Page 65 of Family Bonds- Kelsey & Van

She pursed her lips. “I don’t know if I like the idea of my boyfriend and Dad working together.”

“Doesn’t matter if you like it or not,” her mother said. “It’s a fact you can’t change.” Her mother moved in and sat down. “How are things going with the two of you?”

“Fine,” she said. “You know Duke met him on Saturday night.”

“I do. And I asked Duke and Hadley if we could find a time to have dinner together. Duke wants to meet him for more than a quick meal and I’d like that too. Duke said he could manage next Wednesday at five if you and Van can come.”

“Van has to work,” she argued.

“You said he gets out at three. Duke and Hadley have Wednesdays off. The least you can do is ask.”

She let out another sigh. “I will,” she said. “We are having dinner tonight.”

Her mother snorted. “See, you can meet for dinner during the week, so that is no different than just doing it at Duke’s. What’s the big deal?”

“Mom,” she said. “I told Van he’s just like Duke. Maybe I don’t want the two of them in the same room now.”

Her mother started to laugh. “I didn’t think of it that way, but you’re right. From what you’ve said, Van and Duke are a lot alike. I know Duke liked him for the fact he didn’t back down.”

“I don’t expect him to be the type to back down from anything,” she said. “Even when he doesn’t want to do something, he still will.”

“Like learning about his grandfather’s business?” her mother asked. “Your father said he seems very vested.”

“It sounds that way,” she said. “We haven’t had a chance to talk a lot about it other than me explaining things. I think we are trying to keep that separate a little. I know he hasn’t opened the envelope yet either.”

“He will when he’s ready,” her mother said. “Barry was a complex man. You know that. You didn’t see him other than occasionally. Your father knew him the best.”

“I know. Barry was funny but moody. Dad always thought the moodiness was sadness. That he was lonely.”

“I agree,” her mother said. “But now you’ve got Van who knows none of that and has been told something completely different his whole life. To get the truth, he’d have to ask his father who he doesn’t talk to. It makes me wonder if he’d even believe his father.”

“Probably not,” she said. “I guess in Van’s shoes, it’s a confusing and frustrating situation. The people he’d want to ask, he can’t. He has to go by the clues and information left for him.”

“That’s right,” her mother said. “So cut him some slack if he gives you a hard time on the flowers. Maybe he needs the distraction from the rest of events in his life.”

“Oh boy. You think he’s going to flip out?” she asked. It was the last thing she wanted to deal with. “I don’t need some big bad ex-detective looking into my life for threats over some silly flowers.”

“Just remember what I said,” her mother said, then got up and walked out of the room.

“Shut my door please,” she shouted.

Her mother walked back and grabbed the handle. “So you can pout in peace, I know.”

She stuck her tongue out at the closed door.

18

GET REAL

“You received flowers from another guy at work today?” Van asked hours later.

He was trying to process what was said as Kelsey was cooking dinner and delivered those words to him as if it was an afterthought.

“I don’t know if it was a man,” she said. “They gave a false name. Maybe it’s a woman that just wants to meet me. J could stand for Jane. Someone might think I swing both ways.”

He grunted at her attempted joke. “Highly unlikely,” he said.

She turned and smiled at him. “It’s not a big deal.”

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