I don’t regret my choices, but I hate that my father probably revels in my lack of wealth, because in his mind, it proves him right. By his standards anyway.
Arthur pulls onto his sloping driveway and shuts off the engine.
“Will Alex or the kids be home?” I ask, fighting shame as I imagine them reading about their uncle’s run-in with the law, which is a far worse scandal than my Birthday Brunch rebellion at their grandparents’ house.
“No, they’re all at school,” Arthur replies, “and Alex is with her mom.”
I realize I don’t even know what his children are doing, what schools they’re attending. “You’ll have to catch me up on everything,” I say.
“Sure,” he coolly replies as he gets out of the car. “Come on in. I’ll fix you a drink, and we can talk.”
I slide out of the passenger seat and follow him up the steps to the impressive oak door.
Arthur hands me a glass of top-shelf Scotch whisky, which goes down as smooth as calm water. It’s exactly what I need. I sit back in the leather armchair in his office and wait for the alcohol to drown my regret.
“I’m glad you asked for me,” Arthur says. He takes a seat in the opposite leather chair. They’re a matched set in front of floor-to-ceiling bookcases staged with framed family photographs.
“I knew I had to.” I toss back the rest of the Scotch in a single gulp.
Arthur gets up, fetches the bottle from the corner of his desk, and pours me another. He sits back down and gives me a moment to relax before he clobbers me with a question.
“Can you tell me about the restaurant? And for the record, I’ve been there. Incognito. The food was fantastic. Best in the city.”
I blink a few times in surprise. “When?”
“I don’t know. A few times over the past year.”
A few times. With whom? What was the menu that night? What did you order?
“Why didn’t you let me know?” I ask. “I would have come out to say hello.”
“I didn’t want to get in your head,” he replies with insight. “I just wanted to check it out because everyone at work was talking about how great it was.”
It’s not the correct moment for me to feel flattered, but I appreciate the compliment, more than he can ever know. I only wish I could enjoy it more, but my head is elsewhere.
“In case you’re wondering,” he says, “Dad has been there too.”
And there it is—the answer to the burning question I couldn’t bring myself to ask. I didn’t even want to admit to myself that it mattered.
I swirl my whisky around in the glass. “I hope the food was good that night.”
“It was phenomenal,” Arthur tells me. “The wine pairings were spectacular, and I know because I was with him.” Arthur sips his Scotch. “He finally booked a table because his colleagues kept congratulating him. I actually enjoyed watching dear old Dad stumble and try to act like he knew what they were talking about or pretend that he had some hand in your success.”
It’s a surprise to hear my brother make fun of our father. He’s always danced to Dad’s tune, and he never once stood up for me.
“Next time you make a reservation,” I say, “let me know. I’ll come out and say hello and make sure you’re treated right.” Arthur nods, and I take another sip of my Scotch. “If there is a next time, because if anything happens to Sienna ...” My voice breaks. “I don’t know how I’ll manage anything.”
Arthur watches me intently. Then his expression grows hard and grim. “I was serious in the car when I told you that I need to know everything. You have to tell me every possible detail that the prosecutor could use against you if they start digging.”
Maybe it’s the Scotch, but I’m feeling more willing to open up to him. “What else do you want to know?”
“Are you seeing anyone?” he asks. “Having an affair?”
I flinch in my chair. “God, no!” But then I think of Martina. Sienna always felt threatened by her, and even Amanda grilled me about Martina in the car just last night. “I love my wife,” I insist. “And when would I have time for an affair? I barely have time for my kids.”
“That’s not for me to say,” Arthur replies. “So what else? Anything damaging that you can think of?”
Unfortunately, there’s plenty. “We went to Peggy’s Cove to spend time together because we have been having some relationship problems,” I confess, “and Sienna went to see a lawyer about a legal separation. But she didn’t follow through with anything.”
