Secrets Told

by Allie Everhart

  "Of course I am, but we can't do anything about it. This is Gavin's decision, not yours."

  "I don't want him working for Falkin. I have to convince him to quit and focus on finding another job."

  "You can try, but it'll likely just lead to an argument." He glances around to make sure no one's listening. "Not every politician is part of it."

  "How would we know if Falkin is?"

  "We don't. But Falkin's young and inexperienced. I doubt they'd waste their time with someone like him."

  "I still don't like Gavin being involved in politics."

  He stirs his coffee. "You sound like your mother."

  "What do you mean?"

  He sets his coffee stirrer on the napkin next to his cup. "Your mother hated that I was a cop. When I worked nights, she couldn't sleep. She wanted me to quit but I wouldn't do it."

  "Because you liked the job?"

  "That, and the fact that my father was a cop. I felt like I was continuing his legacy, connecting with him somehow. I think Gavin might be trying to do the same."

  "If that were true, and he really wanted to be like his dad, he'd run for office, but he's told me a million times he doesn't want to do that."

  My dad puts his hand over mine. "Honey, I know you're worried about this, but right now, I want you to focus on getting the restaurant opened. You have enough going on. Focus on yourself right now. Get some rest. Try to stay calm. And call your father if you need help." He lets go of my hand and sits back, smiling. "I'm not great with a hammer but I could help in the kitchen."

  I give him a funny look. "What are you talking about? You're a horrible cook."

  He shrugs. "Maybe, but I can peel potatoes better than anyone. My mother used to make me do it as a kid. So if you need a potato peeler, call me."

  I laugh. "Okay. Anything else you can do?"

  "I'm pretty good with carrots too. Ask your mom. When she was pregnant with you, she craved carrots for the first five months. I've never peeled so many carrots in my life."

  "Did she cook them or eat them raw?"

  "Raw. She liked the crunch. She dipped them in Ranch dressing. One night we ran out and I had to drive forty miles to find a store that was open at midnight."

  I can totally see my dad doing that. Even after my parents divorced, he'd do anything for my mom. All she had to do was ask, but she rarely did because she didn't want him to think they'd ever get back together. But I think deep-down, she wanted that. I know she still loved my dad and would've taken him back if she felt she could count on him to not drink again. But just when she'd think he'd sobered up, he'd fall off the wagon.

  "Did you have a nice dinner last night?" he asks. "With your mom?"

  "Yeah, it was fun. She really likes Henry."

  My dad's brows rise. "Isn't he a little..."

  "Oh. No. Not like that. I mean she likes him as a friend, not anything more than that. He's way too old for her. And even if he wasn't, she's not ready to date. It's too soon." As I say it I'm reminded why I asked him to meet me. "So, um, how was dinner with Gavin's mom?"

  "Good." He takes a sip of his coffee. "I'm going to do some work for her."

  "What kind of work?"

  "I can't say. It's confidential. You know that."

  "Are you working directly for her or is she hiring you for a friend?"

  "Kate." He gives me that look that says to stop asking questions because he's not giving answers. He did this when I was younger and would ask questions when I saw people I knew at his office, mostly parents of my friends. They're all divorced now so I assume he caught them cheating.

  "Fine. You can't tell me." I glance to the side, then back at my dad. "So anything else going on there?"

  "On where? What are you talking about?"

  "You and Celeste. Last night kind of seemed like a date but she's totally not your type so I'm sure I read it wrong." I let out a laugh.

  "It was a date," he says casually, "but we also talked business."

  My eyes bug out. "You're dating Gavin's mom?"

  "It was one date. Just dinner. Nothing to get riled up about."

  I huff. "Are you kidding? It's Gavin's mom!" I cross my arms over my chest. "You can't date Gavin's mom. Why would you even ask her out?"

  "I didn't. She asked me out."

  "That doesn't make sense. Celeste only dates rich guys. Not that you're poor, but you're not rich enough for Celeste. She only dates millionaires. Or billionaires."

  "Kate, you're making too much out of this. It was one date."

  "So you're not seeing her again?"

  He sips his coffee instead of answering.

  "Dad, are you seeing her again or not?"

  He sets his cup down. "She asked me to go with her to the symphony next weekend."

  "And you agreed to it? You don't even like the symphony."

  "She doesn't want to go alone. She always went there with Niles and since his passing, she hasn't been back."

  "So you're going because you feel sorry for her."

  "Honey, would you stop questioning me about this? I'm a grown man. I'm allowed to choose who I go out with."

  "Meaning you're choosing to go out with Celeste? So it's not a pity date. You like her." I feel sick thinking of the two of them together. Just seeing them at dinner made my stomach queasy. "How could you like Celeste? You two have nothing in common. And more importantly, she hates me!"

  "She doesn't hate you. In fact, last night she went on and on about how much she likes you and how she thinks you're perfect for Gavin."

  "She was lying. She's trying to make you think she likes me so you'll go out with her again." I pick up my coffee cup, then set it down. "Why is she interested in you? None of this makes sense."

  "I'm not that bad, am I?" His lips turn up.

  I sigh. "You're a great catch, Dad, but for someone else. Not Celeste. Definitely not Celeste. You can't date her. Gavin and I will find someone else to take her to the symphony. Maybe Gavin could go with her."

  That would mean I wouldn't see Gavin on Saturday night but I'm willing to give up our date night if it meant my dad wouldn't be out with Celeste.

  "Kate, I already told her I'd go. And..." He rubs his hand over his jaw and looks to the side.

  "And what?"

  He looks back at me. "And I want to go. I'm not doing this out of pity. I know you don't care for Celeste but I actually had a good time last night. It's nice to have a woman in my life again."

  "Then date someone else. Join one of those online dating sites. They have tons of single women who would love to go out with you."

  He gives me the dad stare. "We're done discussing this. I'm going out with her and that's all I'm going to say about it."

  I roll my eyes. "I can't believe you're doing this."

  He stands up. "I hate to leave but I need to meet a client back at the office at ten." He tosses a twenty on the table. "Come give your dad a hug."

  I get up and hug him. "I know this lady who works at the restaurant supply company who's about your age and—"

  "Kate." He stands back, smiling. "Let me worry about my love life, okay? You have your own things to worry about."

  Love life? Just hearing him say the word 'love' in the context of his date with Celeste has me wanting to gag. What if they keep dating? What if they fall in love? Get married?

  "Goodbye, honey."

  "Bye," I say as he leaves. I sit back down at the table and call Gavin. He doesn't answer so I text him, Our parents are dating! My dad just confirmed it!

  He texts right back, Don't worry. It won't last.

  If he's able to text, why didn't he answer my call? He used to always answer my calls. He'd even leave a meeting to answer my call. So why isn't he now? What is going on with him?

  I can't worry about it. I have so much to do before the restaurant opens. When it finally does, I'll try to figure out what's going on with Gavin. And if my dad is still dating Celeste, I'll find a way to convince him to stop seeing her. Because
she's not right for him. And he's not right for her. They can't be a couple. This relationship they've started has to end, and soon.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Kate

  "Find anything out?" Henry asks as I walk in the kitchen. He's fixing the handle on the oven door. It fell off when I was testing recipes. The guy who installed the oven didn't screw the handle in all the way.

  "Find what out?" I ask, hiding my purse in one of the drawers under the stainless steel counter.

  "If your father is dating Celeste." Henry sets his screwdriver down and wipes his hands on the rag that's hung over his shoulder.

  "How'd you know that's why I went to see him?"

  "Because Gavin didn't get a clear answer out of his mother, which means you had to go ask your father."

  I grab an apron and tie it on. "Well, I got an answer."

  "What did he say?"

  "That the other night was definitely a date and that they're going out again this Saturday."

  He nods. "So that's why she didn't mind me having company over to the house on Saturday. She won't be home."

  "Who are you having over on Saturday?"

  "Just some buddies of mine. It's our weekly poker game. I missed it last week because I was down here, so I invited them to Celeste's house for this week's game. I could've just made the drive back to my own place but I thought it'd be more fun to rile up Celeste. But when I told her she didn't seem to care. Your father must've loosened her up a bit."

  "Stop." I cover my ears. "I don't want to hear about him..." I cringe, "loosening her up...or whatever else the two of them are doing."

  He chuckles. "Relax. I'm sure it won't last. Celeste is just bored and looking for something different. That's why she went after Niles years ago."

  "Yeah, and look what happened. She ended up marrying him!"

  "She wouldn't marry your father. He doesn't fit in her world. Niles didn't either, but he wanted to, and he made sure he did."

  "So you're saying she's using my dad." I get the tray of meat from the refrigerator and set it on the counter. I'm retesting my meatball recipe today because they seemed a little dry when I made them last week.

  "She'll go out with him a few times, then get bored and move on." Henry tugs on the oven door. "This should be good to go now."

  "I don't want Celeste using my dad like that," I say as I wash my hands at the sink. "If she's bored, she can find someone else to go out with. I'm going to tell him to stay away from her."

  His brows rise. "And you think he'll listen to you?"

  I sigh. "No. He never listens when people tell him what to do. Except for my mom. He always listened to her."

  "I wouldn't worry about it. Give it a few weeks. I can't imagine this lasting any longer than that."

  My phone rings. I see Gavin's picture on my screen and smile.

  "Hey, Gavin, what's going on?"

  "I was going to try to leave work early tonight but I just found out I have to stay late."

  "Why? What happened?"

  "There was a problem with the website and the stuff I did last week got deleted. I have to try to recreate it."

  "So this is for the senator." I slump down on the stool that's sitting next to the counter.

  "Yeah. Kate, I'm really sorry. I know I've been gone a lot lately. I promise to make it up to you. I'll take you to dinner tomorrow, wherever you want."

  "I can't. I have to be here at the restaurant. I have so much to do."

  "You can take an hour for dinner. And afterward, I'll go to the restaurant with you and help you with whatever you need."

  "Really?" I hear the happiness in my voice. I've really wanted him to be here with me as I get ready for the opening. This is my dream and I want Gavin here to share it with me.

  "I feel bad I haven't been there to help out. But I'll be there tomorrow. I promise."

  "You don't need to help. I mean, you can, but it would really mean a lot to me just to have you here."

  "Then I'll be there. Tomorrow night. It's a date. Dinner wherever you want and then the rest of the night we'll hang out at the restaurant."

  "That'd be great." I'm smiling, already looking forward to tomorrow night. "I'll let you get back to work so you can hurry up and get home."

  "It'll be probably be late, like maybe eleven."

  "That's fine. I'll wait up."

  "I love you, Kate."

  "Love you too. See you soon."

  "Sounds like you two made up," I hear Henry say. I turn and see him tightening the screws on the shelving units that were delivered last week.

  "What do you mean?" I say, walking over to him. "We weren't fighting."

  "Then what do you call it when two people aren't getting along?" He continues to tighten the screws.

  "Gavin and I get along. We get along great."

  "You used to, but then something happened and it seems like you two aren't on the same page anymore."

  "Did Gavin say that?"

  "He didn't need to. I can tell when my grandson isn't himself. And after all the time I've spent with you the past week, I'd say I know you well enough to know when something's bothering you. So what is it? What'd he do?"

  "Gavin didn't do anything. We just..." I pause, not sure if I should be talking to Henry about this.

  "You just what?" He sets the screwdriver on the shelf next to him.

  "I don't like Gavin working all these extra hours. It's getting to the point that I never see him."

  "And you don't like him working for a politician." He cocks his head. "Isn't that the main reason you're angry with Gavin?"

  I hesitate, then say, "Yes."

  "Why didn't you just tell me that? Because Niles was a politician?"

  "Yes. I don't want to be disrespectful."

  "You're allowed to have an opinion. And for the record, I hate politicians too. Despise them. I loved my son but I didn't love what he did for a living. And I don't like Gavin being involved with it either."

  "Have you said anything to Gavin about this? About how you don't want him working for the senator?"

  "I don't need to. He knows how I feel. He's going to do what he wants regardless of what I think."

  "I still don't like him working for the senator."

  "My advice?" Henry says. "Focus less on what you two do for a job and more on each other. Work on your relationship and all that other stuff will work itself out. Always does."

  "It's hard to work on our relationship when he's never around," I say, sounding annoyed.

  "And you are?" He grins. "Seems to me like you've been away just as much as Gavin. Didn't you go home at midnight the other night?"

  I smile. "Okay, fine. You're right, I've been gone a lot. But Gavin could be here with me. I can't be with him at his job."

  He pats my shoulder. "Stop worrying so much. Just keep loving each other and everything will work out. My father gave me that advice on my wedding day and it's some of the best advice he ever gave me. It's how I stayed married for all those years."

  "I love Gavin but—"

  "You love him. That's all that counts. Just keep reminding yourself of that." He turns toward the shelving unit. "I need to finish this, then go caulk the tile in the restrooms."

  "Thanks again for all your help, Henry. And for your advice."

  He nods. "Anytime. You may not always like it but I've got plenty of it to share. That's what happens when you get old like me. You got a whole lifetime of advice." He kneels down and starts tightening screws on the bottom shelf.

  "I'll let you get back to work."

  Henry's right. As long as Gavin and I keep loving each other, we'll get through this rough patch, and whatever other challenges lie ahead.

  I get home at nine-thirty and take a quick shower then slip on the black silky nightie that Gavin loves and get into bed. It seems like forever since we had sex, and even though it's late and I'm tired, I want it. I need to be with Gavin.

  At midnight, he sneaks into the bedroom. I hear him undre
ssing, then feel the bed move as he gets in.

  "Hey." I snuggle up next to him and give him a kiss.

  "Sorry. I was trying not to wake you up."

  "I was already up. I was waiting for you." I run my hand over his lean, smooth chest. I've missed touching him, being with him.

  "What time did you get home?" He puts one arm behind his head, while the other lies above me on the pillow, his hand gently playing with my hair. I love when he does that. I've missed it.

  "I got home around ten." I reach up and kiss him. "I missed you."

  "Missed you too." He lifts up and gives me a quick kiss then lets his head fall back on the pillow as he yawns. "I'm so tired. It was a really long day."

  "So you, um...don't want to do it?" I lift my head up to look at him.

  He runs his hand over my hair. "I'm sorry, Kate, but I'm wiped out. Could we do it tomorrow?"

  "Sure," I mutter, lowering my head to his chest.

  I feel him kiss my forehead. "I love you."

  "Love you too." I wrap my arm around him, wanting to be closer to him because I feel like every day, we get farther apart. I lie there quietly for a moment, then say, "I miss you, Gavin."

  "What was that?" he mumbles, half-asleep.

  "Nothing. Goodnight."

  In the morning, he's gone. My alarm goes off at six and when I check my phone, I see a text from Gavin that reads, Have a good day! Love you!

  He never used to leave this early. Why would he need to be at the office at the crack of dawn? It's not like there's some urgent need to review proposals. He said proposals are worked on for months, or even a year, before being sent out, so why is he in the office so early?

  Is he avoiding me? But why would he do that? We're not fighting about anything. And yet last night, he kept turning away from me in bed. Instead of holding me, like he usually does, he turned his back to me and slept on his side.

  But he loves me. I know he does. And I love him. So I'm going to do as Henry said and stop worrying about this and instead focus on the fact that Gavin and I love each other.

  I text him back, Love you too! Can't wait to see you tonight!