Page 157 of One Night Only
“Responsibilities,” I interrupt. “She knew what she was doing was wrong and she did it anyway.”
“She wasn’t much older than you are now when it happened,” Dad says. “Do you feel like you know everything?”
“I know better than that.”
“Maybe,” he says. “But she didn’t. She wasn’t happy so she sought happiness where she could. I can’t blame her for wanting that.”
“But she broke your heart,” I say, my voice very small to my ears.
“She did,” he says. “But it healed.”
“But it didn’t,” I say, trying to make him see. “You haven’t been with anyone since mom. You don’t date, you don’t…” I trail off at his look of surprise.
A short silence fills the truck as he struggles to speak. When he does, he almost looks amused.
“You think I don’t date?”
“Iknowyou don’t.”
“It took me a few years,” he admits. “Not until after you left for college. I was too busy trying to raise a moody teenager. But once you were gone, I put myself back out there.”
My mind is blank with shock. “But…you never said anything about dating. You never told me.”
“Yes, I did.”
“When?”
“I didn’t tell you about every time I took a woman to dinner, but I told you about one or two when it was serious. You met Julia, didn’t you?”
Julia? I have vague memories of meeting a bubbly, petite woman at his birthday party one year. “Your physiotherapist?”
“I said she wasaphysiotherapist. Not mine.”
“You were dating her?”
“For a few months,” he nods. “It didn’t work out.”
“Who else?” I demand, feeling faint. “Who…Clem?” I stare at him, open-mouthed. How many times had I seen her on our video calls the past few months? “Are you dating ourneighbor?”
“We’re taking things slow.”
“Oh my God!”
“I thought you knew this was happening,” he says mildly. “She had dinner with us last time you were home.”
“Because she’s your friend!” I splutter. “Because…” I lean back against the seat. “Oh my God, I’m an idiot.”
“I’m beginning to think so.”
“I just thought…I didn’t think,” I say. “Maybe I didn’t want you to…”
“It’s not so hard to understand,” he says quietly.
“Is there anything else I’ve blocked out?” I ask. “The kid who mows your lawn isn’t my half-brother is he?”
“Not that I’m aware of.”
I groan and reach behind me for a snack.
