Page 67 of Truth or More Truth
“Maybe,” Randall mutters.
“Okay, fine.” Wendy points a yellow fry at me. “But you can’t tell Bobby we let this slip, even if we didn’t technically spill any beans.”
“Just tell me.”
“You’ll understand when you talk to him, but no, I don’t think he’d be able to move here.”
I groan. “The man just needs to tell me what’s going on.”
“We know.” Randall takes a sip of his beer. “We’ve all told him. Multiple times.”
“He’s being a chicken.” Wendy picks up two fries and holds them in front of her mouth in what I assume she’s pretending is a beak. “Bawk-bawk!”
twenty-eight
. . .
I’m being an absolute chicken, and I hate that. I’m not usually afraid of anything other than something terrible happening to my daughter, but I’m scared to tell Melissa about Kelli and Nanette. It’s been a week since the wedding, and I know she deserves an explanation from me.
After what she said about not looking forward to being the parent of a teenager, I’m even more hesitant to tell her. To Melissa, that was a throwaway thought that most people have before they’re parents of teenagers. Actually, it’s a thought parents of teenagers have on a daily basis, if I’m honest. But what she said stuck with me. Would it even be fair of me to ask someone her age to consider being the instant parent of a thirteen-year-old? It hasn’t even been a decade since she was a teen herself. Not that I think she’d be a bad parent or that Kelli wouldn’t love her, but that’s not the point.
I keep telling myself I need to break things off with Melissa before we really start anything, but I don’t think I can make myself do it. It’s been a long time since I’ve been interested in getting to know and spending time with a woman, and I’m hesitant to give that up. I should probably talk to one of my friends about this, but I know what they’ll say—to go for it. Last night I was so desperate I almost talked to Wendy about it on the phone, but even though I trust that she wouldn’t tell Melissa any detailsof that conversation now, I can’t guarantee she wouldn’t let something slip down the road, and I don’t need Melissa to ever know how unsure I am about this situation.
“Ready to go see Mom?” Kelli stands in my home office doorway decked out in a New Kids on the Block T-shirt and stonewashed jeans rolled up at the hem above her bright white Keds.
I pull my wallet and keys out of my desk drawer and join my daughter at the door. She wraps her arms around me, and I squeeze her tightly, amazed by how she’s less than a foot shorter than me now.
“You think the doctor will tell us she can go home tomorrow, like she thought yesterday?” Kelli asks as she leads the way through the house toward the garage.
I nod. “I hope so.”
“I’m ready for her to be home. Opal’s coming, right?”
“Yes.” I open the passenger door to my black BMW and usher Kelli inside. “She’s moving her stuff in this afternoon and will stay as long as we need her.”
“Kell, why don’t you go get your dad a snack from the cafeteria? He’s acting bossier than usual, and I’m hoping that’s just because he’s hungry.”
Kelli laughs at her mom’s observation and waves her hand toward me in the universal “hand over the money” motion. I pull a few bills out of my wallet and slap them onto her palm.
“Thanks, Daddy.” Kelli kisses my cheek and rushes out of the hospital room.
“You love it when she still calls you Daddy, don’t you?” Nanette gives me a fond look.
My chest squeezes. “I do, but it rarely happens anymore—usually only when she wants something from me. I can’t believe she’s a teenager. When did that happen?”
“Overnight, it seems.” Her face breaks out into a sly grin. “Now, before she gets back, tell me about this woman youmentioned the other day. And don’t hold back. I want to know everything.”
I guess Nanette is the one I’m talking to about this, and I can’t say I’m upset about it. Since she doesn’t know Melissa, she might be the best person to give me an unbiased opinion.
“Her name is Melissa, and she’s friends with the Hamiltons. She grew up with Ash and Randall, and she’s close friends with Wendy and Leslie. And she works for the Cubs, so she also has that connection to them and to Diego.”
“And to you. I’m guessing she was in the wedding, then?”
“Yeah, both of the Hamilton weddings. I haven’t spent much time with her … well, I hadn’t until last week. I’m sure Kelli told you my flight from Chicago to Little Rock was cancelled. Melissa was also booked on that flight.” I tell her about the drive, the shared motel bed in Illinois, our conversations on the road, and even what happened at the wedding reception.
Nanette cocks her head to the side. “There’s a lot to unpack there, but there’s also something you’re not telling me. Don’t get me wrong, you’ve told me a lot more than I thought you would, but you’re holding back. What is it?”
I groan. “How do you know me so well?”
