“You didn’t—”
He glared.
I sighed. “Yeah, okay, you did.”
“And I’m sorry for that.”
“Is this because he came home to take care of me? Was I the cause of the heartache?”
“No.” Anderson and I said the word at the same time.
She rolled her eyes.
“No,” Anderson reiterated. “I was happy to make the choice. Don’t ever doubt that. Things might’ve been…unorthodox. And I miss your mother a lot—”
“She was a drug addict.” Adele took a bite of cake.
Anderson jerked, as if struck. “I never—”
“Grandma told me. Just before she died. She wanted to make certain I understood what you’d done. What you’d sacrificed. She also wanted to warn me that drugs were never the way out. I think, because she saw me as sensitive, that I might fall into that trap.”
“Trap?” I asked the question since Anderson was still a little pale.
“Drugs. Drinking. Random sex with strangers.”
“Ah.” This time, Anderson spoke. “She never told me.”
“She didn’t want you to worry. You had enough going on without dealing with any crap that might come my way as a teenager and then as an adult.” She forked another piece. “I wasn’t into that stuff anyway.”
“You might when you go to university. When you’re away from home for the first time.” A bit of color had returned to his cheeks.
That reassured me.
Somewhat.
“Aunt Yvonne’s money.” She scrutinized her fork. “I’m going to study my ass off. I want to get into the optometry school—that’s one of the toughest programs in the country.”
“That’s ambitious.” I grinned. “I like your spirit.”
“And before you fret, Dad, I have a backup plan.”
“Teaching or medical school.” His even tone didn’t fool me. This was overwhelming him.
“Well, you’ll have Jarrod to keep you company. I’m off to bed. I’ll be careful in the morning.” She hopped up. She moved to her dad and pressed a kiss to his temple. “I like him.” She winked at me. Then she popped the last piece of cake in her mouth. As she chewed, she rinsed her plate and put it into the dishwasher. Then she downed the last dregs of her milk, then put the glass in the dishwasher as well. She gave a little wave and then clomped up the stairs.
I cleared my throat.
Anderson’s gaze shot to mine.
“I like her.”
He cracked a smile. “I think she liked you too.”
I placed my hand on his as it rested by his plate. “I have no expectations—”
His eyes narrowed. “Do you want this to mean something? I know it’s really soon…but I never forgot you. Never stopped wondering how you were doing. Holding myself back from calling you was hard. But I’d hurt you—or at least I thought I had. And staying away from you was the price to pay for that hurt.”
“No. I never saw it like that. I always assumed you had a reason for what you did. And, for the record, I could’ve searched you out. I could’ve made the effort. But I valued you—and your decision.”
