Polly grinned. “Why that’d be lovely! I’ll come over at say, five? What are you planning to make? I’ll bring over some of the ingredients. No, don’t argue, you can do the same next week when you come to my house. Since you’re such a fabulous cook we can share duties. If that’s okay with you?”

Tate took a deep breath and let it out. “Sure.” She told Polly her menu plans and the two of them worked out a grocery list and a schedule.

Tate got out of her car and froze as she saw who stood on her porch, leaning indolently against the railing.

“What are you doing here?” She stood by the car, not wanting to get any closer to the man who’d landed her in the hospital just days before.

“I’m out on bail. Seems the prosecutor believes my story that it was an accident. Your mother had a convenient memory lapse as well. I thought I’d come here to mend some bridges.” Her father’s smirk belied his words.

She leaned against the car, arms crossed over her chest. Nathan would be by in fifteen minutes but if she had to, she’d get in the car and drive away. She was done letting him hurt her.

“I’m not interested. Just go home. And don’t call me to fix your problems with my mother anymore.” Her voice shook a bit but it was a step.

“Well and see, here I was about to congratulate you for landing yourself a man at all, especially one with a wallet like Matt Chase.” He took a step off her porch but she put a hand out.

“Stay back. Don’t get any nearer.”

He stopped and jerked his head to the side. “I didn’t come here to touch you, daughter. I had no intention to have you fall down those steps. I don’t care enough about you to harm you.”

“Could have fooled me all those times you did harm me. Now what do you really want? We both know you’re not here to mend anything.”

“Money. You have it, I don’t. Give me some.”

A sick feeling twisted through her. “Ah yes, I should have known. I suppose a job is too much energy to give when you could drink all day instead? How about I pay for rehab? You know I will.” She hated that she wanted to help him, he didn’t deserve it but she couldn’t make herself stop being concerned.

“I don’t need a job now that my daughter has her own business and a rich boyfriend, now do I? The way I see it, Tate, is you landed him, God knows how looking the way you do. And I should benefit from that. I supported you and those other brats, I should be reimbursed for that.”

Incredulousness rode her. “You did what? I’m not arguing with you. Nor am I giving you a cent. I work for my money and I don’t take anything from Matt. I don’t need to. We both work for a living. You ought to try it.”

The thin veneer slid off his face then and the man she’d feared settled into his features. Nausea threatened but she held back.

“Let’s put it this way then, Tate, since you’re being so ungrateful and all. I’m thinking I’d love to be part of your new life. Turn over a new leaf. I’d love to get to know your new family. Since I have so much time and all, I thought I’d come over more often. Maybe stop by the firehouse and visit with my daughter’s new beau.” He shrugged. “Or you can give me a few hundred bucks and I’ll keep scarce.”

She sighed. The Chases seemed okay with her past but that was when they didn’t have to confront it face to face. How would it be if her father just showed up at Sunday dinner, drunk and belligerent? How would Matt feel then? And how would her brothers and sisters feel when they’d finally had a good life?

She’d gone to the ATM earlier to give Nathan cash and her grocery list. She dug into her purse and pulled out three hundred dollars cash and thrust it at him.

“Take it and don’t come back.”

He took his time, leisurely coming toward her and grabbing the money. Tucking it into his pocket, his smile made her sick. “Thank you, daughter. Now I’ll be on my way, not to bother you again.”

Nathan found her rocking in her chair, still sweating from throwing up. He knelt in front of her. “Honey, Tate? Are you all right? Do you need to go back to the doctor? Is it your head?”

She shook her head slowly, wanting so much to tell him what happened. He’d understand. He’d hug her and tell her it would all be okay. But after that experience with the whole Melanie thing, she knew he’d also want her to tell Matt. Or worse, tell Matt himself. He’d also tell her to stop giving their father money and she couldn’t do that.

She finally had something real with Matt and no one was going to threaten it. She was the only one who stood between the ugliness of her father and the beauty of her family. She had to protect them as she always had and now that Matt was hers, she’d protect him too.

“It’s the heat. I’m all right now. I made you a grocery list but I forgot to get cash.”

He waved that away. “Not a big deal. You never let us pay for anything and I’m bored with sneaking money into your purse when you aren’t looking.” He cracked a smile and she snorted. They all did it. She just put the cash aside and used it on the kids or to make special treats for them.

They were safe from their father. She could handle him and keep him away from everyone. She’d done it most of her life and she’d keep doing it now.

“Let me give you a check.” She moved to rise but he put a gentle hand on her shoulder to stay her.

“I mean it, Tate. No. You don’t know how happy it makes me that you’re letting me do your grocery shopping. So let me. It’s some groceries. Considering how much I eat over here, it’s a bargain for me. I’ll be back in a bit. Matt should be here in a while right? You want me to stay until he gets here?”