“Probably not,” I said, taking a sip of my water. “They’re dead.”
Taylor blanched. “My condolences.”
I waved it away. “Happened when I was a teenager. But thank you.”
“She was taken in by her best friend’s family,” Darren said, sounding irritated. I didn’t think it was toward me. “They took good care of her in the last couple years of high school.”
“That they did,” I said, trying to keep my voice even. I wondered why I kept being surprised when Darren showed he paid attention more than I thought he did. “He’s like my brother and his parents are my parents. I was very lucky. To have people there for me when I needed them the most.”
The dig went right over Taylor’s head. “Family is good to have,” he said. “Lord only knows. I lost my wife last year, so I can appreciate the toll it takes on a person.”
“I’m very sorry for your loss,” I said. And I was. She might not have been the best mother possible, but she’d redeemed herself toward the end. Paul had told me what she’d said about Vince in the hospital when he’d gone to visit her. I just wished Vince had gotten to know that much, much sooner. “But you still have family, right? Darren here. And Darren told me you have another son?”
Taylor nodded. “Yes. Vincent.” I almost missed the barely there glance he gave Darren at the words other son.
“That’s right,” I said. “At least you have him too.”
“Of course. They’ve both been instrumental in the healing process.” How easily I could point out that they didn’t have the same mothers or that Vince hadn’t seen his father in months. But I wasn’t here to cause trouble. I wasn’t here to berate Taylor. I was here to make sure he didn’t do anything to Darren. If he did, then all bets were off.
Oh. And I was also here to do something about the bar.
Right. The bar. Couldn’t forget about the bar. That was the real reason I was here, after all.
“Well, I’m glad to hear that,” I said. “But let’s move on to lighter things. No need to speak of sad things on such a beautiful day.”
“Indeed,” Taylor said. “What about you two? How did you meet?”
“Through friends,” Darren said, jaw tensed, taking over like he knew I was thinking of saying something ridiculous like how Darren saved me from a horde of rampaging rabid beavers in Los Cabos. Not that I would have said anything like that, of course. Everyone knows there are no beavers in Los Cabos. That would just be preposterous.
“Oh? And when was that?”
“In June,” Darren said. Simple and to the point.
And boring.
“How lovely. And you’ve been together all this time?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, Dare,” I said with a laugh. “No need to be all monosyllabic. It really is a very interesting story how we met.”
“One I’m sure my father doesn’t have time to hear,” Darren said pointedly.
“I’ve got plenty of time,” Taylor said.
“He’s got plenty of time,” I said as I cocked my head at Darren.
“If this is going to be like the story you told our friends, I don’t think he’ll be able to appreciate your more… subtle nuances.”
“Subtle?” I asked. “Darling, there is nothing subtle about me.”
“An outspoken woman,” Taylor said. “She reminds me of Nancy Reagan. Good stock.”
That… was not the look I was going for. I didn’t know whether or not I should be offended.
“Dad,” Darren warned. “Don’t even start.”
Taylor ignored him. “What is your surname?” he asked. “You seem well educated.”