Mess Is Mine • The Pack

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Nineteen

Father's Day has always been a shitty day for Preston. From the ages seven to fifteen he would try to do something nice for his dad. Every year Mitch would tell him not to, but his heart was too big and his mind was too busy to pass on the opportunity to make the day special. But his hard work was never rewarded with the reaction he was hoping for. Whether it was throwing away his gifts or refusing them all together, his dad always found a way to crush his excitement.

Preston likes to think that he's long since gotten over his resentment, but he can't deny that whenever Father's Day rolls around it still leaves him feeling down. That's why he never considered the fact that Lachlan was a father and maybe it would be nice to celebrate that.

Considered was the wrong word to use. He's definitely thought about it, but he knows Lachlan is weird about things like that and considering his father was not all that great either, Preston assumed he isn't too big on the idea of Father's Day.

Before he can even think about asking Jerome how much Lachlan would gripe about it if they celebrated Ruby is telling him that she wants to get something for Lachlan for Father's Day since she did the same for Lily on Mother's Day.

It isn't done stealthily at all. It is mid bath and Lachlan is sitting right outside the door reading (and cursing at) the apartment listings on the back of the newspaper.

Recently Lachlan decided it was time to have Ruby start bathing herself. She was very excited about her new freedom and 'big girl responsibilities'. It was explained to her that they would sit outside the door to give her privacy and still be able to make sure she wasn't drowning or doing more playing than bathing. So far everything is going well. She does it all by herself besides rinsing her hair. It's no big deal – they'll rinse her hair for her until she feels ready to try it herself.

"Did you want to make him something?" Preston asks.

She stops her aggressive massaging of shampoo on her scalp to consider the question.

She shrugs, "I dunno."

"Or I could take you to the store and you can buy him something?"

"Like what?"

"You are the one who said you wanted to get him something."

He fills a large plastic cup with the warm soapy water to wash her hair.

Before Ruby leans back and closes her eyes she says, "I want him to love it."

"I'm sure he will love anything you get him. Are your eyes closed?"

She nods and to be safe, she blinks a few times to test if she's closing her eyes fully.

He dumps the plastic cup of water on her scalp. It's always pleasing to watch the water rinsing away the shampoo.

"Does he love flowers?" She asks after the third scoop of water empties on her hair.

"Is that what you want to get him?"

"Yes."

"Then that is what we'll get."

• •

Long after Ruby finishes her bath and goes to bed, Preston decides he is going to ask Lachlan for his opinion anyways. He is genuinely curious.

"So, Father's Day is tomorrow," Preston begins conversationally.

Lachlan glances up briefly, only to confirm that it is Preston, then continues what he is doing on the computer.

In hindsight, it is completely out of the blue for him to say that. Being stealthy is in a whole different state at that point. They were not talking or even in the same room. He was watching a documentary about birds in the living room before walking into the kitchen to talk.