Blame it on the Stars (The Blame Game) (33 page)

He cupped her cheek in one hand. “You need to enjoy the rest of your vacation before you start your first real job. Lie by the pool, go get a massage, something like that. Catlin’s got the kids under control.”

She cast a quick glance at Catlin and saw the mock-horrified expression on her face. Dana chuckled. “Seems to me Catlin could use some time lying by the pool. Maybe a spa day, with a massage, and a mani/pedi.”

Catlin gave an exaggerated nod in agreement.

He shrugged. “That’s awfully generous of you. But you need to pamper yourself. Catlin doesn’t work.”

“Excuse me?” Her stepmother’s face turned beet red.

He apparently realized what he’d said. “I, uh, think I’ll take the kids upstairs with me while I go change. Get them out of your hair for a little while.”

“You’d
better get out of my hair.” Catlin shook a finger at him.

With a mock glance of terror at Dana, he shooed the youngsters from the room and upstairs.

“I don’t work?”
Catlin repeated, almost shrieking.

Dana laughed so hard she had to hold her stomach. “Oh, good Lord. He’s going to regret saying that, isn’t he?”

She flung potholders at the table. “He will
rue the day
those words escaped his lips,” she promised.

Dana had no doubt her stepmom was right. Her dad always teased that Catlin had the power. Now that she was older, she understood what that meant. Dana suspected her dad would be feeling the effects of his misspoken words for several days to come.

He was particularly helpful and charming at dinner, cutting the kid’s meat and making sure their hands and faces were washed before they ran off to watch TV. He positioned his chair at the kitchen table so he could keep an eye on his youngest two, while the rest of them finished their meal. “Great pork chops, honey,” he told his wife.

“Stop groveling, Steve.” She looked at Dana. “I’ll help you unpack after we do the dishes. You’ve probably got some laundry, don’t you?”

“A bit.” Dana nodded. “We didn’t wear many clothes on the island.”

Steve started to comment then realized she was joking and shook his head. “Don’t you start with me, too. It’s going to be a long night.”

“It’s going to be a long
week,”
Catlin corrected. “A cold, frosty week.”

“It’s a hundred degrees outside.” Chris finished his dinner and shoved back his plate. “Where do you get cold and frosty?”

“Never mind, son.” Catlin looked at Dana. “So what else did you do on Grand Cayman? Scuba and snorkeling, you said?”

She nodded. “That was great, but my favorite thing was probably sailing. We went out a few times with these brothers we met on the island. It was so much fun.”

Catlin’s eyes sparkled. “Were they cute?”

“Domingo was, but he only had eyes for Renata. Fred was introverted and shy, he barely spoke.”

“That’s the way boys should behave,” Steve said.

Catlin laughed. “Oh yeah, right!” To Dana she added, “Did you tell Domingo he wasn’t Renata’s type?”

“No.” Dana smiled. “I just let him make a fool of himself. It was easier that way, and actually, more fun.”

Steve tossed back the last of his drink. “So Renata has a ‘type’? What’s her ‘type’?”

Dana rose and began clearing plates. She leaned over her father and replied, “Someone with breasts, Daddy.”

He choked on a piece of ice. “What?”

Dana and Catlin laughed.

“You knew that,” Catlin reminded her husband.

“Yeah,” Chris chimed in. “Everyone knows Renata’s a dyke.”

“Hey!” Dana set the dishes down and looked at her brother. “That’s a derogatory term and I don’t appreciate your using it. You can say she’s a lesbian, or that she’s gay. But that’s it.”

Chris jumped up from his chair. “Or that she’s a fag hag!” He made a face at Dana and ran off.

“Christian Naughton!” Catlin hollered after him.

Dana stood in the doorway and yelled, “That’s not even what it means! And I better not hear you using that expression again, either!”

Steve rose. “Guess I’ll go have a chat with him.” He looked at Catlin. “Unless you want to do it, and I’ll stay here and load the dishwasher.”

She scowled. “I’d rather load five dishwashers than talk to him right now.”

He pulled her into his arms and whispered something Dana couldn’t hear.

Catlin smiled. “Thanks, babe.”

Steve gave her a tender kiss then released her, and turned to Dana. “He’s not getting this homophobic attitude from me, I promise you that. I don’t care that Renata’s gay. I just didn’t remember is all.”

“Not your week to keep track?” Dana smiled.

He feigned a grimace. “I can barely mind my own business, let alone anyone else’s. But right now, I believe I’ll get in Mister Christian’s face and try to figure out what’s in his head these days.”

“Good luck with that.” Dana grinned and watched him go. She checked on the little ones, then helped Catlin clear the dishes. “So, is daddy out of the doghouse?”

Catlin smiled. “He’s getting there.”

After dinner they unpacked and Dana shared her souvenirs. She’d chosen a summery dress and polka-dot bathing suit for Clarissa, two T-shirts for Charlie, and a shirt and a cap for Chris which she’d give him later when he came out of his room.

“You two are tougher to buy for.” She handed her father a nice pair of Maui Jim sunglasses.

Steve put them on and grinned. “These are great. See, I’m
not
hard to buy for.”

Catlin opened her package and pulled out a hot pink bikini with a flowered cover-up. “Beautiful, Dana.”

“Hmm, another present for me.” Steve waggled his eyebrows.

“Uncle Jim will be happy, too,” Dana said about their close family friend. “I got Aunt Jetta the same thing in yellow.”

“That was nice of you, sweetheart.” Catlin folded her things and placed them on her lap.

“I got T-shirts and flip flops for Jim and Dave, and a little dress like Lissa’s for Jenny. I hope everything fits.”

“Sounds perfect. They’ll be pleased you thought of them.” Steve nodded.

“Jenny’s sprouting right up.” Catlin gathered the children’s gifts. “She’s as tall as Charlie but a year younger.”

“I can’t wait to see her. Will they come over this weekend?” Dana asked.

“Most likely.” Catlin stood. “I’ll call Jetta and set something up.” She motioned for the kids to follow her. “Bath time. Tell Dana thank you and come with me.”

“Thank you Dana!” both kids repeated, and they marched behind their mother like they were heading off to an execution.

“Want some help?” Steve called after her.

“Oh, no. You’ve been hard at it all day, and I don’t work.” She smiled over her shoulder and headed up the stairs.

Dana grinned at her father, who winced.

“Damn,” he muttered. “Almost thought I’d gotten away with that.”

“Not a chance, daddy-o. I predict two more days of the cold shoulder and then at least a week of constant reminders.”

“You may be right.” He stood, placing the sunglasses on top of his head. “Say, tomorrow, could you call that salon and book her a spa day? We’ll start with that.”

“Of course.” Dana laughed.

“I’m off to help with bath time. See you later, sweetie.”

“Have fun.” She watched him go, and shook her head.

Later, when the smallest family members were tucked into bed, Steve allowed the dog inside. Dana watched the sandy-colored German Shepherd race to Chris’s bedroom and give a low bark. The door opened a crack, enough for Roscoe to squeeze in, then closed again.

Her father entered his own room and Dana followed to say goodnight. She stood in the doorway and paused. He leaned over behind Catlin, seated on the sofa in their room, and whispered something in her ear. He nuzzled her neck, then whispered again.

Dana watched, spellbound. Catlin had been seriously mad earlier, she was sure of that. And she probably wasn’t totally over it yet. But her father had a way about him that always seemed to soothe things over.
Would Catlin bop him on the head and shove him away like most irritated wives would?
Dana was dying to find out.

Catlin reached for his hand and slid it inside her blouse.
Nope. She was over it.

Dana cleared her throat loudly. “G’night you two!” she called from the hall.

Steve appeared in the doorway, face flushed. “Night sweetheart. Sleep well.” He smiled and closed the door between them.

Dana heard it lock.

She went to her room and flopped onto the bed. She wasn’t really embarrassed. In the last two years she lived here before college, she’d walked in on her parents making out all the time. They treated it as natural, and she felt that way, too. But that was when they only had one small child, and a happy, fun-loving ten-year-old. Now they had two little ones and a surly teenager. Dana suspected private time was a lot harder to come by these days.

Catlin’s appearance showed the effects of it. Her father, not so much, but he had his work to focus on for part of the day. He used to joke that he could manage ten newspapers better than his family at some times. Now he owned eight, after having sold off two of the less profitable ones. But he still had someplace to go every day. Evidently he hadn’t noticed his wife could use the same distraction. She needed a break.
I’m glad I’m here
.

And away from Cayman
. The vacation had been great, but she hadn’t realized when she’d booked one room for the two girls how promiscuous Renata would be. They’d shared a two bedroom apartment during college, and the occasional girlfriend coming and going had been no big deal. But in the hotel they had one large bed with a sofa around the corner, not even in a separate room. The first time Dana complained about Renata bringing a girl back for sex, Renata’s answer had been to invite Dana to join them.
Thanks, but no thanks
.

Dana dragged herself up and changed into her baby doll pajamas. She scrubbed her face and brushed her teeth, unsure why she was feeling so out of sorts. She’d made a personal choice to remain celibate, and it had nothing to do with her father jokingly ordering her not to have sex until she was thirty.

At this rate, that may be about right
.

She threw back the covers and climbed into bed. It wasn’t that she didn’t
want
to have sex. It seemed like such an intimate thing, she couldn’t imagine doing it with just anyone. She wanted the real deal, the man of her dreams, someone who would sweep her off her feet and inspire
those
feelings in her.

She’d heard the panting, groaning and occasional praying coming from the bed where Renata and her lovers got busy.
Oh, God, yes! Yes! More!
She wanted to feel that, too, but she thought it should be special. The longer she waited, the more it reinforced her decision. The first time she had sex, it was going to mean something.

Dana heard a soft moan from the other room. Sighing, she rolled on her side and placed a pillow over her ear.

Coming in November from Books We Love

Blame it on the Moon

The Blame Game, Book Two

and in
January, 2014 look for

Blame it on the Sun

The Blame Game, Book Three

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Happy Reading Jamie and Jude

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