Since it was a good opening, I pulled the papers out of my purse and passed them over. “Well then maybe this can keep you busy for a little bit.”
Or longer. If he had a project, he’d be less likely to want to go to work and I wouldn’t worry as much about his safety.
My father took the papers and scanned them. He mumbled to himself a few times and then pulled his glasses from his pocket and continued to look.
I took the moment to walk into his kitchen and take out fish from the freezer. I also tossed a salad then cut up an apple.
When I heard the creak of floorboards, I looked up and found him standing in the doorway.
“Are you certain this is accurate?” he asked.
“As far as we can tell.”
His eyes dropped to the papers and then came back up to mine. “But this is… Okay, I know you’re trying not to betray a confidence, but I need to know why you're so invested in this.”
I’d wanted Declan to tell him the truth about the effects the serum had had on him. But I knew in my heart that Declan wouldn’t mind if I said a few things. It also might help my father’s perspective.
At my hesitation, my dad asked, “Is it because of Declan?”
I nodded and let him ask his questions. It was easier if I was just agreeing or disagreeing than flat out telling him all of Declan’s secrets.
“Is the serum doing something to him?”
I swallowed and nodded again. “Yes. He’s been experiencing side effects.”
“Serious ones?”
I choked on a humorous laugh. “You could say that.”
“What kind of side effects?”
“Unusual ones. Ones you’d probably have to see for yourself to believe.”
My father scratched his chin. “I see. And you’re involved because…? I understand you wanted to find out what had happened with me, but now that you know his secret or whatever is going on and I’m awake, there’s got to be something else.”
“I’ve been able to spend some time with him, and he’s opened up to me about the serum and what it did to him. What it’s still doing to him. And I…”
My dad sighed and gave me a gentle smile. “You’re in love with him.”
Chapter 28
My breath caught. The longer I didn’t say anything the more the silence said. My dad was right, I could feel it in my heart.
My dad gestured to the living room. “Come on, let’s talk for a minute. And bring that apple.”
I carried the apple with me to the living room and passed it to him before I sat on the couch.
“It’s a strange feeling, isn’t it?” he asked me.
“It is. I feel like I’ve felt this before, but it’s different.”
It was cryptic, I knew, but my dad seemed to understand. “It’s different with each person, I think. I’d thought I felt love with someone before your mom. But that was just lust, maybe a tiny bit of infatuation. I mean, she was beautiful and confident and…” He shook his head. “Anyway, when I met your mom, it was similar but stronger. So strong, I thought something was wrong with me. I mean, we’re analytical people, Royal. We think with our heads most of the time instead of with our hearts. So if our hearts get involved like that, it’s strong. It almost felt like an obsession. Which confused me.”
I nodded. I understood completely. I couldn’t seem to walk away from Declan. I couldn’t seem to think about anything else. The more I had him, the more I wanted him. The more time I spent with him the more time I wanted. It was insane.
“So what did you do?” I asked.
“I talked to my mom.” He gave a wry smile. “I know, but she was a poet and read all that Jane Austen stuff and she was very in touch with her own emotions. And you know what she told me?
“What?”
“That it was perfectly normal. And that what I was feeling wasn’t an obsession. It was love.”
Love. Declan had already told me that he loved me. And I had no idea how he knew. He seemed goal-oriented and focused just like I was. But somehow, he’d recognize those feelings far before I had. And he was embracing them.
I was fighting them.
“Tell me this,” my dad said. “Is he a good man?”
“He is.”
“Do you trust him?”
“I do. Completely.”
“Then that’s all that needs to be said for now.” He stood again, setting aside the papers and the apple. “Just don't be afraid to acknowledge what’s in your heart.”
“Who’s the poet now?” I asked, standing as well.
He waved toward the door, dismissing my comment. “Yeah yeah, why don’t you get on out of here so I can figure out what all this means?”
“You sure you don’t want me to stay longer? I can make you dinner or keep you company.”
He shook his head. “I’ll figure it out. I want to look over those papers for a bit.”
I recognized the look on his face, one I was sure Declan saw on mine frequently. One that said I had a riddle that needed to be solved.
“All right,” I told him.
I hugged him and stepped out the door. Another driver, Davis, was here now. He hurried up the walk to meet me and then accompanied me to the car, opening the back door for me so I could get in.
“Ready to go?” he asked.
“Can you give me a
