Page 27 of Finally Home

CHAPTER 15

WREN

I don’t really think anything of my dad taking me out to eat since we used to do it all the time when I lived here, but he seems more nervous than a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. When he offers to take me to our favorite Italian spot, I get suspicious of his motives. It’s our special-occasion spot, so I feel like he might be trying to butter me up for something big.

Gino’s is the cutest little restaurant in Mount Pleasant, a booming suburb of Charleston that consists of families and people who want to live in a quiet but active community outside of the hustle and bustle of the city. I always loved coming here and wandering the different shops and restaurants with Dad when I was a kid, but it’s been ages since I’ve been. I think the last time was when we went to Gino’s for my goodbye party before I moved to Seattle.

We walk in and it’s like coming home in a weird way, and the red leather booths and checkered tablecloths lend to the cozy atmosphere. They’re not busy, so the hostess lets us choose whatever seat we’d like, and my dad leads us to a booth below a large window so we can people-watch.

Nothing has changed since I last visited. There are empty bread baskets on every table, the green cloths waiting to be filled with fresh in-house baked bread. And there are half-melted candles that litter nearly every flat surface. We’ve always come here during the day, but I’ve heard after their dinner service they light the candles, and it’s super romantic.

The owner’s wife greets us and gushes about how long it’s been since we were in, making me smile. Gino and his wife Francesca have been running this place for more than thirty years and still treat every single customer like family, which is part of why I love it so much. It was just Dad and I growing up, so coming here made it feel like we had even more family to celebrate the big moments with us.

After Francesca finishes fussing over us, she takes our orders and brings our drinks, telling us our food will be out soon. The minute she leaves, I fold my hands together and set them in front of me on the table. “Okay, spill. First the mysterious business trip you didn’t tell me about and now lunch at Gino’s? What’s going on with you, Dad?”

Color dots his cheeks as he fiddles with his straw wrapper, tearing it into tiny pieces. “I was visiting my girlfriend for a long weekend.”

I choke on my soda and launch into a coughing fit, grabbing my napkin to catch the liquid that dribbles down my chin before it stains my white tee. “I’m sorry, I must have misheard you. It sounded like you just said you were visiting your girlfriend.”

He straightens in his seat, a stubborn expression sliding into place. “That’s exactly what I said. I didn’t want to tell you until I knew it was serious because I’ve never introduced you to a woman before.”

I don’t know whether to be happy for him, angry that he kept it from me, or hurt that he feels like I’m so fragile he couldn’t tell me until now. “Wait…a serious girlfriend? How long have you been dating, exactly?”

A hint of shame flits through his eyes before he clears his throat. “That trip was to celebrate our one-year anniversary.” He cringes.

“I’m sorry, are you seriously telling me you’ve been with this woman for a year, and you didn’t tell me?!” I slap my hands down on the table, rattling the dishes. I know I should lower my voice given the setting, but I’m pissed.

He gives me his stern “dad” look; he means business, and I barely manage to conceal my incredulity. That look used to scare me when I was a kid but I’m a 25-year-old woman now. “Wren Andromeda.” His stern voice matches mine in volume, and I jump a little bit. My dad hardly ever raises his voice.

Well shit, I guess that does still work.

I straighten in my seat, give him a sheepish smile, and glance around the restaurant. “Sorry, Daddy.”

He gives me an exasperated look, but it’s easy to see the love shining in his eyes. For so long it’s been just him and me against the world, and I’m a little worried our relationship will change because of this new development. My dad will always be my person, but I’ve literally never seen him with a woman before. What if this hurts our close relationship?

“Like I was saying, I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to hit you with a curveball until I knew for sure whether it was serious or not. You’re my Starshine, Wren. And something like this might have made you feel like you wouldn’t be my priority anymore. I guess I was just scared you’d be angry with me. You’re a grown woman, but I’ll always see you as my little girl. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but I’m not sorry for protecting my baby girl’s feelings.”

And just like that, all my anger dissipates, which leaves me feeling hurt. “I just wish you felt comfortable enough to confide in me the way you’ve always encouraged me to confide in you. I may be your daughter, but like you said, I’m not a child anymore. I can handle the hard stuff without losing my cool.” I raise an eyebrow at him. “And I definitely could have handled knowing you were dating before now.”

He has the decency to look a little chagrined and nods. “I know, but I can’t change the past. And honestly, Wren, I wouldn’t want to. I needed time to get to know her and figure out my own feelings before I brought yours into the mix. I really think you’ll like her, Starshine.”

The idea of my dad potentially marrying someone isn’t as jarring as I thought it would be, and I wonder if that’s because I never saw him with my mom or anyone else. He’s always just been my dad, not somebody’s significant other.

Offering him a small smile, I place my chin in my hands. “Tell me about her.”

His eyes take on a dreamy quality that nearly has me snickering, but I want him to know I take this seriously, so I hold it back. “Her name is Caroline, and she teaches biology at a college in Tennessee. She’s… God, she’s wonderful, Wren. She’s brilliant and kind and funny, not to mention so full of life. I really do think you’ll love her.”

The way my dad talks about Caroline is the way I want someone to talk about me someday. He goes on to tell me how they met and some of the things they’ve done over the last year, and by the end of lunch I’m nearly in a sugar coma over just how sweet he is on her.

“Caroline sounds amazing, Dad. I’m really happy for you.”

He beams and takes my hand in his with a nervous smile. “Part of the reason I wanted to tell you about her now is because she was offered a job at Ridgeview, and I considered asking her to move in with me. But I needed to know how you felt about it before I offered.”

Mixed feelings bubble up in my chest. To know he’s with someone is one thing, but them living together is a whole different type of scary. But I refuse to let him spend any more of his life putting my happiness before his, so I push all of that aside to dissect later and smile widely. “As long as you’re happy, I am too.”

Relief softens his tense posture, and I know I made the right decision.

“I’m not naïve enough to think this whole situation won’t take some adjustment on all of our parts, but you really surprised me today, Starshine. You’ve had so many big changes the last month and are handling it with more grace than anybody would ever expect. You have a wonderful head on your shoulders, and I hope you know how proud I am of the incredible young woman you’ve become.”

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