Forever Too Far

It’s not a place for you to be swooning over my future father-in-law.”
         “That is just crazy. You know that , right? Just flipping crazy! Having Dean fucking Finlay as your father-in-law. Women around the world want to fuck the man. You’re gonna be his family.”
         I cringed and unlocked the door to the house. Sometimes Bethy could be too much. This was one of those times. “Let’s unload the groceries and talk about tomorrow’s menu. Then I can tell you all about how I’m leaving this weekend to head to LA with Rush and his father. Nan is causing problems with Kiro.”
         Bethy hurried inside after me. “You’re leaving? This weekend? You can’t leave me! Not even for Dean! No!”
         At least I had her mind off of humping Dean. I put my bag down on the counter and turned to look at her. “Rush needs to go and so I’m going with him. Besides, if I don’t go, I don’t think he will. His dad asked him to help deal with Nan.”
         Bethy pouted and sank down on the bar stool across from me. “This sucks. I don’t want you to leave.”
         The more I thought about it the more I didn’t want to leave either. But I wasn’t letting Rush go to LA without me. I would miss him like crazy. This would also be a chance for me to get to know his dad. We were about to have our own family and I wanted his dad to be a part of that. I hadn’t heard from my dad but once since he came by to tell me that he wasn’t Nan’s father. He had called me a week after he left to tell me he was heading to the Florida Keys to find a boat and live on it. He wanted to be alone. He also told me he loved me.
         I tried not to think of my dad much. It only made me sad. I should have told him I wanted him in my life but I hadn’t. I’d let him go. Now, looking at the holidays without him I felt sad.  I had found my home but he had lost his.
         “Have you heard anything I just said?” Bethy asked breaking into my thoughts.
         I glanced over at her. “I’m sorry. I was thinking about my dad,” I admitted. Then I grabbed the can of green beans and started putting it away.
         “Oh. You thinking of inviting him?”
          It was too late now. I wasn’t sure Rush would be okay with it if I did. We hadn’t discussed my dad that much. I shook my head and turned to get the box of powdered sugar. “No. Just thinking about him in general. Wondering what he’s doing,” I replied.

 
    RUSH
     
         My dad was singing in the kitchen while preparing the turkey. I stood back and watched as Blaire mixed something in a bowl and smiled happily. My dad kept trying to get her to sing with him and she would just laugh as she shook her head no. Today was going to be hard on her and I liked seeing her smile.
         All week I had debated on telling her I’d invited Abe. He would be here in an hour. I ’d gotten a text from him when his plane landed.  I couldn’t decide if surprising her was such a good idea. I wanted to make this special for her. It was our first Thanksgiving together. I knew that the fact it was her first Thanksgiving without her mother was going to overshadow it and I understood that. But if I could make this a good memory, one she would cherish, I would move heaven and earth to make that happen.
         “Y ou hiding back there ‘cause you’re afraid to get your hands dirty, boy?” my dad asked, glancing back over his shoulder and winking at me.
         Blaire turned around with a spoon in one hand and a smile on her face. The apron she was wearing had frilly things around the seams and pink polka dots all over it. She was adorable.
          I walked over to her and pulled her close so I could kiss those pretty lips of hers.
         “We’re cooking in here. No time for that stuff,” Dean said with a chuckle.
         Blaire broke the kiss and pressed her lips together. The twinkle in her eyes let me know she was trying hard not to laugh. I loved seeing her like this. Especially on a day like today. Once again, Blaire was tougher than most men I knew. She continued to blow me away with her strength over and over again.
         “Can I help?” I asked , leaning down to press one more kiss to the corner of her mouth.
         “Yeah, you can help me get this big ass turkey in the oven without dropping it or burning my damn hand,” Dean barked.
         Blaire stepped back from me. “Help your dad,” she