Then, as if that weren’t enough to knock me off my feet, a familiar voice calls out from behind me.
“Tina!”
I spin around to find Carson a few storefronts away and the worry about Dad and Wade drifts away. The relief is immediate and immense, making my knees wobble. “Carson! Oh my God, where have you been?” When he reaches me, I throw my arms around him, squeezing him tightly as the tears well up and sting my eyes. I hold him away from me, scanning his body from head to toe, taking in his too-short pants and bandaged hands with a sob. “Are you okay?”
He gives me a sad smile, knowing I’m not asking about just the hands. He swallows roughly, and nods. “I am, Tina. It’s... hard. And weird. But I’m okay.”
I choke out a relieved sob and wrap him in another hug. “I was so scared we wouldn’t see you again. When Wade came over and told me what happened, and then said a social worker had picked you up, well... I thought she’d take you away from Tuft Swallow before I could find a way to keep you here with us.”
He chuckles and fidgets, clumsily working his way out of my hug. “Come on, Tina. I have a shift today. You know I’d never no-call, no-show on you.”
My mouth drops open, and I have to fight to stop from smacking my palm into my face. I can’t believe I didn’t think of that. I’ve been running myself ragged trying to find Carson when all I had to do was wait for him to show up for his shift. I shake my head and grin. “Come on, then, kid. We’re closed today, but I can still use your help. My family showed up and I have a friend bringing a couple of people in for dinner. We need to start right away if we have any chance of making food before my mother gets back. That woman has taken over every kitchen she’s ever been in.”
And I need to talk to my father so he knows not to go home and blow Wade’s cover. Because no matter who he used to be in the past, the Wade Biddescombe of today is a decent man and a good friend.
Mom's Fried Catfish
Tina
“Hey,Wade,” I say, placing extra emphasis on his name for my dad’s benefit. “Got any news for me?”
Wade’s grateful smile tells me he’s happy for the interruption. Whatever my dad was saying to him must have been making him uncomfortable. “Not exactly, Valentina. But let’s talk about that later,” he says, tipping his head in greeting before turning to Carson, his smile widening and becoming sad all at the same time. “Carson. Good to see you, kid. How’re you doing?”
“Hey, Mr. Biddescombe.” Carson rocks back on his heels, his hands shoved deep into the pockets of his too-short jogging pants. “I’m okay, I guess.”
Mydad shoots me a confused look before darting a glance at Wade. I know he’s trying to ask me about the man’s identity, but Carson mistakes his look to be a question for him instead.
“I…uh…my parents died last night,” he says in a rush. “But they weren’t good people. And maybe I’m not a good person either, because I’m not that upset about the whole thing.”
My heart breaks to hear him say that he’s not a good person, but before I can pull him into a hug and smother him with reassurances, my dad intervenes.
My dad’s face softens, and he steps up to wrap Carson in a hug. “Even if they weren’t good people, they were your parents. However you feel about it is okay. And not being upset doesn’t make you a bad person. It makes you human.” He smooths Carson’s hair before kissing him on the top of the head. “Grieving is a very personal thing, and you get to do it however you want.”
Carson freezes at the head kiss, but sinks into the hug a moment later, and I can feel the tension seep from his shoulders.
“Hey, Dad? I know Carson appreciates the sentiment, but maybe next time we can try doing the introductions before we throw in the hugging and kissing?” I say, steering the conversation to something less depressing for now. “Carson, this is my dad, Stan Falcone. Dad, this is Carson. He works for me in the restaurant.”
Dad chuckles and releases Carson from the hug, holding a hand out for a shake. “Nice to meet you, Carson.”
Carson takes my dad’s hand. “Nice to meet you, too, sir.”
I unlock the door to Wings and Pizza and hold it open. “Carson, can you get started on some prep? I need to talk to my dad for a second.”
“I’ll come keep you company,” Wade says to Carson. “I have something I wanted to ask you.”
As soon as they’re out of earshot, my father turns to me, his eyes wide. “Do you know who that is, Tina?” He asks in a harsh whisper.
I give him a pointed look. “That’s Wade Biddescombe, Dad. The best realtor in Tuft Swallow, and my landlord and neighbor.” I point to Wade’s office next door. “As for who he used to be... well, that doesn’t matter to me. And I can only hope it doesn’t matter to you, either.”
“You can’t be serious, Tina.”
“I am so fucking serious right now, Dad.” Panic wells in my chest as I worry that my dad’s going to say something to the wrong person and Wade will pay the price. “Wade has done nothing but look out for me since I got here. If it weren’t for him charging me so little rent, my restaurant would have closed years ago. I will never forgive you if you go blabbing your mouth and get him killed.”
My dad recoils, pulling his hands to his chest as he sucks in a gasp of indignation. “I wouldnever,”he hisses, his eyes narrowing. “Stanley Falcone is no snitch.”
I shake my head, unsure of what I’m hearing. If he’s not ratting him out, why does he care if Wade Biddescombe is who he says he is? “What am I missing here?”
Dad chuckles and rolls his eyes. “Come on, Tina. Don’t you remember anything about the man I’ve obviously mistaken your friend for?” He winks, and I release a breath. He’ll keep Wade’s secret. But why? “Your friend, Wade, looks a little like someone who used to come to the old neighborhood from time to time. He disappeared several years ago, after many of his associates were arrested for their involvement in a sex trafficking ring. It seems someone didn’t agree with their treatment of children and turned them, and a lot of very damning evidence, over to the FBI.”
