His Every Need

by Terri L. Austin

  Allie grasped her by the shoulders. “Oh my God, what’s wrong? How did you get here? Is Dad okay? What’s wrong?” The words tumbled out of her, falling one on top of the other.

  “I’m okay. I took a cab.”

  “Does Dad know you’re here?”

  “No.” Brynn shook her head, her hair covering her face.

  Trevor moved forward. “Why don’t we take her to the salon upstairs? Arnold, would you be so good as to have Frances prepare a room and perhaps bring a tray of sandwiches?”

  “Very good, sir.”

  Allie threw her arm around the girl’s shoulders and followed him up the stairs. Trevor looked back and gave what he hoped was a reassuring smile. “I hear you had to join a school club? Ghastly, being a joiner.” He shuddered. “So, what did you finally settle on?”

  Brynn quickly glanced at him before her eyes bounced away. “Um, photography. I kind of like taking pictures.”

  “I’d like to see them sometime.” Timid, she would be at home behind the camera, watching everyone around her, observing but never participating. Perhaps Allison was correct, Brynn did need her. But that didn’t mean he was letting Allie go. The very thought made him… He grimaced. Fuck, he didn’t know how he felt. But he wasn’t ready to give her up. He reached the salon and held the door for the pair of them. “Ladies.”

  Brynn, her eyes wide, practically gawked as she twirled in a circle. “Wow.” She reached out and touched the bust of a long-forgotten Roman nobleman. “Is this for real?”

  Allie guided Brynn to the leather sofa and lowered herself next to her sister. “Now, tell me what’s happened. Why are you here, Brynn?”

  Trevor stood with his back against the door, his arms crossed. He’d known Allie would be difficult, knew she came with a full set of family baggage. Well, this was what he got for his trouble—little sister turning up unexpectedly. But she wasn’t so bad, really, this little girl. Could hardly be more of a pain in the ass than his own parents.

  And Allie was very gentle with her, very loving. Allison Campbell was a good person. A great lay but a good person.

  “I’m leaving home. I just want to be with you, Al.” With her eyes cast to the floor, the poor girl looked miserable.

  “Brynn,” Allie said, “you know you’re a terrible liar? You have a tell, kid.”

  Brynn’s eyes drifted to Allie. “I do miss you.”

  “But?”

  “Dad’s dating.”

  Allie let out a little laugh. “Brynn, honey, that’s crazy.”

  “He’s seeing my guidance counselor, Ms. Castor. I overheard them talking on the phone last night. He was laughing, and he called her Karen.”

  “I’m sure you misunderstood. Maybe they were discussing you.”

  Brynn looked up then. “He’s been gone two nights this week. He said he had some errands to run after dinner. You know Dad doesn’t do errands, he leaves all that stuff to you. Mom’s only been dead for like, six months. It’s disgusting.”

  Allie glanced up at Trevor, her face ashen.

  He pushed off the door and walked forward, taking a seat across from them. “You’re welcome to stay here, Brynn. For as long as you need to. But you have to tell your father where you are.”

  Brynn looked at him like he was a god. “Thanks. But”—she turned to Allie—“can you do it? Call Dad, I mean? I don’t really want to talk to him right now.”

  Allie gave her a wry look. “Yeah, I bet you don’t.”

  “Are you mad?”

  “No, but promise me you’ll never leave home like this again. We already have one runaway in the family. Nobody likes a copycat, Brynnie.”

  He suddenly felt de trop. Standing, he made his way to the door. What possessed him to offer up his home to Brynn, he wasn’t sure. But the poor little thing seemed so sad and lost, he couldn’t possibly turn her away. Plus, Allie wouldn’t be happy with her sister miserable at home. When Allison’s happiness had become a priority, he didn’t know, but for some reason, making Allie Campbell happy was suddenly very important to him.

  He stood in the hallway and impatiently waited for Allie and her sister. Eventually, they emerged. Brynn looked a little better, but Allison looked worse, and she had that awful plastic smile affixed to her face.

  “Brynn, love, Frances is waiting for you at the end of the corridor.” He pointed down the hall. “She’ll take you to your room. Let her know if you need anything.”

  Pressing her lips together, Brynn nodded, wrapped her arms around her middle, and walked down the hallway. When she was out of sight, Trevor turned to Allie. “I think I’m running a bloody hotel.” Allie gave a little laugh and he smiled at the sound.

  “Why don’t you go ring your father? He must be worried sick.” He grabbed her hand and laced their fingers together, leading her toward her room.

  “I can’t believe he’s dating again. It’s surreal, you know. We just lost my mom and he’s ready to move on.”

  “Men tend to get over these things faster, plus, your mother was sick for a long time.” The words were out of his mouth before he could pull them back.

  Allie stopped in the middle of the hall. With a sigh, Trevor turned and faced her. “I’m terribly sorry. That was a callous thing to say.”

  She gazed up at him in the dim hall light. “Yeah, it was.”

  He lifted her hand, kissing the back of it. “I’m sure he loved your mother very much.”

  She glanced up at the ceiling and flattened her lips. “Sorry I yelled at you today. It wasn’t your fault. I was frustrated, and I took it out on you.” She sighed and shifted her focus to him.

  Trevor lifted one shoulder. “No harm done.” He leaned forward and placed a small kiss on the corner of her lips. “Go call him. I’ll be in the office if you need me.”

  ***

  Taking a deep breath, Allie willed herself to calm down. She’d already flown off the handle with one family member today—better not make the same mistake twice.

  She grabbed her cell and called home. When no one picked up, she tried his phone. He answered on the third ring. Allie could hear loud voices and laughter in the background. “Hello?”

  “Dad, it’s Allie. Where are you?”

  “Hey, Al, I’m kind of in the middle of something. Can I call you back?”

  “Brynn’s here. She took a cab to Trevor’s and she’s spending the night. I’ll make sure she gets to school in the morning and then I’ll come by the house. We need to talk.” She hit the end button and frowned.

  What the hell was going on? Her father wasn’t worried sick. He didn’t even know Brynn had left. One daughter missing and the other had run away. And her dad was out on a fucking date. Unbelievable.

  She had done her best to take care of her family—she’d failed miserably, but at least she tried. What had her dad been doing? He’d left everything to Allie and lost the business. Didn’t he give a damn about all that Allie had sacrificed for her sisters? For him?

  It hurt like hell, feeling used.

  Immediately, she regretted the thought. She didn’t quit school and take care of her mom and sisters because she wanted her dad’s gratitude. She did it because it was the right thing to do.

  But it was time to reclaim her own life.

  She squelched that little voice in the back of her head. This was her life. She had chosen it, no one had forced it on her.

  That didn’t mean she wasn’t still pissed. Of course her dad deserved a life, especially after what he had gone through with her mom, but it was well past time that he picked up the slack at home.

  She left her room, intending to check on Brynn. In the hallway, she met Mags and Frances, the latter carrying a tray of food.

  “I’m taking a nibble to your sister. I brought an extra cup because I thought you’
d want to join her. Mr. Blake said to make sure you eat a sandwich since you barely touched your dinner. He was very adamant.”

  Of course he was. “Thanks, Frances.”

  Mags held up a champagne bottle and a glass. “I thought I’d join in too, dearest. Come along.” Holding the bottle aloft, she wiggled her ass down the hall, leaving Allie and Frances lagging behind.

  Brynn’s room was in the same wing as Allie’s but around the corner. Painted a pretty shade of robin’s-egg blue, it was a little bit smaller than Allie’s room, with no sitting room attached.

  Brynn sat on the bed with her knees drawn up, her arms tightly hugging them. She watched Mags with wide eyes.

  “Hello, my dearest.” Mags patted Brynn’s cheek before kicking off her designer heels and lowering herself to the bed. “We’ve decided to keep you company. What fun.”

  Brynn’s eyes skittered to Allie with a WTF look.

  “Brynn, this is Mr. Blake’s mother, Mrs…” Allie stalled, unable to remember Mags’s last last name.

  “Call me Mags, my little cherub.”

  Frances poured tea and handed out sandwiches. “You poor lamb,” she said to Brynn. “Press nine on that phone if you need anything at all.” She whisked the tray off the dresser and was gone a moment later.

  Mags sipped from her flute. “That woman is priceless. Now, what is wrong with you, my pet?”

  Brynn opened her mouth to speak, closed it, and looked helplessly at Allie.

  “Brynn just needs a little time to settle in, Mags,” Allie said.

  Mags tsked. “Now, children, don’t try to hide the truth from me. I’ll just have to force Frances to tell me, and then she’ll feel guilty for being a tittle-tattle.”

  With a sigh, Allie briefly explained her family’s situation and Monica’s recent departure with bad boy Brad.

  “Allie, dearest, why didn’t you tell me all this?” Mags asked.

  “I didn’t want to unload my problems onto you. Anyway, Brynn’s upset because my dad has started dating—”

  “My guidance counselor, Ms. Castor.”

  Mags put her arms around the girl’s shoulders. “So many changes,” she said.

  In a move that surprised Allie, Brynn buried her head in the crook of Mags’s shoulder and cried. Trevor’s mother petted Brynn’s hair and murmured soothing sounds. After several minutes, Brynn finally pulled away, her face splotchy and damp. “What did Dad say? Was he mad that I left?”

  Not wanting to hurt Brynn further by telling her the truth, Allie lied—seemed like she was doing a lot of that lately. “He was fine with your staying here for the night.”

  Brynn looked relieved. “Thanks, Al.”

  Picking up her champagne glass, Mags raised an eyebrow. “Now finish your tea, girls, and eat something.”

  Brynn went for the cookie first. “What are these called?”

  “Jammie Dodgers,” Allie said. “They’re Trevor’s favorite.”

  ***

  The next morning after breakfast, Allie showed Brynn the garage. Simmons gave her the grand tour and Allie didn’t know if her sister was more impressed with the cars or the hot blond chauffeur. When he was through showing Brynn the classic roadster, he tossed Allie the keys to the Mercedes.

  “So, what do you do for Mr. Blake?” Brynn asked Allie as she climbed into the car.

  “Oh.” Allie stalled while she buckled her seat belt. “Answer letters, bring him tea.”

  “Why can’t Arnold or Frances bring him tea?”

  Allie swung the car around the circular drive. “They’re busy running the household.”

  “Oh. He seems okay. I mean, it’s nice of him to let me stay and everything,” Brynn said. “Are you in love with him or something?”

  “Of course not,” Allie snapped. “What would make you say that?” She quickly scanned her memory from last night. Had she done something that would give Brynn the impression that she and Trevor were involved? She came up blank. Facing forward, she pulled out onto the street.

  “I don’t know. I just thought last night, when we were talking to him in that salon place, the two of you sort of seemed like a couple.”

  Allie didn’t say anything else as she drove Brynn to school, but her heart was pounding. A couple? No, they weren’t a couple. She was temporary. This whole situation was just temporary.

  She pulled up to the school and turned to her sister. “Good luck on your English test.”

  Brynn grabbed her backpack off the floor. “It’s a biology test and thanks.”

  “Right, sorry.” Allie had English on the brain.

  Brynn stepped out of the car and slipped the pack on her shoulder before leaning her head back inside. “Are you going to pick me up after school?”

  “I might be out with Mags, so maybe Simmons will have to pick you up?”

  Brynn’s face turned almost purple. “’Kay.” She slammed the door and trotted into the building.

  Oh no. Brynn had it bad for Simmons. Allie closed her eyes. She couldn’t worry about Brynn’s crush right now either. She needed to deal with her dad before he left for work.

  She pulled out of the school lot and drove home. Without bothering to knock, Allie walked into the house and found her dad whistling to himself in the kitchen. His salt-and-pepper hair had been freshly cut, and his cheeks were smooth and stubble free for a change.

  “Hey,” she said, placing her keys on the counter.

  He stopped pouring coffee into a travel mug and set down the pot. “How’s Brynn?” He grinned at her.

  “Seriously? Your middle daughter drops out of high school and moves in with her boyfriend. Your youngest daughter runs away, and you’re ‘how’s Brynn’?” She hadn’t meant to start with accusations, but damn it, she was pissed. He acted like he didn’t have a care in the world.

  The smile slid off his face. “I didn’t know she was gone because she sneaked out. And she’s going to be punished for it when she gets home.”

  “Why? You never punished Monica. Besides, she doesn’t need punishment, she needs your attention.”

  He picked up the carafe of coffee and continued to fill his mug. “I made mistakes with Mon, and I don’t plan to repeat them with Brynn. Besides, Monica’s an adult. Karen thinks we should give Brynn some space right now, but she needs boundaries and consequences.”

  “Karen thinks she needs boundaries? Brynn’s guidance counselor?” She crossed her arms, felt her muscles lock in place. “Well, Karen can fuck off.”

  Brian moved toward her, his lips pressed into a thin line, his finger in Allie’s face. “You don’t talk to me like that. This is my house and I’m still your dad. My private life isn’t any of your business.” He dropped his hand, took a deep breath, and stepped back.

  His house? It wouldn’t be his house if she hadn’t agreed to sleep with Trevor. And it wasn’t her business? Everything that happened to this family was her concern. Pain spread through her chest—but that pain quickly turned to anger. “No, Dad, it became my business when I moved back home and started taking care of Mom, the girls, the house.” She uncrossed her arms and waved them around the kitchen. “I’ve been holding this family together because you’ve been too wrecked to do it. I came over yesterday—you couldn’t even take out the goddamned trash. Suddenly, you’re talking about boundaries?” She shoved a finger into her chest. “I’ve been picking up the slack around here, not you. I’ve been making all the tough choices. So, yeah, I think I’m entitled to have an opinion. And dating Brynn’s guidance counselor when Mom just died? Not cool.”

  She had given up everything for this family, and now that he had a girlfriend, Allie’s sacrifice didn’t matter. She’d had to make the hard decisions while he dealt with his grief. But apparently, his grieving time was over and he’d replaced Allie’s mom so fast it w
as a slap in the face.

  He scrubbed his hands over his cheeks and then stuck them in the pockets of his faded jeans. “I know I haven’t been acting like much of a father lately. I’ve put too much on you, Al. Parentalizing you, Karen calls it, making you the parent instead of me. I’m sorry about that.”

  She shook her head and pressed her lips together. It was like looking at a stranger. What was wrong with him? “So, you’re talking about our family to your new girlfriend?” She pivoted on her heel and began moving from the fridge to the back door. She had gone all in and lost. Her dad was moving on, Monica was a disaster, and Brynn would be subjected to a woman she couldn’t stand. Allie’d made this deal with Trevor—for what? None of it mattered.

  She turned to her father. “Brynn doesn’t want this. Don’t you care about that? Think about how she’s going to feel with a new woman around here, telling her what to do, psychoanalyzing everything she does. You barely paid her any attention in the last six months, now all of your attention is going to be on this Karen.” She was panting and her throat felt tight.

  He sighed and shook his head. “Brynn will come around. Karen’s a nice lady, and I really like her. She makes me happy.”

  Allie laughed bitterly. “Happy? Who’s fucking happy?” Tears filled her eyes, and she couldn’t seem to catch her breath. “You know what? You’re selfish—”

  “I’m selfish? How the hell am I selfish, Allison?” He unpocketed his hands, thrust them toward her. “I watched the woman I love die. Slowly, painfully. For five long years.” Tears began rolling from his bloodshot eyes. “I can only hope and pray that Monica comes to her senses, but I can’t force her to come home. I know I’ve been unfair to you, burdening you, and all right, that was selfish. But wanting to move on with my life? Wanting to find love again?”

  Allie wiped the back of her hand across her nose. “No, you need to care about your family for once. Maybe focus on your daughters for a change. But you only care about your sex life and that makes you worse than selfish, Dad. And Brynn can stay with me as long as she likes, since I’m the only one who gives a damn.” She ran out of the house, slamming the door behind her.