“We can have wine in the living room,” Dad says and stands up.
“I’ll help clear up,” I say, and he and Terri say no at the same time.
I follow Dad to the living room and sit down while he wrestles with a wine bottle before he gets it open. Terri returns to the living room with three wine glasses. She hands one to each of us, and Dad pours.
“A toast?” Dad says and stands up. “To Marian, may you continue to be part of our lives.” Tears fill his eyes.
“To Marian,” Terri says. “We missed you.” She sounds sincere. Maybe she is.
“Thanks.”
I feel the same tension that I’d felt at the dining table. “Are you guys okay? I hope that my visit didn’t cause any problems.”
“Of course not,” Dad says. “How can you think that?”
“It’s not you,” Terri says. She puts the wine glass on the table with more force than necessary. “You’re family, so I don’t see why I should pretend that all’s well between your father and me.”
“Terri,” Dad says in a raised voice.
She ignores him. I feel as if I’ve entered the movie set, and no one gave me a script, so I have to wing it.
“Your father is having an affair with his new secretary,” Terri says, her voice shaky.
“I am not,” my dad says. “She’s always accusing me of having affairs with all my secretaries. I’ll be honest with you, Terri, I’m sick of it,”
Angry, accusing words fly back and forth. I’m pretty sure that my dad is not having an affair. If he were, he would say it. He’s an honest man even when he’s cheating.
Karma is a bitch. Because Terri was Dad’s secretary, she knows how it starts, and her imagination is probably tormenting her. I see it as my chance to leave. I take out my phone to text Declan.
I’m ready to go.
He responds seconds later, saying that he’s parked outside. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. I drain my wine and jump to my feet. Dad and Terri look at me in surprise.
“Why are you leaving so soon?” Terri asks.
“I have appointments early tomorrow morning,” I say.
“Oh,” my dad says and gets up.
“Thank you for having me,” I say.
“You’re welcome,” Terri and Dad both say.
Dad walks me out. “I hope we can become friends.”
“I’m sure we will,” I say cheerfully, and with a wave, I hurry to the car.
I feel as if I’ve escaped from prison. That environment is toxic, and I hope they can sort out their issues for the sake of Michelle. I kiss Declan and buckle up my seatbelt.
“Looks like it went well,” Declan says.
“It was fine and a little weird,” I tell him about Terri’s accusations.
“Poor woman,” Declan says. “She’ll spend the rest of her married life thinking every secretary is having an affair with her husband.”
“I’m finding it a little hard to be sympathetic,” I say. “She did the same thing to my mother.”
“That’s why it’s a nightmare for her,” Declan says. “Your mother called the resort when she couldn’t get hold of you. I spoke to her. She said that she and Josh will come at nine in the morning to look at the grounds.”
“So much for sleeping in,” I say.
“We’ll sleep early instead,” Declan says.
I smile. “Sounds good.” I can’t wait to snuggle up to him.
I’m glad I left Arlen and not just because of Leonard. I’d hate to be caught up in my parents’ relationships. I’d be forced to act as a therapist or referee, and I’m not interested in either of those roles.
Back at the resort, Declan and I slip out of our day clothes.
“No point in wearing anything,” Declan says. “I plan on making this a night to remember.”
My body heats up at the promise behind the words. “I second that.” I place my underclothes on a chair and slip into bed.
Declan joins me seconds later and pulls me to lie on his chest. I love his manly smells, and I inhale them as the tension in my muscles ebbs away. My mind drifts to Michelle. Lilly would have been a few years older than her. I wonder if they would have been friends.
“A penny for your thoughts?” Declan asks softly.
I inhale deeply. Thoughts of Lilly crowd my mind. She has been a secret for so long, but now I feel an urge to talk about her.
“You asked me why I called the store and the business Lilly Love …” I say.
“I did, yeah,” Declan says.
I take a deep breath. I have never talked about Lilly to anyone, not even Brooke or Jason. But I’m tired of keeping her a secret. I’m tired of feeling sad and having no one to talk about my sadness with.
“In the last year of marriage to Leonard, I got pregnant and lost her when I was five months pregnant.” There’s a catch in my voice as I speak, and I hope that I don’t burst into tears.