An Oasis of LoVe
Chapter 10: Confessions
Veronica
Logan and I had been able to get a pretty easy schedule set up while we met with both a guidance counselor and the financial aid advisor. I was able to get the courses I needed to continue on with majoring in photography but at the moment I was unsure of what I wanted to minor in. I wanted to focus on my courses and Aurora for the time being. Logan had gotten all the courses he needed for majoring in English with a minor in education. He thought he might want to teach one day. I laughed at that thought, but knew he could change his mind if that didn't work out.
My dad hadn't really said much about Logan and me, but I could tell he wanted to say something every time I visited with him. If Logan had any idea about how my father was really reacting to us being together; he kept it too himself. He told me several times that my friends and family could come over any time to visit, but only Mac, Dick and Wallace had been over a few times. Wallace kept the conversation light whenever he visited, but I could tell he was holding back. I decided to let it go for the time being to keep the peace. I knew very well that Logan noticed the dirty looks Wallace would give him, but again he kept it too himself.
"Morning," I said as I entered the living room where Dick was currently holding Aurora in his arms. If someone had told me before my little one came that I would allow him to hold my daughter I would have laughed in your face, but surprisingly Dick was very careful and aware of everything around him when she was in his arms.
"Hey, Blondie," Dick said as he looked up from making faces at Aurora.
"Where's Logan?" I questioned as he stood up placing Aurora in her swing.
"He said he had to run an errand and would hopefully be back before you woke, but apparently he didn't make it," he jested strapping my daughter in and setting the swing.
"You know Dick; you sure spend a lot of time hanging around here. Are you going to be taking more classes at Hearst when the term begins," I asked as he moved into the kitchen and pulled out some pancakes and bacon from the warmer.
"I didn't think you minded," he said slowly as he half dropped the plate on the counter as I sat down.
"Dick, no it's not that. I was just wondering," I softly said as the front door opened.
"Right, hey man," he replied as Logan entered the kitchen area.
"I thought I would make it back before you woke," Logan mumbled as he placed a small bag into his jacket pocket and kissed me on the head. "What were you guys talking about before I came in?" he queried.
"I asked Dick about him attending Hearst, and about him spending so much time here," I replied honestly as Dick looked up from the counter surprised.
"Vee, I told Dick he was welcomed here anytime," Logan stated as I took a bite of my breakfast.
"I understand that, but I want to know what's up with it. He spends more time here than at his own house," I said looking from both men as I ate more food.
"Veronica," Logan warned as he rubbed his face.
"If it bothers you Veronica I'll leave?" Dick snapped. I stood up picking up my empty plate and walked around the counter to place it in the sink.
"I want to know why, not make you leave," I responded as I went to stand beside him. I wasn't a fan of his from what happened in high school, but I had decided if I was going to be with Logan, Dick was somewhat part of the deal. Dick didn't have many close friends outside of Logan and now Mac.
"I don't like being in my house, too many reminders of what I did to Cassidy. I know he's gone, but it's still filled with his things. I can't find it in me to get rid of them. I don't know," he muttered rubbing his hand through his hair.
"Honesty," I said giving him a small smile. "If the house bothers you so much, why don't you stay at the frat house," I questioned wanting him to be fully honest.
"Mac," he mumbled as I turned to look at Logan puzzled.
"Why do you think it really matters to Mac?" Logan asked as he sat down at the counter across from us, even though he knew they were sort of seeing each other.
"I want to be a better person for her. She means so much to me. I don't want to be the partying rich boy anymore," he said as I wrapped an arm around his middle hugging him.
"I think you might want to look into selling the mansion. You can stay in the guest house, but no funny business," I said as he wrapped his arm around me.
"Thanks Ronnie, but I don't know if that's a good idea," he said sourly letting me go.
"You will stay here, and you will treat Mac with the respect that she deserves," I said as I pushed him lightly.
"Oh, there is no way I'll hurt her. I believe she could hurt me though," he replied as I moved around the counter to sit beside of Logan.
"I wouldn't fret about Mac's virtue, Sugarpuss," Logan teased as I turned to look at him unsure of what he was getting at. "He already got the talk from Wallace, Mac's dad and me before I left," he remarked.
"Really, wow. I didn't think Mac would allow you all to stick up for her like that. I mean her dad I could see, but you," I joked nudging him a little in the ribs as he laughed trying to swat away my arm.
"Mac helped me stay sane for a little while after you left. She was a link to you, but after a while I had to bail," Logan said softly as I watched Dick come back into the kitchen with his board.
"Going surfing," I teased as Dick looked up from his phone.
"I thought you two might need some alone time. I texted Mac to see if she'd come over and hang, but she has a family thing this morning. She did say she'd try to be by this afternoon though," he replied as I could see how much his face lit up talking about her.
"Why don't you go hang with Dick while Aurora and I hang out here. I think we might even venture out after her nap," I state giving Dick a smile as he pushes the music switch on the swing as Aurora continued to sleep oblivious to what we were all doing.
"Are you sure? I wouldn't want to leave you if you need my help," Logan assessed as I could already see him moving toward the back door where Dick was currently standing waiting for him.
"Go on," I said as he kissed me quickly before following after Dick as they headed out of our back yard toward the beach. I smiled just thinking of how mature Dick was as he talked to me. I had been really bothered that he seemed to be hanging out all the time, but I could see his reasoning behind it after he explained the situation. I would hate to have to be reminded about my short comings all the time as well. I decided to try to mend my friendship with Dick because we use to be really good friends when we were younger. Yes, I was going to try to be nicer to Dick.
I moved around the house picking up clothes that seemed to appear out of nowhere. I was placing some of Aurora's clean clothes in her closet when I heard the door bell ring. I headed down the stairs to the door just as Aurora decided the noise was too much as she began to wail. I was torn between getting the door first, but gave in to my little girl as I moved to her and gently took her out of the swing patting her on the back to quiet her down as I opened the front door.
"Dad," I said as I saw my dad pacing nervously in front of the door as if he was waiting for something to happen.
"Veronica, I was wondering why you haven't come to see your old man," he said nervously as I moved back to let him into the house before he pushed past me. I knew he must have been joking since I had seen him a few days ago. I took him lunch at work while Logan took Aurora to see Cliff and change some things.
"Um, let's see," I replied looking from him to the softly whimpering baby in my arms. "I have a baby, and need to spend time with her," I finally said as he looked from me to her for the first time.
"Right, you are a parent now," he said motioning to Aurora as if this was new news even though he had just seen her short time ago.
"Dad, what's the matter. You look like you've seen a ghost," I stated as he moved toward the back of the house and looked out the back door. I followed and noticed Logan was riding in on a small wave while Dick was close behind him.
"You know hun, I've always wanted you to be happy. I can see just how happy you are, but I don't want you to regret anything either," he said softly as I could see his sight was still set on Logan.
"I'm not going to look back and regret this. I chose this a long time ago, but was too caught up on what Leanne did to realize just how much Logan meant to me. I was always worried that the other shoe was going to drop and I would be left behind," I admitted as he turned to look at me.
"Veronica, you are nothing like your mother. You have always put those you cared about ahead of yourself. Don't ever compare yourself to her," he said as he pulled me into his arms hugging me a little tighter than I expected which made Aurora squeak.
"Mr. Mars, dude," Logan said as I heard my dad groan as he let me go.
"How many times have I asked you not to call me dude?" he stated as I could see Logan pick up a beach towel and passing one back behind him.
"Don't know. I lost count eons ago," he said as he entered the living room reaching for Aurora. "Did my little girl have a good nap?" he questioned moving toward the kitchen as Dick moved past us and headed up the stairs. I was always caught off guard at how easy it seemed for Logan to take parenting so naturally. He was a great father and was wonderful to me, so I didn't understand why he doubted himself.
"Well I guess you can have her," I teased as he had already moved further away from us. He turned slightly back at me.
"I just thought you might like to have some quiet time while your dad's here," he motioned toward my dad who was still standing close by me watching the two of us.
"Right," I mumbled as I sat down on the chaise just outside the patio door causing my dad to follow me outside.
"Does Logan usually take her like that?" my dad questioned as he sat beside me.
"No, Logan has been very weary lately. I don't know if he thinks this is all a dream or I might take off, but he tends to keep both of us close by," I replied shrugging as if it didn't bother me. "Seriously dad why did you come," I asked as he turned to look at me.
"You know I filed for divorce when everything happened after Aaron tried to murder you and I was hurt," he questioned as I nodded my head. This wasn't news to me. My mom made matters worse when she stole the check and took off. "She's in town, and I thought I should let you know," he replied as I felt all the hair on my neck stand up.
"Do you think she knows about Aurora?" I asked as he shrugged.
"I'm not sure if she does or doesn't, but I am worried about what she might do if she finds out," he said softly. "I know I haven't been too keen on the idea of you being with Logan, but I'll admit this he does take care of you. Logan seems to be the only person who is able to keep you where you need to be," he begrudgingly stated.
"Dad, that's not true. I stayed for a long time for you, but when things hit the fan last year I was worried. I knew I might let you down and for the first time that bothered me," I replied looking directly at him. My dad looked as if I had lost him.
"What do you mean?" he countered as I took a deep breath.
"I was worried I'd disappoint you by the things I did. You lost the reelection and could have gone to jail because of something I did. You tampered with evidence to protect me. Logan even beat up a mobster to protect me and I walked away from him," I said as I could see the worry etched in my dad's eyes.
"Veronica," he tersely snapped as I laughed.
"Oh, daddy," I smiled as I leaned over huging him breaking down and telling him everything that had happened the past year before I went away. He quietly listened as Logan and Aurora joined us midway through. I knew one thing deep down as I finished telling my dad everything that I had the two men who would lay their life down for me sitting next to me. My dad would gladly go through fire to protect me, and Logan would beat anyone up who tried to hurt me. Yes, things weren't perfect, but as long I had those who mattered to me close I could get through anything.