Page 49 of The Secret We Keep
“It’s nothing for you to worry about, curly fries.”
I hesitate, but a smile eventually pulls on my face. The moment we shared has most certainly passed, but his sentiment is still in place.
“I’m about to ruin Evie’s day.”
“What happened?”
Paddy stops and stares at me. “Her dad died not so long ago. Had it in his will that she come live with us should anything happen to him.” I must look confused because Paddy continues with, “He served in theRoyal Tank Regiment but suffered with illness the last few years of his life.”
“What was wrong with him?”
“Cancer,” Paddy says solemnly. “Evie’s a great kid. Strong,” he adds. “She ended up caring for him, something no child should have to do for their parent. It was fucking heartbreaking.”
I rub a gentle hand on his arm to comfort him. “She calls you uncle.”
Paddy smiles as we venture closer to Evie. “Yeah. We just call each other by family names. I mean, sheisfamily. Her dad was my cousin. His sister, my cousin, Lily, she’s also in the army and never around. Best thing for Evie was to come and stay with us seeing as her mother isn’t around either.”
“Evie said she never knew her?”
He looks at me, eyes wide. “She did?” He laughs to himself. “Well then, that makes you pretty special.”
“How so?”
“Because Evie doesn’t mention her mother to anybody, and I meananybody.”
My heartstrings pull tight. “Oh.”
“Guess that means she’s blindly put her trust in you.” The gentle nudge on my arm that he gives me alleviates some of the tension that had snaked between us.
Enjoying the comforting way that what he said makes me feel, I nudge him back. “You should advise her against it.”
“Not in your wildest dreams, curly fries.”
“Please, Paddy. Don’t mock me.”
His head shakes as we carry on walking. “I’m not mocking you, Morgs. Evie obviously saw in you the same thing that I see.” I mullover whether he’s waiting for me to ask my next question. Saving me from having to, however, he says, “Want to know what that is?”
“Honestly? I’m not sure.”
Unlike last time our conversation dived to greater depths, neither one looks at the other or stops to read the other’s expression.
“She probably sees someone who like her, feels alone. Someone who, although they know exactly who they are, feels lost by everything around them.”
I swallow harshly, his words hitting home too hard.
“Am I right?”
I don’t meet his eye. “So what if you are?”
“Nothing wrong with it. I guess what I mean is, if you need someone to talk to or anything, I’m here for you, Morgan.”
Yeah right. Paddy O’Keefe is there for me.
But he did try to kiss me and told me he should have been my first time. Maybe he is?
Reaching Evie, my head feels heavy. “Is something wrong?” Her perception is like no other.
“Yeah, kiddo,” Paddy begins. “Fi can’t make it to your competition tomorrow. She said she was sorry, but work called her in last minute.”
