“Just a minute.” She tapped a few keys on her computer before lifting the phone receiver. After a few moments, she spoke. “Your 9:30 appointment is here, sir.” She hung up, and then directed her attention back to us. “Just down the hall over there. Mr. Bishop’s office is at the end.” She pointed with a pen to the right. “He’s expecting you.”
“Thanks.” I waved nervously as Caleb grabbed my hand and pulled us toward the door. “Thanks,” I whispered to him as he held the door for me. I shuffled down the carpeted hallway until I came to yet another glass door.
Alex Bishop had a corner office. It was all glass, and he was sitting behind his desk when we reached the door. He hadn’t seen me yet, so I took the opportunity to observe him. He had dark hair that flopped over his forehead. A pair of wire-rimmed glasses were perched on his nose. His tailored suit fit him like a glove, and his shirt was open at the top. He was tapping away, but then must have heard something to make him look up. His head lifted, and our eyes met. He smiled, and motioned for us to come in. It took me a minute to react. I couldn’t help but stare. I’d been wondering if I looked like him. I knew I favored my mom, at least that’s what everyone told me growing up, but I could see myself in him too. His lip curled up on one side when he smiled, just like me, and the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled looked like me too.
Caleb held the door as I stepped in. “Hi.” I smiled. I wasn’t sure what to say.
“You’re my 9:30?” He seemed confused. “Are you an intern?” He stood and held his hand out to shake. He was taller than I expected and had a lean build.
“No.” I pressed my lips together. This was the moment I’d been waiting for, and I couldn’t think of anything to say.
“It’s more of a social call.” Caleb jumped in. “Her mom used to live here. We came out to see some of the places that she frequented, and your name came up. Apparently, you used to work with her.” Both of them sat, and I awkwardly fidgeted.
“Oh,” Alex smiled. “I see.” He seemed confused still but open to talking with us.
“You gonna sit, Riley?” Caleb pointed to the other chair. I lowered myself onto the cushion, but continued to stare. This man had haunted me for days now, and it was like I couldn’t get enough.
“So, who is your mom?” Alex folded his hands in front of him and directed his attention to me. He seemed genuinely intrigued.
“Her name was Angela Walker. She’s married now, but that’s what she went by when she lived here.” A look of shock flashed across Alex’s face, but he hid it quickly.
“Wow. I haven’t heard that name in nearly twenty years. Angela and I worked together back when we finished college. I always wondered what happened to her.” He leaned back in his chair. “I don’t know what I could really tell you about her though. We really didn’t know each other that well.”
To say I was shocked when he said those words would have been an understatement. This man fathered a child with my mom. How could he say he didn’t know her that well?
“Oh,” I crossed my legs as I matched his position. “She said you two were close.”
“I mean, we hung out after work and stuff, but I don’t think we were any closer than she would have been with anyone else who worked with us.” His lips twisted.
“Maybe you could show us?” I wanted to spend time with him. I wanted to tell him who I was, but the longer he talked, the angrier I got. He was lying to me, and why?
“Let me check my schedule.” He clicked his keyboard a few times and scratched his forehead. “I could maybe squeeze you in tomorrow night. I have a meeting scheduled for six. When I’m finished with that client, and could meet for a little bit. I just don’t know what I can tell you about her that you don’t already know.” He gripped the back of his neck. It looked as if he was getting flustered and sweating a little.
“Ok, great.” I smiled. “I can’t wait to tell my mom that we found you.” I stood. “I know you’re really busy, so we’ll get out of your way, but I look forward to tomorrow night.” I scurried out the door, leaving Caleb to close it behind us. I wasn’t sure how to feel about everything that just happened, but I was telling the truth when I said I was looking forward to tomorrow night.
“Mr. Bishop will meet you at Jerry’s Pub at seven.” The lady at the front desk called out as we headed for the door.
“Thank you.” I waved as I almost skipped to the elevator. “That went better than I thought.” I grinned as Caleb hit the call button.
Caleb smiled quickly, but then it dropped when he thought I wasn’t looking. I didn’t understand why, but at the moment I was too excited to care.
Chapter 20Riley
“Why do you think he lied to me?” I was currently pacing our hotel room as Caleb attempted to watch baseball on TV.
“I don’t know.” He craned his neck to look around me. “You should sit down and relax. You’re going to drive yourself crazy doing this.”
“I can’t relax. I keep thinking about the way he looked at me. He had to know that I’m his. I mean the timing, and I look just like him.” I threw my hands in the air. “Well, I look like my mom, but I can see him in me too.”
