The Luck of the Paw (An Alpine Grove Romantic Comedy Book 9) Page 23

  Mia called Kat and explained the situation. She’d need to take off two days of dog walking and board Gizmo at the kennel. Although Kat understood what was going on, she was obviously not happy about the short notice. Although it seemed like she’d apologized about three hundred times, Mia still felt terrible.

  Grabbing the receiver again, she called Chris. “Guess what? I’m coming to Los Angeles tomorrow.”

  “When can I see you?”

  “After I talk to my dad.”

  “So the bulldog found him?”

  “Yes, and he’s about to leave the country to be a volunteer in Central America, so he wants to see me.”

  “I guess that means he’s not dying.”

  “Nope.” Mia went on to explain that her dad was in fine health and was headed overseas. “I had no idea he was ever in the Peace Corps.”

  “Your father seems to have all kinds of interesting secrets.”

  “And I have a few more for him that he doesn’t even know about.”

  By the time she hung up the phone, Mia felt vastly better about her impromptu trip, partly because she couldn’t wait to see Chris again. He sounded so much more relaxed now that he was unemployed.

  After settling Gizmo into the kennel, Mia left early the next morning for Los Angeles. As she descended from the mountains, her anxiety began to increase along with the traffic. The adrenaline from the nervousness of talking to her father was long gone. Now she was just slightly panicked. It had been such a long time since they’d seen each other. And he seemed to have no idea what had happened in the interim. Had he never communicated with her mother at all? Maybe he hadn’t. What if she and her father discovered they hated each other now?

  Explaining her appalling personal and professional failures of the last twenty years wasn’t going to impress him. He wasn’t exactly going to be wowed by the amazing life she’d lived since he’d left. Parents didn’t dream that their child would end up trying to eke out a meager existence in a rundown Windiberg trailer park.

  And then there was the whole question of Heather. Did Mia have the right—or the guts—to mention her newly discovered half-sister? Every potential way that meeting her father could go wrong rattled through Mia’s mind as she drove toward the coast.

  In an effort to get her brain to shut up, she turned on the radio. The Eagles’ song “Take It to the Limit” blasted from the speakers, which reminded her of driving around Alpine Grove with Chris. She smiled at the thought of him telling her to relax and reassuring her everything would be okay, as he had so many times before.

  With a deep breath, she made a conscious effort to push her negative thoughts aside, as if it were a big rock that needed to be dislodged. Visualizing her thoughts as something apart from herself led to an unsettling realization. The voice in her head that said she was worthless and would never be anything but a loser sounded a lot like Howard.

  She shook her head, as if the movement could banish his voice. The man was long dead, and that part of her life was over. He had no power over her anymore. Whatever was going to happen with her father would happen. And then she could talk to Chris about it. Spending time with him would undoubtedly help her decompress from the whole ordeal. Maybe once she finally had dealt with her past, she’d be able to move toward a better future.

  Chapter 12

  Meetings and Greetings

  The hotel Mia’s father was staying at was fairly close to LAX and the traffic was horrible. As she pulled into the parking lot, she gripped the steering wheel even more tightly, but it was way too late to chicken out now.

  When she walked into the restaurant, she turned her head to look around. It was a typical hotel eatery, with nondescript beige and maroon furniture and leafy plants strategically placed to try to make the seating seem more private than it actually was. An older man sat at a table with his hands clasped around a coffee mug, gazing out the windows. His short hair was completely gray and the glasses were different, but it was unmistakably Dan Riggins. Mia’s heart was pounding so hard it felt it was going to leap out of her chest. After twenty years, everyone’s appearance changed, but it was startling how much older her father looked.

  He turned his gaze directly at her, and Mia realized he probably had no idea what she looked like, so she raised her hand in greeting. His eyes widened in surprise and he stood up as she walked over to the table.

  He moved toward her and she looked into his eyes. “Dad?”

  Enveloping her in a big hug, he murmured, “Mimi,” then released her so she could sit down.

  As he settled back into his chair, Mia stared at him and tried to organize her thoughts. “I’m so glad to see you.”

  “It’s been so long, Amelia. You’ve turned into a beautiful young woman.”

  “Be glad you missed some of the more unpleasant phases.” Mia smiled. “My teenage years weren’t pretty.”

  “I’m not glad. You probably won’t believe it, but I thought about you every day.”

  “Then why didn’t you try to get in touch with me?”

  “I did. Over and over.” He shook his head. “You mother said you wanted nothing to do with me.”

  “I probably did say that, particularly at first. Then I figured you’d just written me off. She said you had moved on, and then she wouldn’t say anything about you at all.” Mia glanced toward the doorway. “My relationship with Mom deteriorated after you left. By the time I was in high school, we barely spoke at all. Most of the time when I wasn’t in school, I hid out at the library or at Denny’s.”

  “I’m sorry. I wanted to see you, but your mother wouldn’t grant me any visitation rights.”

  Mia pointed at him. “Ever since I knew enough to understand, I’ve wondered how that was even possible. I mean, did you do something to make a judge think that you were unfit to see me?”

  “Your mother thought so. But no, I didn’t do anything.” Dan ran his fingers through his hair. “It was a terrible divorce. I know no divorce is good, but ours was particularly acrimonious. Are you sure you want to hear this?”

  Mia nodded. “I’m tired of secrets.”

  He took a deep breath. “You might remember your mother was easily bored.”

  “Among other things.”

  “Well, yes, her manic highs and lows didn’t help. Everything was always an extreme. Living with another person can be difficult under any circumstances, but your mother needed constant entertainment. You know what she was like. Suffice it to say, I was too dull, and she said I didn’t appreciate her. I…well…didn’t react the way she might have hoped. Her constant disappointment in me and criticism caused me to pull away. I felt disconnected from her and spent a lot of time at work. I volunteered for every possible travel assignment so I could get out of that house.”

  “Well, you were an agricultural inspector. You were supposed to travel, weren’t you?”

  “Yes, I traveled all over the state. But that didn’t help you or your mother. When you combine me being gone and her wanting someone to make her feel special, well, it wasn’t a surprise that she eventually found someone else.”

  Mia made a face of disgust. “That would be Howard.”

  “You’re really sure you want to hear this? It doesn’t get any better.”

  “I know. Keep going.”

  Dan took another deep breath. “Okay, so things got worse. You were there, so you might remember this part. Fights, then silences, then the trip to the hospital.”

  “Dad, I know she overdosed on painkillers. She tried to commit suicide, didn’t she?”

  “All right, yes, she did. Not too long after that, she told me about the other guy, how she was miserable living with me, and that meeting me was the worst thing that had ever happened to her.”

  “I’m not sure what to say.”

  Dan leaned forward and put his elbows on the table. “She stood there in the kitchen, leaning against the counter waving her arms at me saying, ‘It’s different with him. He makes me feel special and I lov
e him with all my heart. I really and truly do.’”

  “What did you say?”

  “What could I say? She wanted a divorce. In a way, part of me was relieved, I guess. I was exhausted from so many years of drama.”

  “That didn’t get better after you left.”

  “I was hoping it would. I thought that if that guy Howard was as wonderful as she said, maybe that would be a good thing for everyone. She’d take her medication and things would calm down. Me being away from home didn’t help and I hoped that having a stepfather who was around more would be better for you.”

  “It didn’t work out that way. You were way off, Dad. Way off.” Mia took a sip of water. “Did you ever meet Howard?”

  “Not officially, but I did see him once. He was extremely good looking, so it was easy to see why your mother was so interested.”

  “Well, he certainly thought he was impressive. In his world, he was always the most important—with a capital I—person in the room. I hated his guts from the moment I met him.”

  A corner of Dan’s mouth turned up in a half-smile. “Don’t hold back, honey, how do you really feel?”

  “There are no words that can express how much I hated that man.” Mia took a breath, trying to calm down. “He killed Mom, although I’ve often thought that she wanted him to. It was the only way out.”

  Dan reached for Mia’s hand across the table. “I’m so sorry, Mimi. I never would have left you in that situation, if I had known.”

  “You still didn’t answer my question. How would a judge not let you have visitation rights?”

  “Your mother claimed I was unfaithful and a bad influence on you.”

  “Did you really cheat on Mom?”

  “I thought about it, but I swear to you I never did. When the marriage was completely falling apart, a woman—it was Gwen actually—called the house and your mother went ballistic.”

  “When was that?”

  “Not too long after I took Rusty to Alpine Grove.”

  “I know you saw Gwen then and Abigail too.”

  “Yes, but nothing happened. I helped Gwen move. She was grateful to have the help. That was it. I never found out what she wanted.”

  “So Mom convinced a judge you were a cheater?”

  “You know how charming she could be. I was painted as an absentee father who had ignored his child for years. And she was providing a stable family environment with her wonderful new husband.”

  “That’s quite a fantasy she came up with.” Mia looked down at the tablecloth, then into Dan’s eyes. “I don’t understand. Why did you take Rusty to Alpine Grove in the first place?”

  “During the day while you were in school, Rusty kept getting out. Your mother never paid attention to the gate, or him, and the neighbors were angry. One day, I watched Rusty almost get hit by a car, and it scared me because I loved that dog too, you know. I couldn’t be there to keep an eye on him and I didn’t want you to have to go through him dying on top of everything else.” Dan shook his head sadly. “In hindsight, it was probably a mistake, but I honestly thought it was the best thing.”

  “I’m working at Abigail’s place, so I see why you thought it would be a good home. Dogs love it there.”

  “You work at Abigail’s house? Doing what?”

  “Abigail’s niece, Kat, has built a dog-boarding kennel there. She offered me a job walking dogs. I’m planning to do grooming too, once I learn more about it.”

  Dan squeezed her hand. “That’s wonderful, Mimi. So you’re living in Alpine Grove?”

  “Yes, in Gwen’s house. The trailer you moved her stuff into is still there.”

  Dan chuckled. “That’s hard to believe. It was old then.”

  “It’s older now. But it’s cozy and nice on the inside. I like it.”

  “So how was college?”

  “I didn’t go.”

  “But I set up a savings account for you. The money was transferred, so I just assumed...”

  “Howard got a new car right before he died.” Mia offered a wry smile. “It was nice, even though it didn’t last long. The creditors took everything.”

  Dan bent his head and rested his forehead on his palms. “I’m so sorry. I knew I should have tried harder.” He put his hands back on the table and looked at her. “I felt like such a failure, as a husband and as a father. That’s part of why I joined the Peace Corps. I wanted to do something right for a change.”

  “You might have a second chance on the father part, anyway.”

  “I’m so glad Mimi. Seeing you again is wonderful.”

  Mia leaned forward. “I almost forgot—the lottery! You know those tickets you sent me? One of them actually hit. I won! I’ve never even played the lottery before. It was amazing.”

  “When?”

  “September. That’s how I was able to get out of Windiberg. So thanks for sending them with the postcards. Leaving that place was one of the happiest days of my life.”

  “For years, I sent you tickets with the child-support checks. Didn’t you get those?”

  “I never saw them.” Mia took a drink of water. “Although now that you mention it, Howard once said he had won twenty bucks.”

  Dan groaned. “You never got any of the letters? None? For ten years?”

  “I didn’t know you paid child support. Maybe that’s what we were living on. No one really talked about it.”

  “This is unbelievable. Why would your mother do this?”

  “I’m biased, but I think it was Howard. It’s hard to explain, but he was incredibly manipulative. Honestly, I try not to think about him too much because I just get angry again.” Mia gestured dismissively. “I think I know why Gwen called that time after you helped her move. She told me that you met during the 1965 New York City blackout.”

  He raised his eyebrows. “That’s true. So what?”

  “So at the risk of prying, did you do more than just talk during the blackout?”

  Dan looked uncomfortable and squirmed in his seat. “What are you getting at, Mimi?”

  “Sex, Dad. Did you have sex with Gwen in 1965?”

  “Uh, well, yes, we did. It was a…well, an unusual night. People were thrown together due to extreme circumstances.”

  “Gwen mentioned that. You need to talk to her. She just moved to San Diego to be near her daughter. I have the number.”

  “Gwen has a daughter?”

  “You need to talk to Gwen. Please promise me you’ll call her.”

  “All right. I will.”

  “Thanks, Dad.”

  After having lunch with her father, Mia met Chris in front of the Ferris wheel in Pacific Park on the Santa Monica pier. Mia had never ridden a Ferris wheel before and they agreed that situation needed to change.

  Chris had never been to the new amusement park, since it had just opened a few months earlier. Mia was looking forward to some plain old fun after all the emotional upheaval related to talking to her father. Although it had been enjoyable sharing some of her childhood memories with him over lunch, Mia kept thinking about Heather. Mia hoped that Gwen would finally tell her father and Heather they were related.

  Mia got off the freeway and navigated to a parking lot near the pier. As she walked toward the sign that said Pacific Park, she looked up at the roller coaster and Ferris wheel. The curving yellow metal of the roller coaster seemed to weave through the sky and the Ferris wheel was festive with its red and yellow gondolas. Nearby was a ride called the Sea Dragon, which was a huge ship that was swinging back and forth in an arc. Another ride called Rock and Roll was busy spinning riders in a circle. The amusement park area had a carnival atmosphere complete with arcade games and shops filled with souvenirs and t-shirts decorated with hideous designs that people bought anyway. The ocean breeze was tinged with the scent of sugary cotton candy, funnel cakes, and deep-fried foods. Mia couldn’t help but smile at all the happy kids running along the pier to get to their next exciting ride.

  Chris was standing with his h
ands in his pockets, next to the Ferris wheel entrance, looking up at the huge wheel as it methodically started and stopped so people could load and unload from the gondolas. Mia scurried up behind him and tapped him on the shoulder with her fingertip. He whirled around, grinned, and wrapped her in a hug, nuzzling his face into her hair.

  She leaned back so she could look into his eyes. “I missed you so much.”

  With a smile, he pulled her toward him and kissed her in a way that made it clear he’d missed her too. When he released her, they stared at each other for a moment until Mia said, “Wow” and they both laughed.

  Chris took her hand. “Are you ready for your first Ferris wheel ride?”

  “It’s huge.”

  “Isn’t it cool? I read in the paper that it’s nine stories high. I hope you’re not afraid of heights.”

  “I guess we’ll find out.”

  Apparently unwilling to let go of her hand, Chris led her to get tickets and they stood holding hands, waiting their turn to get on the ride. They clambered into one side of the octagonal gondola as another couple settled into the other side.

  As the massive wheel turned and they rose up toward the sky, the view opened up, and from above it looked like the beach went on forever. Mia discovered that not only was she not afraid, she loved the perspective from high above the city. To the north was Malibu and looking to the south were LAX, Palos Verdes, and the ships waiting to port at Long Beach. Because it was late November, the weather was cool and the beach wasn’t crowded. There were just a few tiny silhouettes strolling along the sandy shoreline.

  Mia turned to Chris. “Let’s do the roller coaster next. And we have to walk on the beach before we leave.”

  “Whatever you want.”

  After Mia had tried most of the thrill rides and smashed into Chris numerous times on the Sig Alert bumper cars, they walked out of the amusement park area and onto the fishing pier, listening to the waves crash and seagulls squawk. The whole area was crowded with countless tourists and the sound of street performers created a soundtrack in the background, as the artists attempted to entice people to part with their cash.