Tennessee Summer

Dad Can Find You Even If You Don't Want To Be Found

"And that's why I'm here." I just finished telling Malia what had happened leading all the way up to my arrival here at the resort. "Oh my gosh Ady I am so sorry." she say's, "Yeah it is what it is, he fooled us all," I say and wipe the tears from my cheeks. I stand from my desk and head for the door.

"Is that cabin at the far end of the lake still vacant?" I ask she laughs, "Yeah Ady it's the presidential cabin it's still vacant." She says.  "Good, I'm staying in it for awhile, will you give me a ride down there?" I ask, she nods and grabs her keys.

"I'll need some groceries so I'll give you my debit card and a list," I say as we slide into her car. A little while later we pull in front of the cabin that is far apart from the rest. I hand Malia my card and a list of food. "Please tell no one I'm here if they call just to say you haven't seen me okay?" I ask.

"I promise Ady, I would want the same if I felt the way you do now," she says. I nod grab my bag and go inside. I walk through the darkened room's until I get to the bedroom. I turn on the light on the night table and unpack my bag.

I knew my dad well so I turned my phone off at the house and left it there. I only had my laptop with me, even though I was gone there was still work that needed to be done. After unpacking my bag, I put on some shorts and a tank top, I turned off the bedside light and went out the double doors in the bedroom.

I walked across the yard, down to the water and I sit down on the dock. It's a beautiful summer night, the moon shone brightly in the sky and reflected off the lake. "You know if I was a betting man I would bet that water is mighty fine tonight." Dad's voice startled me in the darkness. 

"Dad, how the hell did you find me?" I asked. "Really Adelyn, I was sheriff of this town right up until you left for college, I do better investigation then the FBI." He say's and sits down next to me. 

"Wait a minute, isn't that from a meme on facebook, but it said a mother does better investigating than the FBI?" I question him. "Okay, Okay you got me," He says with his hands up in surrender. 

We laugh, "So how did you really find me?" I ask, "You know very well that Isaac Lahey is scared shitless of me and I could get him to roll over on his mother when she changed her cookie recipe." he chuckles, "Yeah I guess," I say and laugh slightly. 

"It only took me two seconds to unlock your phone when I went up to talk to you and less than that to break Lahey and once here I knew there was only one cabin you would hide out in." he says, "Ah, Lahey, I'm going to kill that kid," I say, we chuckle a little more.

"So, what did you want to talk to me about?" I asked, "Well, unlike Lahey it took me just a little bit longer to crack the new ranch guest, but none the less I cracked her." He says. "Dad really?" I question him, "Yeah, darlin, because my baby girl was hurt and so was the man she loves." he says, "he was only hurt because he got caught," I say.

"No baby, he was hurt because you wouldn't look him in the eyes when that girl showed up, I saw what you missed. When she showed up I saw the anger, when she said she was his fiancee I saw furry and when you turned cold towards him I saw a sadness I've never seen in the eyes of a strong young man like him and then when you turned him away when he tried to explain I saw a man who was lost, Ady honey I know  you have trust issues from the past, but when you love someone you need to fight," he's right, I know and I'm a coward.

"So what did you find out?" I ask, "Well apparently when Derek called his mom back home in Birmingham he told his mom about you and she told people and this girl found out, long story short her mother talked her into leaving her real finance and drive the five hours here to sabotage your happiness." He explains.

"She what? I don't even know those people why would my happiness matter to her?" I asked dumbfounded. "Well, it seem's as though she was having a relationship with a boy named Vernon Boyd until he came home from college with his new wife whom they both told everyone their happiness was thanks to you." He said.

"Wait, Boyd was in a relationship with a woman who was old enough to be his mother? Gross" I exclaim, dad and I laugh. "Just before I left the house her fiance showed up and took her home, she wanted me to tell you that she was very sorry for the trouble she caused and hoped you would forgive her one day." He says.

"Yeah, I'll forgive her, some people don't have awesome parents like I do," I say. Dad chuckles and put's his arm around me. "Alright sweetie, I'll bring the rest of the crew up tomorrow," he gets up and I follow. "Okay daddy, vacation is a good plan," I say and we turn to look at each other.

"In the meantime, there is someone else you need to forgive," he says, in the light of the moon I could see Derek stand not a few yards away, "dad I'm the one who needs to be forgiven, the question is will he forgive me?" I ask, "Well he is here isn't he?" Dad counter's my question with a question. I smile him and hug him.

I turn and run to Derek and jump in his arms. "I am so sorry Derek, please forgive me," I say, "There's nothing to forgive baby, please next time just talk to me I promise it won't hurt as bad," he says. "I promise, I promise," I say holding him to me.

"You two have a good night," dad says as he goes by us. We muffle a good night but don't break our connection. "Come on let's go down to the dock and we can talk," I say taking his hand, I lead him down to the dock.

"So Y'all were together for like six weeks then parted ways?" I asked him clarifying what I had just heard. "Yep and a couple week's later I moved out here and started work at the ranch." he tell's me, I'm sitting with my back to his chest, in between his legs. "wow, I'm still kinda grossed out about her mom seeing Boyd romantically," I say and shudder.

We laugh and then sit in silence just looking out over the water, I had told him my story about my last break up five years ago, no matter how many times he cheated I took him back, until the day I found him with Ally's stepmother Vicki, it was only a week before I was supposed to leave for college. I never told Chris or Ally I didn't want to be the one to tell them.

I yawn sleepily after the day's events, "Come on my sleepy girl, let's go to bed." he says getting up and helping me to my feet. We go to the cabin and lock the doors. Then crawl into bed, my back to Derek's chest and he pulls me closer, drifting off into a peaceful sleep.