Mistletoe Detour by Kate Pearce

Author:Kate Pearce [Pearce, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Zebra Books
Published: 2020-07-20T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

“Hey, Dad.” Ted waved at his phone as his father, Kevin, who had finally conquered FaceTime, appeared on the screen. He looked tanned, relaxed, and way healthier than he had in years. Despite his initial concerns about the trip, Ted was beginning to believe that it had been a good thing for both of them.

“Hi, son! How’s snowy Morgantown?”

“Snowy.” Ted grinned back at him. “How’s Hawaii?”

“We’ve just left Maui and we’re heading to the Big Island overnight. It’s all been great. The food is good, the weather, the company . . .”

“Awesome. Is Victor there?”

His dad looked around. “I can find him if you want me to. What’s up?”

“Maybe you could just give him a message? His niece Veronica turned up, thinking he’d be there.”

“Vic wouldn’t have come if he’d known Veronica was visiting.” Kevin frowned. “He loves that girl.”

“I think it was a sudden decision,” Ted said tactfully. “Anyway, just tell him that she’s staying with me over the holidays, and that he can see her when he gets back, okay?”

“With you?”

Ted shrugged even though his father couldn’t see all of him. “Yeah, everywhere else is all booked up for the Hayes wedding of the year.”

Kevin’s grin widened. “Nice going, son. You always liked her, didn’t you?”

“We were always good friends. What’s your point?”

“No, you really liked her. I remember Vic and I joking that we were going to be in-laws one day.”

“Dad . . .” Ted blushed like a teenager. “Stop. She’s just staying here until Victor gets back.”

“You’re a fool if you don’t take advantage of that, aren’t you? She’s a nice girl and that ex-husband of hers was a dirtbag.”

“So I hear.”

“Then reach out to her! Get off the couch and live a little, okay?”

“That’s hardly fair,” Ted pointed out. “I stayed here for a reason. I’m not the kind of guy who walks away when his family needs him.”

“Beth is doing great now, and so am I. It’s time for you to reach out for what you want.”

“Fine! Great! I’ll do that, okay?” Ted scowled at his father. “Pass my message on to Victor, will you? If he wants to talk to her, he can call my cell or try hers.”

He abruptly ended the call, feeling more unsettled than he should have been. He walked out into the family room where Veronica had set up the ironing board and was carefully pressing the skirt of her dress she’d bought at the mall.

She looked up as he came in and set the iron down. “Everything all right?”

“Dad said he’d tell Victor you were here.” He wandered into the kitchen, looked aimlessly into the refrigerator, and then poured himself some coffee.

“I hope he’s okay with me turning up like this.”

“Why wouldn’t he be?” Ted stirred his coffee so forcefully, half of it swirled right out of the mug. “I bet he’d leave the cruise right now to get back to you if he had the choice.”

He added more coffee to his mug and mopped up the pool on the countertop.

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