Page 71 of Single Mom's Secret Diary
Climbing to my father’s porch, I knock before going in. Charlie is sprawled across the couch playing a video game, and Dad is in his favorite place—the kitchen. The moment he sees me, he’s heading my way.
It takes less than a minute for his big arms to surround me. I sag against him.
“Let me make you something,bambina. And we talk.”
I nod into his chest, and he rocks me for another minute before he guides me to a stool at his bar counter. I used to sit here as a kid to watch him bake, to taste and refine his recipes with him. It was our spot, will always be our spot.
It puts a small smile on my face to know that I’ll always have this with my dad.
He pulls free a few cannoli shells from his oven, already fried to a golden perfection. The ingredients for a filling materialize in batches—ricotta and mascarpone cheese, an orange and a lemon, sugar and a zester, vanilla and mini dark chocolate chips.
Watching him scoop, pour, zest and mix has my mouth watering. He fills his piping bag and raises his brow at me.
I sigh. “Don’t I get to taste it before I get the inquiring Dad face?”
He fills a shell, hands it over, and waves for me to go ahead and take my first bite. I do. I’m not shameless enough to turn down the offering. It’s sweet and creamy, the flavors amplified in a way I’m not used to, but all the more tasty.
I eat a lot of sweets, but I’ve always been a savory girl. I hope my palate isn’t still having strange side effects from the poisoning. It really wasn’t so long ago, even though it feels like it.
When I open my eyes, Dad’s face is more indulgent. “Tell me what happened.”
I nod and slowly unravel the story for him. He knows most of the important parts about Ezra, Wyatt, and Ryder. That we’re mixing business with pleasure. That Ezra is Charlie’s dad, and what happened way back then. About my trust issues.
But I didn’t ever tell him about Laurel or that I’d been accused of business espionage, leaking confidential formulas to competitors. That my movements in the lab were restricted. How that hadn’t kept me safe enough to not get poisoned.
Now, I have today to add to it all. The second accusation hurt worse than the first. Especially after I almost died and still came back to work.
“Honestly, if I were going to steal and sell the formula, I never would have confirmed which one it was for Wyatt. I would have kept my mouth shut and gone on my way.”
Dad laughs and fills the last two cannoli shells, putting all but one in the fridge to set up completely. “You were always too smart and assertive for your own good. Too honest.”
I make a noncommittal noise. “I’m the most obvious suspect. I’d be stupid to sell it. But maybe they think I’m stupid.”
“Avery.” The way Dad’s voice lowers has me putting up my defenses. I know this is going to be a hard blow. “You know better. There’s no way those three think you’re stupid.”
“They think I’m stupid enough to let them hide behind their board votes. I didn’t tell you the best part.” My cackle is a bit too loud, and Charlie peers over the couch at me. I blow him a kiss, and he turns back to the TV.
“That woman, Laurel, vandalized my office door. They fired her pretty much on the spot and didn’t involve the board.”
“Vandalized how?” Dad’s eyes are dark with violence.
I wave my hand away. “Juvenile shit. It’s fine, really. Nothing worse than what she said to my face. That’s not the point.”
“What is your point?” He chews slowly on another bite of cannoli.
“Why didn’t they tell me any of this when it happened? Why did they vote with the board without even giving me a chance to defend myself? Why didn’ttheydefend me? Why didn’t I hear about the leak when it happened instead of this morning when I got to work? That’s my project, too.” Tears burn in the back of my eyes, and I blink the wetness away with a few quick moves.
I hate it when people keep things from me. Yes, I’m a hypocrite. But this is a lot. It’s more recent. And I didn’t waitthat longto tell Ezra.
And that was mostly due to shock, fear, and a lack of trust.
Here we are again.
Dad smiles at me sadly. “Should you not give them the benefit of the doubt?”
“Why? They didn’t give it to me.”
I don’t understand why. That’s what makes it hurt so much. Why I stormed out of there like I did. Why it broke my heart when they let me.
