Heart of a Marine (The Wounded Warrior Series Book 1) (8 page)

Marla smiled at her dad and took a sip. “Good health to you too, Dadley.”

They sat in companionable silence. Marla gazed around the room. Sil, a gifted decorator, made their home elegant and inviting. A fragrance of lemon lingered in the air, and a wave of nostalgia for her childhood engulfed Marla’s chest. What childhood? Like Dadley said, she was born grown up. She must have popped out of the womb wearing a suit, carrying a briefcase, and with a schedule for managing her parents and siblings. Somebody had to do it.

“Dad? How long have you known John Dempsey?”

“About forty-five years. Since we were in high school. I thought you knew that.”

Marla nodded. “I did. I guess my question is…why were you and Johnny friends in the first place? You’re really not very much alike.”

Bradley chuckled and set down his now-empty glass. “Our differences attracted us to each other I suppose, but we started out as rivals for your mother’s affections. Both of us panted after her as only two sixteen-year-olds could.”

Marla stared at her father. “What! You and John both wanted to date Mom?” John Dempsey chasing her mother? That was the last thing she expected to hear.

He poured himself another tot of whiskey and held up the bottle. She shook her head, so he put the stopper back in, took a sip, and continued. “Date is the polite way to say what we wanted.”

Heat crept from her chest, to her neck, and her scalp blazed. “I never knew that. I can’t imagine Sil going out with Uncle John.”

“They did more than ‘go out.’” Her dad waggled his eyebrows. “They were a hot item for almost two years. You couldn’t separate them with a crowbar.” He toasted the past and took a sip of the whiskey.

“Dad! I can’t believe this. How could you and John have remained friends?” Anger against her mother burned her stomach. The idea of Silvia choosing Johnny Dempsey over her perfect, wonderful father back then—beyond belief.

“We remained friends because I loved both of them. It’s hard to explain.”

She held out her empty glass. “Give me a refill and try. I feel like I entered the Twilight Zone.”

“Here’s the thing.” Bradley sighed and poured a finger of the Irish into her glass. “I knew Johnny had a wandering eye, and I held out hope Silvia would get fed up with him and give me a second look. It’s as simple as that.”

Marla puckered her lips and thought about that. “Are you sure you’re remembering correctly?”

“You think I’m ready for the funny farm?” His voice was tinged with annoyance. “Of course I remember. Need I remind you that you don’t always know everything?”

Contrition descended. “Sorry, Dad. It’s just…wow…Mom and Johnny. Who woulda thunk it? Not me. I can’t get my mind around it. Wow.” Sipping the whiskey, Marla eyed her father. His face wore a wistful smile. He looked old. When did her dad get old?

“That’s OK. And quit looking at me like I’ve got a foot in the grave. You’re not getting any younger yourself. When are you going to start living your own life and stop thinking the rest of us can’t take care of ourselves? Get a husband, I want some grandkids.”

Dadley had never spoken so plainly. Both her parents hinted that the time had come for her and Charlene find husbands and settle into
normal
lives. At twenty-seven, they still had plenty of time. She had no interest in saddling herself with a husband and kids, and Char was too busy sampling every unmarried man within the city limits and beyond.

“I don’t want a husband and kids. I have other plans. Anyway, I want to know what happened between Silvia and John.”

Bradley stroked Skipper’s back and wrinkled his nose at her little dog. “Peeyew, Skipper farted. What have you been feeding him?”

“He had macaroni and cheese earlier, and quit trying to change the subject.”

He picked up a magazine and fanned the air around Skipper. “John met Kathleen, fell flat on his ass in love, and showed Silvia the door.”

“Kathleen? Dwayne’s mother?”

“Mother to all three boys. Dylan, Dwayne, and Donovan.”

“John threw Mom over?” Her father’s story stunned her.
Welcome to bizarro world, Marla
.

“Yep, and I caught her. The rest is history.”

“Well, I suppose the good news is—she got over it.”

“She never got over it. She hated Kathleen, she hated every woman John dated after Kathleen left him, and she hates his current wife, Irene. But she never stopped loving Johnny.”

“Dad! What are you saying?”

“It is what it is, honey. I’ve always loved your mother and I always will. We’ve made a good life together, but today I finally laid down the law about her excluding them from our social life. John and Irene are my friends.”

How could this be? Her mother loved John Dempsey? “But, Dad, Mom loves you, I know she does.” Her tall, blond father had always been a Nordic prince in her mind. Harry and Barry got their coloring and handsomeness from Dad. John Dempsey came up short in the looks department with his muscular bulk and black curly hair. He couldn’t compare to Bradley Danaher’s male beauty.

“Yes, Silvia does love me. I waited for her. I never felt like I got the leftovers. We have a good life, a nice home, and four great children we’re both proud of.” He eyed her and pointed a finger in her face. “Don’t look at me like that. Since when do you believe in fairytales?”

“I watched Barbie Cinderella tonight with Amber, Dwayne’s little girl.” She sighed. “Was I ever a little girl, Dad?”

“Not for long, honey. You’ve been trying to manage this family since you were Amber’s age. There was nothing we could do to stop you. Still isn’t.”

“Am I that awful?” She wondered why she had such a driving need to manage everybody’s life. They were all capable of taking care of themselves.

“No. And quit feeling sorry for yourself. That’s not like you. We just wish you’d pay more attention to your own happiness.”

“I…”

“How’s things between you and Edwin?”

Marla rolled her head against the back of the chair and sighed. “Edwin.” She sighed again. “Poor Edwin. He died a while back and hasn’t realized it yet. I don’t know why I don’t stop seeing him. He’s more boring that watching glaciers melt.”

Bradley’s bark of laughter startled Skipper and he jumped off his lap.

“Your baby is glaring at me. He looks insulted.” He slapped his knee. “Come on, boy. Come on.”

Skipper sat and stared, then hopped on Marla’s lap. “What’s the matter, Skippy? Did that big bad man scare you?” She hugged and cuddled him, murmuring silly baby talk.

“My god, daughter. Why are you wasting all that gooey affection on a mutt? You need to find yourself a man. Somebody who’d treasure the woman you are.”

She waved a hand in dismissal. “Dad, did you know Dwayne Dempsey lost part of his left leg in Iraq?” Now why had she asked that out of the blue? She wasn’t interested in Dwayne Dempsey. No, she didn’t have a single ounce of interest in him! Not even half an ounce.

As if he’d read her mind, Bradley asked, “Are you interested in him? Now, there’s a man’s man, if you want my opinion. He’s somebody who’d appreciate a hardheaded woman like you. Why don’t you give Edwin the heave ho? Dwayne is a much better prospect.”

“Dad! What brought that on? I’m not the least bit interested in him in that way. I just wondered if you knew about his wound.” Dump Edwin? She wasn’t being fair to him, but she wasn’t ready to go it alone either. Edwin was safe, stable, reliable.

“Of course I knew. John’s my best friend. I’ve known about it from the day he got notified by the Navy Department. Why? Is that a problem for you? I doubt it has any effect on him in the manhood department, if you get my meaning.”

“Good grapes! The man works for me. What could be more inappropriate? Anyway, he’s the last man in this town I’d ever be interested in.”
Liar, liar, liar.

Skipper’s ears perked up. He jumped off Marla’s lap and ran to the entry hall barking his little head off.

Bradley stood. “Ah, the two dragon ladies are home. I wonder how much of my money they spent this time.”

“Skippy!” Charlene’s squeal echoed down the hall. “Marla’s here.” She struggled in with several shopping bags and dumped them on the floor.

Silvia followed, also burdened with boxes and bags. “We hit a fabulous sale at Nordstrom. Wait till you see the cute shoes I bought.” She crossed the room and kissed Bradley on the cheek. “I see you had company while we were gone.” Hugging Marla, she said, “I’m sorry you didn’t get back earlier, sweetheart. You could have gone with us. Where were you all day?”

“Well, I closed the sale on…”

Silvia opened a shoe box and showed her a pair of glittery red pumps that could give Dorothy some competition in Oz.

“…the house for the Wylands. You drove all the way to Northridge?”

Bradley rolled his eyes at the shoes. “They’re great, hon.” He looked at Marla. “Rosalie Wyland? Dwayne’s cousin from Wyoming?”

“Am I the only person in this town who didn’t know that?”

“Oh, Lordy lord, Marla. Will you look at this blouse? Isn’t it to die for? Mom bought it for me. It’s the perfect color for my eyes. I can’t wait to wear it.”

Brad cocked his head. “I thought you took them to see that house because Dwayne built it. You mean you didn’t know they were related?”

“Not until I got to their motel today. He was there. He never said anything to me.”

“Sis, wait till you see this.” Charlene proceeded to peel off her blouse, revealing perfect rosy breasts barely covered with pale peach lace.

“Char! You’re undressing in front of Dad!”

“Lord, Marla. He’s our father.”

“He’s a man.” She huffed and rolled her eyes at her twin’s cluelessness.

Dadley squeezed his eyes shut. “I’ll close my eyes.”

“Turn your head, darling.” Silvia put her hands on Bradley’s shoulders and turned him away.

Marla glared at Charlene. “See? You can’t just take your clothes off whenever the urge strikes. What are you doing?”

Instead of answering, Char slipped the blouse from the hangar and dropped it over her head. The heavy peach silk drifted down and settled on her breasts.

Marla sucked in a breath and pressed her hand against her chest. “Char, it was made for you.”

“Isn’t it perfect? Sil spotted it from clear across the sales floor.”

Bradley twisted he head. “Can I look now?”

Silvia tugged his elbow and grinned. “Isn’t she stunning, darling?”

Clutching his heart with thespian passion, he said, “You’re the vision of a fairy princess, Charlene. I can barely breathe.” He put a finger on her shoulder. “Turn. I want the full effect.” She made a slow, complete circle. He spotted the price tag. “You paid a hundred-forty dollars for this?” His voice had risen a full octave.

Echoing Dadley’s words, Marla said, “You paid a hundred-forty dollars for that?”

“Yes. It’s a Vera Wang. We got it for half price.” Hands to her cheeks, Char’s feet thumped up and down running-in-place. “I’m so excited. I’ve never owned a Vera Wang.”

Marla crossed her arms. “I can understand why, sis. I can’t imagine paying that kind of money for a blouse.”

Silvia lifted a Nordstrom bag from the floor and ruffled through a mountain of tissue. “Ta da! We got one for you too.” The paper fluttered to the floor, and Mom held aloft the same style blouse in a deep shimmery aquamarine. “This will look beyond fabulous on you, Marla.”

“Don’t take off your sweatshirt in front of me, please. I’ll have to close my eyes again.” Dadley winked.

“Bradley, leave the room this minute!” Silvia smacked his shoulder and shoved him in the direction of the hall.

He grumbled. “I paid for it. Shouldn’t I be allowed to get my money’s worth?”

“You got more than your money’s worth the day these girls were born. Now leave the room. I’ll call you back in when she puts on the full outfit.”

Marla touched the blouse, the silk cool and slick on her hand. “There’s more?”

“Lordy, I can’t wait. Get those ugly jeans and sweatshirt off. Mom bought the skirt they had on display with it. Both were in size twelve. It was like they knew we were coming.”

They knew you were coming all right. I’m willing to bet the head of the women’s department knows both of you by your first names.
“Char. Mom. I can’t wear this kind of expensive stuff. I never go anywhere. Anyway, I can’t afford it.”

“Don’t worry, dear. Your father paid for it. We’ll call it an early birthday present.” She held up a beautiful ivory colored jacquard skirt, flat pleats all around with a back zipper. Marla nearly swooned. She’d never owned anything so beautiful.

“Our birthday isn’t for five months! And it probably won’t fit. I’ll pass.”

“Oh, no you don’t.” Charlene grabbed the bottom of her sweatshirt and pulled up. “Lift your arms.”

“You’re ganging up on me!” They paid no attention. While Charlene tugged the sweatshirt over her head, Silvia unbuttoned her jeans and pushed them down to her ankles.

“Kick off your shoes, dear, and step out of these.”

I might as well accept defeat
. Soon, Marla stood in the middle of her parent’s living room barefooted, in her underwear. Her plain white, practical underwear.

“Lordy, we’ve got to get you some better lingerie.”

“Char, I like my lingerie just fine.”

“Maybe you do, but those things do not qualify as lingerie. You’ve got the body of an Italian movie actress. You should show it off with panache.”

“Panache. I’ve been running short on that lately.”

Silvia put a hand on her chin. “I’d forgotten what lovely curves you have. Charlene’s right. You’re not showing yourself to your best advantage.”

“Who am I going to show myself to for the love of Pete!”

Charlene pursed her pretty mouth and pointed her finger at Marla’s nose. “I plan to take care of that. I booked another single’s dinner for next week.”

“Charlene!”

Dad’s voice echoed from the hall, “Can I see what my money bought?”

“No!” the three of them shouted.

CHAPTER SEVEN

“What’s with the boss lady today?” Cluny asked when he entered the door of the construction trailer. “She actually smiled at me just now.”