Page 58 of The Secret to a Southern Wedding

“Telling her everything proves she doesn’t have to worry. Keeping everything to yourself only makes things harder on her if she finds out. Keeping quiet makes it look like you’re hiding something.”

“I’m not hiding anything. You know that.”

“I know you never hurt Mom. I never once thought you did, but keeping the entire story a secret won’t help you with Ms. Kemp. Don’t give her a reason to doubt you.”

“Why would she doubt me? I care about Linda, and I want to start the next chapter of my life with her. Why can’t you see that I’m doing what’s best for both of us. I’m protecting her.”

“Are you protecting her or are you protecting yourself? I’ve always supported you, but right now it seems like you’re pretending what happened after Mom died didn’t happen to avoid seeing doubt in Linda’s eyes.”

Preston pointed at Cyril. “You saying she’s got reason to doubt me?” His voice was tight.

“If you don’t trust her with the truth, then yes.”

“Out of everyone I thought you had my back.”

Cyril frowned, surprised by the hurt in his dad’s voice. “I do have your back. If anyone has supported you through everything it’s me. I’m trying to help you out now by telling you that getting this out of the way sooner rather than later is for the best.”

“No, you’re saying you don’t think I know what I’m doing.”

“Honestly, I don’t. I don’t know why you’re trying so hard not to say anything.”

His dad threw down the toast. “Because I can’t take another loss. I lost your mother and it almost killed me. I didn’t think I’d be able to start over, but I have. I don’t want to bring in the messed-up stuff from the past to ruin what I’ve got now. If you don’t understand that, then you don’t want to help me.”

Cyril tried to tamp down his frustration. He waited a few seconds to calm himself before responding. “All I’ve done is try to help you. I’ve tried to convince Imani that you’re the right person for her mom. I’ve even given up—” He cut off. He wasn’t going to say anything about giving up on his feelings for Imani.

“Nah, you say you support me, but you aren’t giving me time to handle this.” His dad stood up from the table.

Cyril followed suit. He wasn’t going to back down on this. “You’ve got to handle it before the wedding. If you don’t tell her then I will.”

“What?”

“You heard me. You’ve got until the wedding. I don’t want to see Ms. Kemp or Imani blindsided. You tell her before I do.”

His dad’s jaw dropped, and Cyril walked out before his dad could say anything else.

Cyril was so frustrated by the talk with his dad that he knew if he went to the bar, he would be no good for anyone. He changed into a pair of basketball shorts and a T-shirt and drove to the mini park near his side of town. He’d spend an hour or so running the track to get the tension and frustration out before going home to shower and get ready to work that afternoon.

He couldn’t believe his dad was not only doubling down on not telling Ms. Kemp about the investigation, but that he would accuse Cyril of not supporting him. Cyril had done nothing but stand by his dad from the moment their lives were turned upside down. When everyone else doubted his dad, Cyril’s trust hadn’t wavered. He didn’t understand why Preston refused to see that being honest would make things easier rather than make it harder. Not only that, but Imani wouldn’t want anything to do with either of them. The thought of her being hurt by them caused a pressure in his chest that wasn’t there before.

He didn’t want to deceive Imani. He didn’t want her to think less of him or his dad. In fact, he wanted her to see she could trust both of them, but more importantly that she could trust him. That he wasn’t like her father, and wouldn’t keep secrets. Doing that meant also going against his father’s wishes. Cyril didn’t agree with his dad, but he also didn’t want to go against his word. He’d given his dad until the wedding before saying anything.

Several guys played basketball on the court at the park while Cyril ran laps. When he’d first started his run, he’d been too focused on his thoughts to pay much attention to them. In his last few laps, he noticed they weren’t young guys like he’d assumed. After his final lap the men were walking from the court toward the picnic area. He recognized Brian along with the high school football coach, Quinton Evans, and a few other guys from around town.

Brian threw up a hand in acknowledgement as Cyril neared. He stopped running when Brian waved for Cyril to come over. Quinton waited with Brian.

“I didn’t know you played out here,” Cyril said.

Brian wiped sweat from his face with a towel. “Not often, but every once in a while I come out to get a little exercise. You run out here?”

Cyril placed his hands on his hips and slowed his breathing from the run. “Sometimes. I don’t live too far away. I usually run on the treadmill at the house, but today I needed to get out.” He looked at Quinton. “Coach Q, what are you doing out here? Isn’t it a school day?”

Quinton grinned and shook his head. He was about Cyril’s height, with dark skin and a muscular build. From what Cyril understood he was not only the school’s football coach, but a former college and short-term professional player. “Not today. District-wide holiday. I decided to meet up with Brian instead.”

“I didn’t realize guys my age balled out here,” Cyril said. Every time he passed by on weekends, he noticed mostly teenagers. His knees were not up to the challenge of playing basketball with boys eighteen and younger.

Brian draped the towel around his neck and held onto the ends. “We have pickup games some Sunday mornings. Today we took advantage of the school holiday and came out before the kids. You should join us some Sunday.”

Quinton eyed Cyril with a half smile. “You any good?”

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