Putting the cup down, Oliver grimaced. “Well, that certainly doesn’t make me feel better. Just say it, Felipe.”
“I want us to have dinner tonight with my wife.”
Chapter Twelve
Revelations
Oliver stared at hima long moment, hoping the words would make sense. Sometimes words took a moment to process, but when Felipe repeated what he said in a way that sounded like he was bracing for impact, the words stayed the same. Oliver’s mind raced. Dinner with hiswife. Felipe had awife. He had kissed a man with awifeand nearly did more. Of course, men did that all the time, but Oliver would never be complicit in betrayal. And the worst part was he had known the man for nearly ten years and never noticed he was married! Oh god, what little moral standards he had were rapidly slipping into the gutter. Felipe must have seen the sudden panic written across his face because he held up his ringless hands for quiet.
“It’s not what you think, and I’m sure you’ve heard that before, but, please, let me explain. Yes, I am married. Louisa and I got married when we were barely old enough in order to keep our families from marrying us off to other people. Louisa is like us. She is a woman who is attracted to women. She has a partner, a woman named Agatha, whom she lives with while I live at the Paranormal Society. Well, I’ve been living there more since Teresa left for college, but it’s a marriage in name and nothing more. You can ask her yourself tonight if you don’t believe me.”
“Who is Teresa?”
“My daughter.”
Oliver gaped. “You have a daughter? And she’s old enough to be in college?”
“Yes, we have a daughter.”
Covering his face with his hands, Oliver groaned. “You have a wife and a daughter together, and somehow you expect me to believe she feels nothing for you.”
“Of course Louisa feels something for me. We’re friends, we have shared a life together since we were in our teens, but it isn’t as simple as what you’re thinking, Oliver. When I say, ‘we have a daughter,’ I mean, me, Louisa,andAgatha have a daughter. I helped raise her and I love her as my own child because she is my child, but I didn’t help create her if that’s what you’re concerned about.”
“I don’t care if you like menandwomen, Felipe,” Oliver replied in a harsh whisper. “I don’t want Mrs. Galvan to stab me for kissing her husband if she thinks of you as an actual husband. I don’t understand how I didn’t know. I know I can be oblivious at times, but why did you never say anything about having a family?”
“Because I try not to mix my family up in society cases and because Louisa and I generally stay out of each other’s love life. That was the whole point of us getting married, to have enough cover to love whomever we wanted. When Agatha and Louisa had Teresa, I was happy to be her father since I never thought I would have a child. It worked out though as she still had two loving parents to dote on her while I was away on cases. When she was little, we kept things separate to keep her safe until she was old enough to decide if she wanted to be involved in the Paranormal Society. It turns out that the women in my family enjoy moving among the bohemian set, paranormal or otherwise, and I don’t. And they feel just as out of place at the Paranormal Society with me.” Releasing a sigh, Felipe stared into his cup. “Inspector Galvan and Papa feel worlds apart.”
“And yet, the person I’m looking at is Felipe to me,” Oliver said softly.
A small, tentative smile crinkled the corners of Felipe’s eyes.
“But I do see why you wanted to have this conversation in the steamer.” The panic that had knotted Oliver’s stomach loosened as he took another bite of his bagel and lox. It was hard to stay upset when eating something that good. “I think I understand. I just don’t want to be anyone’s mistress or dirty secret. It’s happened to me before, and I can’t do it again.”
Felipe’s hand gently closed over his arm. “I wouldn’t do that to you. If we go to dinner tonight, you’ll go as my guest, as my dear friend. That is, if you’re willing. I know it’s been a long day, and I’m asking a lot of you.”
He was. Oliver dreaded eating with people he didn’t know. Conversation rarely flowed freely when he was left to his own devices. In a group, he clung to Gwen’s side or disappeared after making a pointed appearance. At least this would be quiet with only a few people, but those people were Felipe’s family. He didn’t want to upset them or Felipe with his sudden muteness or strange turns of conversation. Then again, this was Felipe’s last week, and even if he wasn’t saying it, this would be a goodbye of sorts and Oliver would honor that. Would Felipe tell Louisa? Oliver wondered. If it was him, would he want the fuss of people knowing his time was limited? No, but he would probably tell Gwen. And Louisa was probably as close to a Gwen as Felipe had.
