“Did you ask Tabitha?” I kept my attitude even and calm. I knew as the conversation escalated, any niceness I had would vanish.
He puffed out a cloud of smoke. “Arlene tells me you left after you came to my office. I take it you overheard my conversation.”
I rocked in the chair. “Bits and pieces.”
The overpowering hum of the crickets sang around us as a warm breeze hung in the air. The sun had gone down an hour ago, and the only light illuminating my father’s hard profile was the glow coming from the long window behind us.
He continued to toke on his cigar, rocking in his chair. “I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life, Haven, but you were never one of them.”
My head whipped left as if I were watching a horror movie. I had so much to say and nothing to say, which was crazy.
He puffed and rocked. “I sent you to boarding school so you didn’t have to put up with public scrutiny as I went into politics. I like you home. I want you to live here and not in a dorm room, and not because of my threats, but because I’m your father and I want us to have a relationship.”
I was stymied. “So why use threats? Why couldn’t you ask me nicely or explain your feelings? Why treat me like one of your minions? And why all of a sudden do you want to have a relationship?”
He stopped rocking and regarded me. “First, you were dead set on living in the dorms, and I didn’t want to take that away from you. I was your age once, and I wanted that college experience too. And you’re right. I have been treating you like you work for me. I’m sorry for that. Ever since your mom died, I haven’t been one to talk about feelings, but maybe it’s time I start.” He inhaled. “Believe it or not, Arlene made me realize that if I keep treating you like someone on my campaign, then I would lose you.”
Maybe there was hope for Arlene yet. Still, his admission of his feelings was nice, but the bigger issue was Lorna Sims.
“You will lose me, Daddy, if you tell me who I can and cannot date. So the next questions are why do you have two women taking photos of me? Why are you more interested in pleasing them than your own daughter? And why throw Ryker into the mix? He’s done nothing to you.”
He flicked cigar ash into a tray on the table between us and set his green gaze on me. “Because Lorna Sims is prepared to release information about me that, if it got out, could ruin me.”
“Your affair?”
“Partly.”
“You mean she has something else on you? What?”
Regret washed over him. “I’m not prepared to discuss the details except to say that Lorna thinks she has something else on me other than the affair, and whether it’s true or not, I’ll have to deal with public perception. Look, whatever happens between now and the election, I want you to know that I do love you.”
My mouth hit the arm of the rocker. It had been years since he’d told me that, and while I was elated that he was sharing how he felt, I was concerned that he was in trouble. Sure, Ryker was right. My father’s actions were his own, and he would have to atone for his mistakes, but he was my father, my blood, my family, and I felt I needed to help if I could. The only way I knew how was to live at home for the time being. Maybe he and I could sew the pieces of our relationship back together.
It was my turn to put my cards on the table. “Daddy, I like Ryker a lot. He’s a great guy. He has a big heart, and I’m going to tell him how I feel. If he feels the same way, then he’ll be around more.”
He harrumphed. “I see a lot of me in him.”
That wasn’t a bad thing, although Ryker didn’t strike me as a guy who would cheat. He also had a bigger heart than my dad, although my dad’s heart had been ripped out when my mom died. So I should cut him some slack.
“Please tell me what else Lorna thinks she has on you.”
“Haven, the less you know, the better.” He sounded worried.
“Does Arlene know about your affair?”
He nodded. “She does. My affair with Lorna has been over with for a while now. Aside from the Simses, Arlene, and now you, no one knows about it. I would like to keep it that way.”
I wasn’t sure marital affairs ever stayed hidden. But my lips were sealed.
“Is your marriage okay?” Not that I cared one way or the other.
“Arlene is a strong woman, and I love her. We’re working through things. That’s all you need to know. Would you do me one more favor?” he asked nicely. “Can you and Ryker keep a low profile out of the public eye until after the election?”
Irritation crawled up my throat because he wouldn’t tell me what else Lorna might have on him.
His big hand landed on mine. “Can you, honey?”
Honey?He hadn’t called me that since I was ten. If it weren’t for the loud music of the crickets, I would have thought I was on some other planet. Plus, he’d seemed to come to terms with Ryker and me. For sure, I was in an alternate universe.
