She refilled her tea and mine. "Not telling Gabriel that Patrick is his father."
"Like I didn't tell Gabriel that he's Gwynn. Apparently, I haven't learned my lesson."
She gave me a hard look. "I'd hope you realize it's not the same. But now that things are going well with Gabriel, you're anxiously scanning the ground for any obstacle you could trip over."
"I--"
"You hate that. You hate fretting and worrying. You think, if it's a solid relationship, it should be smooth sailing. Like it is with Ricky."
"I don't--"
"Ricky is easy. He demands nothing of you. Expects nothing of you. You see eye to eye on most things and when you don't, you accommodate each other, effortlessly. Smooth sailing. Gabriel, on the other hand, is a wild ride through stormy waters, both exhilarating and exhausting."
"Yes." That was all I said, all I could say. Yes.
"I wish I could tell you it'll get better. But Gabriel will never be Ricky. I would also rather he didn't find out about Patrick. The problem, though, is that he will eventually, and it's better coming from someone who cares about him."
I sipped my tea. "Ioan almost let it slip. Patrick makes sly comments, and I'm sure he's always done that because it amuses him, but now I react when he does. Gabriel is going to figure it out. It apparently wasn't exactly a well-kept secret. It just wasn't important at the time. He wasn't important."
Rose was quiet for a minute. Then she said, "I could tell him, but I really think it's better coming from you. He's not going to run, Liv. At least, not far and not for long. You know that now. As hard as it was the last time, it was only Gabriel retreating temporarily."
"Behind his wall."
"Yes."
"Which I can climb, but I'm never going to knock down."
"Yes. I'm sorry."
"No, I know that. I've always known--"
The front door opened. Rose called, "Gabriel?"
"Do you need more time with Olivia?" he replied, his voice echoing from the hall.
She glanced at me. I shook my head, and she said, "No, come in and join her for tea while I start dinner."
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Gabriel and I were in the kitchen, washing dishes while Rose met with a client. We'd almost finished when he said, "I have a question, one for which the answer may be obvious to most, but I am going to ask it anyway."
"Shoot."
"It's about gifts."
"Abilities, you mean?"
He set a plate in the drying rack. "No, presents. There are times when a gift may be considered a presumption. For example, giving someone a pet."
"Yeah, unless they ask for it, that's never a good idea."
He paused in washing another plate. "So if the giver is not certain that the gift will be well received, it shouldn't be offered, no matter how pure the intentions."
"Not if that gift requires paper training."
"A poor example, then. I mean a gift that is given with all good intentions, knowing there is a chance it will seem presumptuous. Perhaps if the recipient has already declined the gift, but the giver believes it is actually desired."
"You do realize you're talking in riddles, right? I need concrete, Gabriel. Is this something for Rose? Tell me what it is, and I'll give you my advice."