Triggers are infidelity, affairs, extramarital, whatever you choose to call it. If that's offensive to you, then you don't want to continue on. The rest of you, I'm enjoying my characters Bryn and her father-in-law Steele very much, and I hope you do as well! As always, emails welcome! xo DG
Practically My Dad Ch. 01
"I'm meeting your dad at the house later today for a walkthrough." "I assume you can't make it?" I was careful to add in a goes-without-saying voice.
Myer looked up from his phone and said, "Wish I could, but I can't get away from work. Thankful I have you and dad to pick up for me."
He was apologetic, but I did know how much work he had. He'd recently started a new business and all his time and spirit were in that.
"I know babe," I said smiling, hiding a tinge of sadness that he couldn't enjoy this with me. We had spent months pouring over house plans, then changing and tweaking to our likes. "I'm taking the rest of the day off to go around and pick up samples for the house. It's getting closer to that time," I reminded, wondering if on second thought he could spare an hour, but he was back on his phone again and the moment was lost.
I was excited that the construction of our house was close enough I could begin using my talents. I opened an interior design business in my early twenties and ten years later it was flourishing. I hired good reliable people and did not always need to be there to ride herd.
He looked up, slid his hand across the table, and squeezed mine. "I wish I had more time to help."
"I know I know, and I understand. You need to concentrate on the business. I remember not that long ago my head was in my new business twenty-four seven. Don't worry. Your dad has it under control."
He nodded. "Yeah, it would be much different if we didn't have him to depend on. It's a relief not to have to second guess his decisions as we might with another contractor."
Myer's father, Steele, started with a small construction company when he was young. He grew it into a multimillion-dollar contractor that built high-end homes. He had recently partnered up with a developer and his business quadrupled. I used his business sense for myself, pay them well and you can depend on them because they'll be loyal. We were both to the point we could oversee our businesses, which was a relief. When Myer decided to start this new company, I was supportive, but knew instead of having more time to spend together, we'd have less.
I went upstairs to dress. Since I wasn't going to work, I could dress more casually. I pulled out a leather mini skirt and a white long-sleeved men's style silk shirt. It was a warm day and decided to forgo hose and just slid black leather boots on. I pulled my long blonde hair up into a bun and poked two black lacquer sticks through. A touch of makeup and I was ready to go.
I got to the job site and picked my way through the rubble and up the ramp where Steele was waiting. He was handsome and rugged. More silver glinted in the sun than the darker grey, bringing out the perpetual dark tan from being outside dawn to dusk most every day. As I made my way, I thought the older he got, the more good-looking.
"Steele!" We hugged. "This place is really coming along!" I said, taking in the walls beginning to give a hint of rooms, windows filled in some of the holes, and several exterior doors were up.
"It is going quickly at this point." We walked around the lower floor while he pointed out various issues and asked questions, wanting preferences. I often did this for clients once their house was further along, but that this was actually going to be my house and I admit, I had a certain childlike excitement.
He waved me ahead of him and we mounted the stairs to the upper level. We had planned a large master suite with only two guest rooms. We didn't plan children and chose to have fewer, but larger, rooms. The windows were in up here making it more of a house to me. As an interior designer, I rarely saw houses this rough.
"Bryn, I wanted to talk to you about something."
I turned because he sounded so serious. "Sure. Anything." His arctic blue eyes were always cold, even ruthless. At odds with his warm and compassionate demeaner with is family.
I loved my father-in-law. Myer and I started dating when we were young, and Steele was the father that stepped in when my parents moved. It was a year ago that Myer's mom died, and Steele had struggled with her loss this past year.
"I'd like you to redecorate my place."
"Of course! I'd love to. Just say the word and we'll start."
I believe this was a big step for him. He hadn't changed anything in the house after she died, so I was thrilled because it was a step in recovering from his tremendous loss.
"How about now? Or do you have something else today?"
"No, not really. I took the day off work anyhow, so I'm yours!"
I followed him in my car to his house wondering what room he wanted to start with.
"Can I get you something to drink? I'm grabbing a beer."
"I'd love a beer," I said.
The house was pretty much untouched since her death. It was neat and clean, but unchanged. Steele built the house ten years ago. It was a modern style of stained wood and window walls that looked out over a lake. A stainless steel-faced fireplace cut through the second floor and through the roof. Every room on the main floor was open to the others to take advantage of the vista. Even the kitchen looked out over the lake and wooded area.
"Thanks," I said taking the icy cold long neck. I tossed my head back and drank.
"That's what I always loved about you Bryn, no bullshit about you."
"No bullshit Bryn, that's me!" I laughed. "What room do you want to redecorate?"
"The master."
"Okay, let me take a look. We can talk about what you have in mind then."
He led the way up the floating wood and stainless steel staircase. I realized then that one could even see the view from there. The design of this house was credited to Steele which showed he had an incredible eye.
"I can't say I have anything in mind," he said, walking into the middle of the room.
The room was huge, but Steele was a big man. I am petite, but he would tower over someone that was a normal height. I walked around the room.
Finally, I said, "I can't help but think the obvious would be to take advantage of your view. The glass wall and balcony, what about your bed? That the first thing you'd see when you woke was this?" I said, waving my arm at the expanse of windows and nature.
"Hmm," he said, the wheels turning. "But that would mean no naked sleeping?" I saw the ghost of a grin.
I recovered quickly. "I don't know why not? Oh... Wait... maybe you're not an exhibitionist?"
"Oh, I could be. For the right person," he smirked, loving his double entendre.
"Ah well then maybe you should consider moving the bed front and center. We could put a screen behind the headboard so you could be naked in the room without anyone seeing you, then move front and center for the full performance." I could give as good as I got.
He walked to the center of the room and faced the window. "Come here." I stood next to him, my arm barely grazing his. "This would be where the headboard would be?"
"About here, sure."
"Stay here," he said, walking to the back of the room. Suddenly pot lights threw their light straight down. He came back to stand next to me.
"Maybe you could stage a full production here. What with the lighting and all?"
