“You don’t have to do this,” Riley murmured as we made our way up the sidewalk.
“I know.” I wrapped my arm around her and pulled her into my side. “I want to.” Once in the lobby, we read off the names listed and looked for Bishop, Burke, and Brown. Alex worked for a marketing firm. He was a partner now, and had worked his way up from the bottom. I’d Googled him last night when Riley was sleeping.
“There it is.” She pointed at the sign. “Floor twelve.” She pressed the call button on the elevator, and we waited. When the doors opened, it was empty. “Come on.” She tugged my hand as we stepped inside, and hit the number twelve on the wall. She looked so much younger as the doors closed. I watched her head tip up and watch as the numbers lit up, showing our climb to the twelfth floor.
“You know that no matter what happens today, it doesn’t change who you are, right? You are an amazing woman, Riley McKay, and Alexander Bishop isn’t going to change that.” I stood in front of her with my hands on her shoulders. I was silently praying that I wouldn’t have to deck this guy, but I wanted her to keep her expectations reasonable too.
ooooooooo
Riley
When we stepped off the elevator, I came face to face with double glass doors. The names Bishop, Burke, and Brown were painted in fancy lettering near the top. I stared for a moment before heaving them open. They were heavier than they looked, but the whoosh of cool air that enveloped me from inside was a welcome reprieve from the hot summer heat.
“Hi. Can I help you?” A dark-haired woman from behind a desk smiled at us.
“Yes.” I smiled back. “I have an appointment with Mr. Bishop.”
“Just a minute.” She tapped a few keys on her computer before lifting the phone receiver. After a few moments, she spoke. “Your 9:30 appointment is here, sir.” She hung up, and then directed her attention back to us. “Just down the hall over there. Mr. Bishop’s office is at the end.” She pointed with a pen to the right. “He’s expecting you.”
“Thanks.” I waved nervously as Caleb grabbed my hand and pulled us toward the door. “Thanks,” I whispered to him as he held the door for me. I shuffled down the carpeted hallway until I came to yet another glass door.
Alex Bishop had a corner office. It was all glass, and he was sitting behind his desk when we reached the door. He hadn’t seen me yet, so I took the opportunity to observe him. He had dark hair that flopped over his forehead. A pair of wire-rimmed glasses were perched on his nose. His tailored suit fit him like a glove, and his shirt was open at the top. He was tapping away, but then must have heard something to make him look up. His head lifted, and our eyes met. He smiled, and motioned for us to come in. It took me a minute to react. I couldn’t help but stare. I’d been wondering if I looked like him. I knew I favored my mom, at least that’s what everyone told me growing up, but I could see myself in him too. His lip curled up on one side when he smiled, just like me, and the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled looked like me too.
Caleb held the door as I stepped in. “Hi.” I smiled. I wasn’t sure what to say.
“You’re my 9:30?” He seemed confused. “Are you an intern?” He stood and held his hand out to shake. He was taller than I expected and had a lean build.
“No.” I pressed my lips together. This was the moment I’d been waiting for, and I couldn’t think of anything to say.
“It’s more of a social call.” Caleb jumped in. “Her mom used to live here. We came out to see some of the places that she frequented, and your name came up. Apparently, you used to work with her.” Both of them sat, and I awkwardly fidgeted.
“Oh,” Alex smiled. “I see.” He seemed confused still but open to talking with us.
“You gonna sit, Riley?” Caleb pointed to the other chair. I lowered myself onto the cushion, but continued to stare. This man had haunted me for days now, and it was like I couldn’t get enough.
“So, who is your mom?” Alex folded his hands in front of him and directed his attention to me. He seemed genuinely intrigued.
“Her name was Angela Walker. She’s married now, but that’s what she went by when she lived here.” A look of shock flashed across Alex’s face, but he hid it quickly.
“Wow. I haven’t heard that name in nearly twenty years. Angela and I worked together back when we finished college. I always wondered what happened to her.” He leaned back in his chair. “I don’t know what I could really tell you about her though. We really didn’t know each other that well.”
To say I was shocked when he said those words would have been an understatement. This man fathered a child with my mom. How could he say he didn’t know her that well?
“Oh,” I crossed my legs as I matched his position. “She said you two were close.”
“I mean, we hung out after work and stuff, but I don’t think we were any closer than she would have been with anyone else who worked with us.” His lips twisted.
“Maybe you could show us?” I wanted to spend time with him. I wanted to tell him who I was, but the longer he talked, the angrier I got. He was lying to me, and why?
“Let me check my schedule.” He clicked his keyboard a few times and scratched his forehead. “I could maybe squeeze you in tomorrow night. I have a meeting scheduled for six. When I’m finished with that client, and could meet for a little bit. I just don’t know what I can tell you about her that you don’t already know.” He gripped the back of his neck. It looked as if he was getting flustered and sweating a little.
“Ok, great.” I smiled. “I can’t wait to tell my mom that we found you.” I stood. “I know you’re really busy, so we’ll get out of your way, but I look forward to tomorrow night.” I scurried out the door, leaving Caleb to close it behind us. I wasn’t sure how to feel about everything that just happened, but I was telling the truth when I said I was looking forward to tomorrow night.
“Mr. Bishop will meet you at Jerry’s Pub at seven.” The lady at the front desk called out as we headed for the door.
“Thank you.” I waved as I almost skipped to the elevator. “That went better than I thought.” I grinned as Caleb hit the call button.
Caleb smiled quickly, but then it dropped when he thought I wasn’t looking. I didn’t understand why, but at the moment I was too excited to care.
Chapter 20
Riley
“Why do you think he lied to me?” I was currently pacing our hotel room as Caleb attempted to watch baseball on TV.
“I don’t know.” He craned his neck to look around me. “You should sit down and relax. You’re going to drive yourself crazy doing this.”
“I can’t relax. I keep thinking about the way he looked at me. He had to know that I’m his. I mean the timing, and I look just like him.” I threw my hands in the air. “Well, I look like my mom, but I can see him in me too.”
“What if your mom never told him? He might be dealing with the same thing you did a few days ago. He might be just as confused as you.” He sat up and placed his elbows on his bent knees. “Keep in mind that this is probably like an ambush for him.”
“True. I just don’t know why he lied about not being close. My mom wouldn’t have slept with a guy who was just a work friend, at least I don’t think she would. She’s told me over and over that she’s loved my dad since she was a kid. Why would this guy have had any chance?” I stormed over to where Caleb was sitting and flopped down.
“I don’t know,” he murmured. “He seemed shocked when you mentioned your mom, so I have to give him a chance.”
“Ugh.” I shoved myself off the bed and started pacing again. This was going to be a long afternoon. I still had several hours before we were meeting Alex, and I had nothing to occupy my time.
ooooooooo
Caleb
Watching her twist herself up over this guy was killing me. I wanted to tell her everything, everything that I knew and everything that I thought I knew. Riley had gone down to the pool at one point because she claimed to want to be alon
e to think. I think she just wanted a distraction and wandering around helped her.
I called my mom and told her about our meeting. She said that this Alex guy was a lying sack of shit. She said that Angela was in love with him at one time. She said that Riley was right, her mom would have never slept with a guy who was just a work friend. She told me things that she probably shouldn’t have, but it was like I opened a vault that had been sealed off long ago.
Apparently, Alex and Angela had been dating for years. She got pregnant, and when she came home to tell him, she found him in bed with another woman. She stormed out, and stayed with a friend for a few days. When she knew the coast was clear, she packed a bag, quit her job, and moved back to Boston with her brother, Cole. I knew that Angela had come back unexpectedly, but I never knew why. I could tell my mom needed to get it off her chest. She’d been keeping Angela’s secret for almost twenty years. What I didn’t understand was, why? Why did Riley need to think that Wes was her dad? Why did it matter? He loved her. That much I knew. He didn’t treat her any different than Easton, and yet it was this secret that no one talked about.
My mom told me about my dad as soon as I was old enough to understand things. She said, “Secrets don’t do anything good. They always come out, and it’s always at the wrong time.” I never really got that until all of this happened, and here I sit with a secret of my own. I’ve been wrestling with the thought of telling Riley that I know all of this already. I know about her dad. I know he’s gonna hurt her. It was obvious by our meeting. I’ve been going behind her back and talking to her parents about all of it. Their secret has caused my secret, and when it all comes out, Riley’s the one who will be hurt. I want her to lean on me, but when she finds out I’ve been hiding all of this, she’s going to push me away. I know her well enough to know that she’ll find a way to blame herself for all of this.
ooooooooo
When Riley came back upstairs, it was almost time to leave to meet Alex. “You ready?” I was slipping my shoes on.
“I guess.” She glanced around as if she was looking for something.
“You ok? We can blow this off if you want.” I shoved my wallet into my pocket.
“I’m nervous, I guess.” She shrugged, causing her hair to fall behind her shoulders. “Let’s go.”
We walked side by side to the elevator, and then rode down to the lobby. It was awkward to say the least. There was tension between us that hadn’t been there before, and I wondered if it was me, or our circumstances causing it. We’d been so open over the last few days, and now the old walls seemed to be going up. I’d only seen Riley like this a handful of times over the years. She was like Wes in this manner, where she would just block everyone out and go quiet.
The bar we were meeting Alex at was too far away to walk. I had the valet bring my truck around, and then we were off. The sun was setting over the beach, and it looked beautiful. Reds and oranges blended with blues and purples. We had the windows down, and the salt air whipped through Riley’s hair. I smiled as I attempted to watch her while I drove. I hadn’t had many of these moments.
“I think that’s it.” Riley pointed to a brick building up ahead. “It looks fancy.” She grimaced as she glanced down at her shorts.
“You look nice.” I reassured her. “He picked the place. Let him worry about that.” I threw it out as a barb, but I think she thought I was directing it at her.
“Give him a break.” She frowned.
“I am.” I patted her leg. “I just mean, he knew we were young, and he picked a bar that caters to businessmen.”
“I’m sorry.” She frowned as she glanced over at me. “I guess I’m just a little on edge.”
“A little?” I laughed lightly.
“Ok, a lot.” As I parked, she unbuckled and opened her door.
ooooooooo
As we walked up to the restaurant, you could hear chatter coming from the outdoor patio. Patrons were milling around a lounge area, and the glass door to the front was propped open. I held out my arm to signal Riley to go first, and then followed her inside. It was nice, nicer than any of the places we’ve been since we got here. Glass windows went from floor to ceiling along the front. A large wood bar ran along one side with Edison lights hanging over it. Bartenders were dressed in all black with white bar cloths tucked in at the waist. High top tables were scattered throughout, and then another glass door was open to the patio in the back.
Riley looked lost as her eyes scanned the people standing around. Several had rocks glasses with different liquors in them and the rest was mostly wine. Men and women in business attire were perched on high top chairs and the leather covered barstools.
“I don’t think this was a good idea,” Riley whispered as she leaned into my side.
“We can go whenever you want.” I squeezed her against my side as I wrapped my arm around her waist. I wanted to give her an out, but I knew how determined she could be, and I knew that she wasn’t going to go back home without the answers she came here for.
“I can do this.” She nodded as we both spotted Alex at the end of the bar. I followed her lead as she weaved through the crowd to make her way to him.
“Hi.” She waved and he turned surprised eyes on us. It was as if he didn’t think we’d come.
“Hello.” He gave an awkward wave as he finished some amber liquid from his glass. He pointed to some empty barstools as he slid his glass across the bar and motioned to the bartender.
“We can’t sit here,” Riley blurted out. Alex’s mouth pinched as his forehead wrinkled in confusion. “You have to be of legal drinking age to sit at a bar. I’m only eighteen.” She pointed to her chest.
“Right. Eighteen,” Alex muttered as the bartender set a filled glass in front of him. He tossed some bills on the bar, and then stood. “Got any objection to the sun?” He pointed to the outdoor space.
“No.” Riley’s head slowly shook. Alex began walking outside and we followed in his wake. He chose a spot off to the side where two small couches faced each other. He sat on one, and motioned for us to take the other.
“I don’t really know how I can help you.” He sighed as he tipped his head back, downing the contents of his glass. “Like I said earlier, I didn’t really know your mom that well.” He had a smug look on his face, very different from what we saw in his office. It was like he was calling us out, and wanting to know exactly why we were really there.
“You didn’t, huh?” Riley was calling his bluff. I knew the look on her face quite well. She was going to blow up his world, or she thought she was. “Do you sleep with everyone you don’t know ‘that well’?” She made air quotes as she leaned forward on the couch and glared at him.
“Ry,” I warned. I’d thought we were going to tread lightly here.
“No.” Her eyes snapped in my direction. “I’m tired of the lies.” She turned back to him. “Well? Do you?”
Alex coughed a little, but didn’t seem that surprised by her question. He mimicked her pose and placed his elbows on his knees. “I don’t know what you think you know, little girl, but that is none of your business. Your mother has been filling your head with lies.” He laughed humorlessly.
“My mom doesn’t even know I’m here,” she growled. “I thought you might like to meet me, Mr. Bishop. I mean, seeing as you’re my father.” And there it was. I’d thought when she told him he’d seem bewildered, shocked, something, but he wasn’t. He leaned back, crossed his foot onto his knee, and smirked.
“I don’t have any kids.” He snickered. “I know how to prevent that.”
“Well, you didn’t when you slept with my mom,” Riley fired back. My head swung between the two of them like a tennis ball in a championship match.
“Did your mom tell you that?” Alex rolled his eyes.
“No.” Riley’s eyes started to water. I knew she was questioning things now. Her mom had hidden this from her. She hid it from Alex. What if she was lying about Alex and didn’t know who Riley’s d
ad was?
“Are you here for money? Did your mom set you up for this? You want college funds? Is that it?” Alex smirked. “I’m not that gullible. Tell Angela she’s got to do better. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m finished here.” He stood, and walked away as if what just happened didn’t faze him at all.
I watched as Riley stared at his back leaving the bar. The tears that had been pooling finally spilled over. “You’re gonna be ok.” I put my arm around her shoulder and pulled her into me. She was stiff, and didn’t really react. “It’s ok, Ry. He doesn’t mean anything. DNA doesn’t make a dad, love does.” I know this from experience. I rubbed her back as she tipped her chin up and looked into my eyes. “Are you hearing me right now?”
“How can someone be so mean?” She sniffed before burying her face into my chest.
“I don’t know.” I squeezed tighter. It was then that it all made sense. Angela knew Alex wouldn’t be a good dad. She knew that she had to protect her baby. She knew keeping this secret was the only way for that to happen. “Let’s go back to the hotel. We can order room service and you pick some cheesy movie for us to watch.”
“Ok.” She half laughed, half sobbed.
“I know tonight wasn’t what you wanted, but at least you understand why your mom did what she did. She loves you, Ry. She did what she did out of love.”
Broken Promises: The Broken Series Second Generation Page 11