping,” she snaps at her husband then turns back to me. “Those were different times, and she is at a very different place in her life than you are.”

“How do you know? You haven’t even talked to her to be able to make that assessment.”

Before Karen can respond, my parents return from the bathroom.

My mother looks between me and Karen, probably picking up on the hostility. “Is everything okay?”

“Everything’s fine.” Karen smiles, but it’s just as stiff as my posture.

“We should get Peyton and all go out for lunch. I’m starved.” My dad pops a brownie into his mouth. The man has an endless sweet tooth that’s rarely satisfied.

“You’ll ruin your appetite if you eat any more of those,” my mother says, her tone disapproving, but she smiles and rolls her eyes.

“They’re one-bite brownies. They’re not going to ruin anything, dear.” He gives her a cheeky smile before he turns back to me. “You can fill me in on how things are going with the park project over lunch.”

“For sure. There are a few things I’d like to pick your brain on.”

“I peeked at the most recent blueprints, and it looks great, but I’m always happy to give you feedback.”

Peyton and Harley return, and my dad, who is completely oblivious to the tension between Harley and Karen, invites her out for lunch with us. Which makes sense, she’s often invited for meals. Sometimes, when I’m working late on a project, she’ll pick up Peyton and my parents will invite her to stay for dinner. They adore her. Which makes Karen’s animosity toward her that much more obvious and glaring.

Of course, I want Harley to join us, but I’m also aware of how uncomfortable this has to be for her. And navigating Karen isn’t easy.

“You have to come with us!” Peyton holds onto Harley’s arm while she jumps up and down. “Daddy, can we go to Chuck E. Cheese again?”

“Chuck E. Cheese? Is that the horrible place with all the games inside the restaurant? That’s a breeding ground for sickness and germs. Why would you even entertain taking Peyton there?” Karen’s lip curls with disdain.

“Because it’s fun. And because Peyton is a kid, and she has the immune system of a superhero since she’s surrounded by germs all day, every day.” Harley motions to the school.

I don’t know whether to high-five her or put my hand over her mouth so she can’t say anything else that’s offensive to my easily offended mother-in-law. Instead, I divert the conversation. “Maybe we should save Chuck E. Cheese for another day. It’s pretty busy in there, and we want to have time with Granny and Grandpa, since they don’t get to see you as much as they used to.”

We finally agree on a place to eat after Karen shoots down three more options, and I call ahead to make a reservation for the seven of us. We head out to the parking lot, and of course, because Peyton is a kid and because Harley is fun and she loves her, she asks if she can ride with Harley.

“I need company in the back seat, honey. We’ll see Harley at the restaurant.” Karen puts her arm around Peyton’s shoulder and guides her toward my SUV. Peyton glances over her shoulder to Harley, who, thankfully gives her a wave and a wink.

When they’re out of earshot, she turns to me, adjusting the strap of her purse. “Should I even come?”

I tuck a hand in my pocket. “Of course, you should. I’ll talk to Karen.”

“In front of Peyton?”

“I’ll remind her to be on her best behavior.” I know I need to deal with this, but putting my mother-in-law in her place in front of my parents and her granddaughter isn’t ideal. “Please, Harley, Peyton will be disappointed if you don’t come and so will I.”