Then Cara Tucker had entered the picture.
The best he could do at this point was convince Natalie to let him store the later journals until she and the professor were ready for them. Hopefully, they never would be if the translation project hit enough snags.
And down the road, no one who would care about any secrets they held. Secretshewouldn’t care about under normal circumstances. What was past was past ... except in certain realms, where the past could be exploited and used against an opponent.
It was a dirty way to play, but it was all part of the game these days.
“What time did Dan say he was going to call?”
At Becky’s question, he refocused. “About four if he can manage it. He’s got another dinner to attend tonight, and he expected it to run too late for him to call afterward. At thisrate, our grandchildren are going to forget what their father looks like.”
“I know. He’s been meeting himself coming and going lately.”
“Goes with the territory. It’s in his genes.”
“It wasn’t in yours. Not that you don’t work hard, but you had different aspirations.”
“That particular gene must have skipped a generation.”
“Can I say I’m glad?”
“Yes. And I am too.” Especially now. “But if that’s what Dan wants, we have to help and support him.”
“I know. Including that interview he wants us to do with the St. Louis paper.” Becky wrinkled her nose.
“It may not be too bad.” Certainly not as bad as trying to deal with what could turn out to be explosive secrets.
It was a shame he couldn’t just be upfront with Natalie. Explain his concerns. They were friends, and she’d always been the soul of discretion.
Yet shehadpromised her father she’d translate the journals, and she wasn’t going to let this opportunity with the professor slip away. Not that she would tell the world about whatever they found. But Cara Tucker was a wild card. Who knew what she would do with any damaging information they might come across?
“That’s not what your expression says.” Becky leaned over and twined her fingers with his. “You’re as nervous about the interview as I am, aren’t you?”
“I’ll admit I’d rather not do it.”
“What if we say something wrong?”
“There’s nothing wrong to say. Dan is a fine young man. There are no dark secrets in his life.”
That’s why no dark secrets from the past should be used to sully his background and reputation.
Nor would they be.
All he had to do was convince Natalie to let him take the last few journals for safekeeping so she and the professor couldn’t peek ahead. And before they got to those—ifthey got to them—maybe those final journals would mysteriously disappear. Or have water or fire damage. A regrettable loss to be sure, but not sufficient to undermine the value of the work Natalie and the professor were doing to preserve Paw Paw French.
Paul took a slow sip of his lemonade, the peaceful view at odds with the roiling in his stomach.
He liked Natalie, and the professor appeared to be a nice person too. He meant no one any ill will.
But in the end, his son came first.
AS HISCELL VIBRATEDin his pocket, Brad eased onto the edge of the narrow road, pulled out the phone, and skimmed the screen.
Brian.
No surprise. His brother would never let this day pass without reaching out, as Mom and Dad had earlier.
He set the brake and pressed talk. “Hey. Mom and Dad beat you this year.” He tried without much success to inject a teasing note into his voice.
