I smiled at him. "I'll have my Dad do it. He won't mind."
Milly pushed at Clark's chest and smiled. "Get out of here. I'll bother Chloe to help me look for colors. You go get us a coffee next door."
"Bossy-ass women," he mumbled, and walked to the door before pausing and glancing over his shoulder. "Chloe, you want something, honey?"
"No, Sir, but thank you." I chuckled at him using mine and Finn's latest joke, and of course not knowing it.
"So look at these two fabrics." Milly held them up. "Which do you think would better fit Finn?"
"Oh the blue. Definitely." I reached out and brushed my hand down the front of it. "What are you making?"
"A vest to wear under his jacket." She beamed, and I could tell that she cared for Finn tremendously.
"Have you considered flannel or fleece?" I moved to the racks of materials and found the same shade of blue in the other two fabrics. "Here, run your hand over these."
She gave a sound of appreciation as she did. "These are both great."
"I'd use fleece as cold as it is out here." I stopped and pressed my fingers to my lips. That was it. I needed to use fleece in the paneling for my own jacket I was designing.
"So you sew?" Milly asked, taking my attention again.
"Oh yeah. I just got my degree in design." I beamed, unable to help myself. "My mother taught me to sew when I was nine. My Dad had a fit because of the moving needles and such, but I loved every minute of it."
"Do you still sew together when you come home to visit? I assume you're visiting." She took the roll of flannel and snuggled it to her chest.
"She died eight years ago around this time." I searched for a light pink in the same fabric.
"Oh honey, I'm so sorry." She brushed her hand over my back.
"It's okay, but thank you for your kindness." I turned and decided to ask Milly about the burning question inside of me that just wouldn't leave me alone. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure. After you've helped me find this great material for Finn's Christmas gift, you can do anything you like. I've been looking for forever, and as you can see, Clark's been no help at all."
"How long have you known Clark?"
"Since we were kids. His first wife was a friend of mine." She tilted her head. "Why?"
"Then I guess you know my Dad too?"
"What's his name, dear?"
"Jonathan Burke."
She stiffened, and I didn't need a response. I already had it.
"I know Jon." She smiled, relaxing.
"Something happened between them, but I can't figure out what." I glanced around to see Clark coming back in the store. "Never mind."
She reached out and squeezed my arm. "Ask you Dad about it, then help him heal. It's been a long feud, and it's long overdue that they stop acting like jealous boys over a girl."
Did she mean literally or figuratively? I was more confused, which was frustrating.
"What are you to girls whispering about over here?" Clark handed Milly a cup, and smiled at both of us.
"Sharing secrets about how to score a good man." I chuckled.
"Yeah, but first we gotta find a few of them." Milly elbowed Clark in the stomach, and he gave her a look.
"I'm going to wrap up some shopping today, and I got Finn some cologne, but what else would he like? Does he need anything for his snowboarding stuff or some new shirts or..." I let my words trail off as they both turned to stare at me.
"He's a pretty simple guy." His Dad's expression softened a little.
"He hates gifts too." Milly turned to look up at Clark.
"That's because he's always too broke to return the favor." Clark took a sip of his coffee.
"Oh, I don't want anything from him. I just wanted to get him something nice to open on Christmas morning."
"Are you two seeing each other, or just friends?" Milly's cheeks colored like she'd asked something inappropriate.
"I think we're somewhere in between the two." I shrugged.
She glanced back at Clark and lifted her eyebrow. "Looks like you and Jon better get your shit cleaned up. No need to let it fall on these kids. They haven't done anything to deserve it."
Clark turned his gaze to me, and I tried to read whatever he was thinking, but it was impossible.
"I thought you were headed back to the west coast. You're from L.A., right?"
"Yes, Sir, but I've graduated." I shifted from one foot to the other, wishing I hadn't gotten myself cornered into such an odd conversation. "I'm not sure what I'm going to do anymore."
"What's changed your mind?" Milly smiled with a knowing look on his face.
"Finn is starting to."
"You just met him." Clark leaned against a rack of cotton rolls. "He's not usually one for commitment either."
"Clark." Milly smacked him, but I smiled, understanding where his Dad was coming from.
"I think that's about to change." I pulled my phone from my pocket as it buzzed. "Excuse me."
"Of course, dear. Good to see you again." Clark turned and put his hand on Milly's back, forcing her to the front with him.
"Chloe?" Finn's voice was tight with tension.
"Hey. Where you at?" I let my eyes scan a few more colors before deciding on the pink for sure.
"Leaving your house." He sounded as if someone had pulled the warmth out of him.
"I'm in town." I paused and waited for a reply but didn't get one. "Finn. What's wrong?"
"Your Dad was home and like a dumb ass, I thought maybe I could help him see that I'm not my father, so whatever happened between them..." his voice faded again.
"Oh no. Was he mean to you?"
"No, just truthful." Finn coughed. "It's all good. I just didn't want you to go home and him get upset with you without me warning you."
"I don't give a shit what he thinks."
"You should, baby. He's your Dad. He's just trying to protect you and find the right kind of man for you."
"You are the right kind of man for me." I let out a frustrated sigh. "Where are you? I'll just come to you and we can spend the night together curled up.
"That sounds great, Chloe, but maybe tomorrow night. I'm tired, and need to think through some shit."
"What? No. Don't pull back again. We just started to figu-”
He cut me off. "Hey. I'm not pulling back. Go home and talk to him, and if you still want to see me, just text and we'll meet up."
I swallowed down the need to cry, and took a shallow breath. "Okay, but expect a text. Where are you headed?"
"Up to the new run on the east side of town. I'll keep checking my phone though."
"The storm was really bad last night. Do you think that's safe?"
"Absolutely. It's the best time to snowboard, California girl. You know the waves, but I've got the snow down pat." He laughed, but I could hear it was forced.
"Be careful," I whispered into the phone.
"Always." He hung up as worry rolled through me.
I put the fleece back on the rack and walked to the front, pissed at my father for whatever he'd done to tear Finn down. Tears dripped onto my cheeks as I hit the door, and of course it was my luck that Milly and Clark were on the stairs, fussing over something.
They looked back at me, and I froze.
"What's the matter, Chloe?" Clark moved toward me with concern on his face. If he didn't like the idea of me and Finn together, he hid it well. Or maybe he wasn't the judgmental asshole that my father was.