The Daddy Secret

by Judy Duarte

  Chapter Ten

  Mallory couldn’t see the color of her cheeks, but if the heat in them was any indication, they had to look as if she’d been out in the sun all day.

  “I didn’t expect you until Monday,” she said, as she led Brian through the living room.

  “Surprised?” he asked.

  Shocked was more like it. And annoyed, too. “Why didn’t you call?”

  “Because,” Brian said, “each time I did, it seemed as if you couldn’t find time to talk. You were always on the run—either to a job interview or to visit or your grandfather. Or else you were picking up Lucas or dropping him off. I finally decided it was time we talked in person, and I wasn’t about to wait another day.”

  At that point, the sliding door opened, although she ignored it and responded to Brian’s complaints.

  “I’m sorry you felt neglected. It’s just that my schedule has been so erotic. I mean, erratic.” Her eyes widened at the unfortunate mistake, and even though she’d tried to correct the blunder, it hadn’t gone unnoticed.

  “That was an interesting slip of the tongue,” Brian said. “Or maybe it was Freudian.”

  Footsteps sounded as someone entered the house. She wasn’t exactly sure who it was since her back was to the door, but there were only two people in the backyard—Rick and the boy who looked just like him.

  By the way Brian was gazing over the top of her head, she suspected it hadn’t been Lucas.

  As if on cue, Rick entered the room, making things a lot more Freudian than interesting to Brian.

  Her cheeks heated to a second-degree burn and, no doubt, provided more fodder for Brian’s suspicions.

  She didn’t dare steal a glance at Rick, who must have heard the whole thing and was probably finding it all amusing.

  Instead, she decided to play it cool and introduce the men.

  “Brian,” she said, “this is Rick Martinez.”

  “Let me guess,” he said, his tone a bit testy. “You’re the boy’s father.”

  The boy’s father?

  Mallory’s anger rose by the second, and she wasn’t sure who ought to be the biggest target. Brian was certainly in contention for popping in unexpectedly to either surprise her or check up on her—she wasn’t entirely sure which. And then there was Rick, who infuriated her for... Well, for just being Rick and for always complicating her life whether he tried to or not.

  For some reason, Rick seemed to bring out the worst in her, making her forget everything she’d ever been taught, everything she’d ever planned, everything she’d ever believed about herself.

  As the clock on the mantel ticked on, things seemed to go from awkward to unbearable.

  Mallory might have invited Rick to dinner, and while she couldn’t very well withdraw the invitation now, it would certainly be nice if he graciously bowed out.

  Again the slider opened, and this time Lucas entered the room. He glanced first at Brian, then at Rick.

  “How’s it going?” Brian asked him.

  “Okay.”

  “So where are you staying?” Mallory asked, making sure that both Rick and Lucas knew that Brian wasn’t going to sleep at her house. Although, for the life of her, she wasn’t sure why she gave a flying leap why it mattered what Rick thought.

  “In Wexler,” Brian said. “The only place I could find in Brighton Valley was a two-bit motel next to a honky-tonk. What’s with this town?”

  Brian, too, seemed to be on edge for more reasons than one. Was he jealous? Suspicious? Angry?

  A combination of all three?

  Mallory felt badly about what she’d put him through, especially after all he was prepared to give up for her. She needed to reverse things or at least set them into slow motion now, but she wasn’t sure how to go about doing it, especially with an audience.

  Before she could come up with a feasible game plan, that crazy dog started to howl.

  As if she didn’t have enough to worry about.

  When Rick excused himself to check on Buddy, Lucas followed him outside.

  “This isn’t what you think,” Mallory said.

  Brian crossed his arms. “What do I think?”

  She felt as though she were sitting on some kind of hot seat, and she hadn’t done anything to deserve it. “I have no idea what’s going on in your mind. But you caught me completely off guard. We need to talk, but not today—not tonight. I can explain. Just give me a chance to get through this evening. And for the record, Lucas invited his father over for dinner. I can assure you that it’s going to be a very early night. In the morning, I’ll ask the neighbor to look after Lucas. You and I can meet somewhere for a late breakfast. Then we can talk—in private.”

  Brian uncrossed his arms. “I’ve been more than patient, Mallory.”

  “I know you have. You’re a great guy, Brian. And I’m lucky to have you.”

  It’s just that Mallory didn’t feel very lucky right now.

  And what little luck she’d had in the past seemed to have run out.

  * * *

  When Buddy had started howling and scratching at the glass door, Rick knew he couldn’t very well let the dog continue to make a racket like that. He also knew that he and Buddy had both worn out their welcomes.

  But that was just as well. To be honest, he didn’t want to stick around any longer. He’d seen enough. And he was ready to go. He wouldn’t have minded sticking around to see Brian simmer and stew, of course. But it nearly killed him to see Mallory suffer.

  So after excusing himself, he’d gone out to the backyard, the leash in his pocket.

  Lucas, who’d followed him out, said, “You’re going to come back, though. Right?”

  “No. After I take Buddy home, I’m going to stay there.”

  “Why? You’re supposed to eat dinner with us tonight.”

  “Lucas, your mother’s boyfriend is here.”

  “Yeah, but did you see the look on her face? She’s not happy about him being here.”

  “She’s not happy because he’s upset. And if I leave, that should make him feel better—and her, too.”

  “Well, it won’t make me feel better. Or you, either. Right?”

  Rick didn’t answer. Instead, he snapped the leash onto Buddy’s collar.

  Lucas reached for his forearm and held firm. “Come on, Rick. Do something.”

  “There’s nothing I can do.”

  “There has to be. You used to love each other, and I think you still do. She shouldn’t be going out on dates with someone else, especially when that guy wants to marry her.”

  Rick wanted to argue, to deny his feelings. But how could he do that when the boy was right. And when he’d promised not to lie to him?

  “Lucas, we talked about this already.”

  “I know. But that was different. Brian is here now. And you’re leaving.”

  Rick blew out a sigh. “No matter how you feel about Brian, your mom has to make that decision for herself.”

  “But I saw you guys last night. After I went to my room, I went back to tell you something. But I didn’t because of the way you were looking at each other. You touched her face like you wanted to kiss her—really bad. And she wanted you to.”

  The boy had almost a sad desperation to his tone, and even though Rick had wanted to deny it, he couldn’t bring himself to.

  The truth was, he’d been pretty damn close to kissing Mallory. And she might have let him—boyfriend or not.

  “If you would have kissed,” Lucas added, “it wasn’t going to be the kind that moms and dads give their kids. Or the kind old friends give each other. I watch TV. And I used to see my parents kiss. Those are the real kind. You know what I mean?”

  Rick knew exactly what he meant. That’s why, even though he
’d dated quite a bit after he and Mallory had split, he’d never made any commitments to anyone else. How could he when he’d never met another woman whose kisses had touched him the way Mallory’s had?

  And that was the weird thing about it. She’d been a virgin when they’d met, and he’d been the experienced one. As things had heated up between them, as they’d grown more intimate, he’d known that things would be different—and special, because she was special.

  Then one night, one of those “real” kisses had exploded with passion, and they’d made love in the backseat of her grandfather’s car. Rick had assumed that he was going to teach Mallory something that night, but it had been the other way around.

  He’d learned there was a big difference between sex and making love. And from then on, even though he’d dated and had sexual relationships, he’d never gotten serious with anyone else again because he’d never wanted to settle for anything less.

  “Don’t you still love her?” Lucas asked. “Even a little?”

  Rick had never talked about his feelings with anyone, let alone a kid. But then again, he’d never been a father before. “Yeah, Lucas. I love her. But there’s not much I can do about it.”

  “You can fight for her,” Lucas said.

  Once upon a time, Rick wouldn’t have thought twice about a fight—be it physical or verbal. But those days were long behind him now.

  Besides, how did a man fight for a woman he’d once believed was too good for him?

  “I could help,” Lucas said.

  Rick smiled and ruffled his son’s hair. It was nice to know he had a pint-size fight manager in his corner. “Thanks, Lucas. But as long as Brian is in town, there’s nothing either of us can do.”

  Then Rick led Buddy to the side yard, opened the gate and walked his dog home, wishing things could be different.

  And knowing that some things would never change.

  * * *

  Rick hadn’t come back into the house last night, which had been fine with Mallory. Brian’s unexpected presence had been enough drama to deal with.

  She’d felt badly sending him off to the hotel soon after he’d arrived, but she’d wanted some time to sort through her thoughts and feelings.

  And while she’d told Brian that she and Lucas were going to make it an early night, it hadn’t turned out that way for her.

  First, Lucas had followed her into the kitchen and had quizzed her about her feelings for Rick.

  “Did you used to love him?” he’d asked.

  She hadn’t wanted to have that conversation with him, especially last night, but she’d felt compelled to respond—and truthfully. “Yes, I did love him back then.”

  “Do you still love him?” he’d asked.

  “It’s complicated,” she’d said, hoping that would appease him until she had time to sort through her muddled emotions. She definitely still had feelings for him.

  “Do you love Brian?” Lucas had asked.

  “I care about him.”

  “You’re not going to marry him, are you?” The boy’s expression, as well as his question, held a desperate plea that reached deep into her heart.

  Even if she hadn’t promised to be honest with him, she didn’t think she could have skated around the truth. “No, Lucas. I don’t think so. I have to talk to him. I just don’t know what to say—or how to say it.”

  His expression and his mood lightened. “It shouldn’t be that hard.”

  Maybe not to a child. But to a woman who didn’t like to hurt the people who cared about her, the people who’d been kind and supportive and loving...?

  “You have no idea how tough this is going to be for me. Hopefully, I’ll think of something by the time I see him tomorrow at ten.”

  “I could help.”

  At that, she’d smiled and brushed a kiss on his brow. “I’m afraid this is something I have to do for myself. But thanks for wanting to help me—that’s very sweet of you. Good night, Lucas. I love you.”

  “Love you, too.”

  After Lucas had gone to bed, she’d spent hours in the kitchen, first freezing the leftover spaghetti, then baking cookies and several loaves of banana bread she would share with Alice.

  When she’d finally turned in, she’d lain awake until just after two, thinking about the heartbreaks she’d suffered in the past, the dilemma she faced now and the total uncertainty of the future.

  As a result, she’d slept in much later than usual and didn’t wake up until her cell phone rang, jarring her to her senses.

  She fumbled for it on the nightstand and said “Good morning” without checking the display.

  But instead of the pleasant response she’d been expecting, she heard, “What in the hell is going on?”

  Mallory pressed the cell phone closer to her ear, as if she hadn’t heard Brian’s words. But there was no mistaking his question or his brusque tone, and a surge of guilt shot clean through her, even though it felt undeserved and unearned.

  “What are you talking about?” she asked, sitting up in bed and combing her fingers through her sleep-tangled hair.

  “I sensed something was up the minute you told me you were moving to Texas. Yet, fool that I am, I believed and trusted you. But my brother was right all along.”

  “About what?”

  “That you were never as invested in this relationship as I was.”

  She wanted to explain, to defend herself, but maybe he was right. When her life had turned upside down and she’d been dealt devastating blows, such as Sue’s death and her grandfather’s illness, she hadn’t turned to Brian. She’d withdrawn from him instead, choosing to deal with them on her own. It was her way of handling problems, she supposed, because she’d done the same thing with Rick way back when.

  But this wasn’t the kind of conversation she wanted to have on the telephone. She’d planned to have it today, at brunch.

  “And then I get that crazy email,” he said.

  “What email?”

  “The one that was signed by you, although I suspect you weren’t the one who wrote it.”

  “What are you talking about?” She glanced at the clock on the bureau, wondering if she’d actually awakened or if she was in the middle of some bizarre dream. “We’re supposed to meet in an hour and a half. Why would I send you an email?”

  “I figured that much since you addressed me as Brain. And I also hoped that a college graduate would use the correct form of the word break when telling me she didn’t want to go out with me anymore.”

  “Oh, my gosh. Brian, I’d never send you an email like that. And if I wanted to break up with you, I never would have ended things that way. I would have—”

  “Done it over brunch?” he asked.

  She didn’t answer. Had he always suspected that had been her plan, or was he only coming to that conclusion now?

  Either way, after all the thought she’d given to it last night, that had been her decision. But she wasn’t going to tip her hand until she saw him in person.

  She took a deep breath, then slowly blew it out. “Can you please forward that email to me?”

  “Yes, but I suspect you’ll have a copy in your Sent Mail.”

  So did she. There was only one explanation, and her stomach curdled at the thought.

  “If you didn’t send it,” Brian said, “then you must suspect the same person I do. It certainly looks like it was written by a nine-year-old.”

  “Yes, I think you’re right. But I still I can’t believe Lucas would do something like that.”

  “I can. He obviously wants to see you and his father back together again. And if you’ve been seeing Rick on a regular basis and having him over for dinner when I’m not around, then you can’t blame Lucas for thinking that the two of you might reunite.”

&
nbsp; “I’m sorry, Brian. Dinner last night was just a casual thing. We were having leftovers—not a fancy meal.” She didn’t bother telling him that she and Lucas had ended up eating alone.

  Silence filled the line for a moment, although it felt more like an aeon. Finally Brian asked, “Are we still on for brunch?”

  “Yes.” She and Brian needed to have a long-overdue talk.

  In the meantime, so did Mallory and Lucas.

  After they decided to meet at the café next to his hotel, she ended the call. Then she booted up her computer. Apparently, she shouldn’t have kept the password to her email account stored. She certainly wouldn’t do that again.

  Once she logged on, she checked her Sent Mail folder. And sure enough, there it was.

  Dear Brain.

  I am sorry. We shuld brake up. Maybe you shuld stay in Boston for a year. We can talk then.

  Your friend.

  Mallory.

  She’d been hacked. By her nine-year-old son.

  Mallory knew that Lucas had never really warmed up to Brian, but she’d hoped that, with time, he would get to know him better and give him a chance.

  Obviously he wanted to see her and Rick back together, which was understandable. But he’d gone too far in his matchmaking attempts.

  As a precaution, she changed her password, then changed his, as well. After signing off and shutting down the computer, she went into the den, where he was playing a video game.

  “I just got a call from Brian,” she told him. “Turn off that game. In fact, you’re going to need to disconnect the PlayStation completely. You’re grounded.”

  “Aw, man.” He turned to face her. “Why?”

  “For sending an email to Brian and signing my name. For hurting his feelings and trying to destroy our friendship. I’m hurt, angry and embarrassed, Lucas. And I’m ashamed that you would do such a thing.” Mallory blew out a sigh. “When were you going to tell me?”

  “As soon as you woke up, but I didn’t get a chance.”

  Mallory combed her fingers through her hair, wishing this was all a dream.

  “I was only trying to help. Besides, you told me that you didn’t know what to say to him.”