Page 67 of Vodka and Chocolate Drops

Her mother nodded silently, tears sliding down the creases between her mouth and cheeks. “Oh, Amber. I’m so sorry. I’m so, so sorry. When he got divorced, I thought,This is the time to tell him.And then he started dating again and I didn’t want to interfere. I was afraid too much time had gone by and that he would be so angry. He could have turned the whole town on me, and I was afraid it would upset you, upset your life. This town was so good for you.”

Amber sat beside her mother, feeling a strange sense of calm, as she had when John had spilled his sorrows in the restaurant. It wasn’t her grief. It was theirs. Their story, their battles. She’d had a good life, a good upbringing, and she couldn’t imagine it being any different. If she’d known who John was earlier she might have expected things he couldn’t deliver. She could easily have grown resentful toward him for not being more to her, for not giving more than he was already eking out.

“I don’t want to keep this a secret, Mom. If you want me to, I’ll try. But it’s Blueberry Springs.” By way of example, she tipped her head toward the kitchen, where, by the sound of it, her sister was washing dishes. It hadn’t taken Blueberry Springs very long to see the truth about Delia. It wouldn’t take them long to fit the John piece of the puzzle into place, either. Especially when Amber had been asking around and stirring things up.

“Mom?”

“Let me talk to him,” she said finally. “It’s time I acted my age and grew some courage, like this kid sitting next to me.”

Amber laughed. “You make it sound so easy.”

* * *

Amber passedthe rows of soccer photos lining John’s law office reception area, the pictures taking on new meaning. In every single one, her father had managed to find a way to stand beside her when lining up with the team. Claiming her even though he didn’t know the truth and only suspected it. He probably still didn’t know the complete truth, but she hoped when her mother told him that he’d do the right thing and chase his demons away, blinding his own personal what-if alley with bright light.

Liz noticed her studying the photos. “He’s quite the man, isn’t he?” she said. “Always helping out in the community. His kids didn’t even play soccer.”

Amber ducked her head to hide any emotion that may have stolen its way to her face. “Is John available?”

“Go ahead through.”

To her father’s office.

“Thanks.”

She felt nervous.

Her dad was a lawyer. He’d been there for her even though he hadn’t been able to. He’d tried to be a good guy and not a deadbeat. He’d tried to make it work for everyone, practically straddling two lives. He’d been careful, not upsetting Gloria, but hedging his bets by watching over Amber whenever possible.

He may have made mistakes, but he’d tried to fix them to the best of his powers and abilities.

Amber peeked into his office, around the half-closed door. Not yet seeing her, he pulled off his reading glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose. Then he lifted his face to focus on the picture on the wall. Ocean. Whales.

He shook his head and replaced his glasses, diving back into the stack of papers on his desk.

Amber hesitated, unsure whether to proceed. She rapped lightly on the door, pushing it open. “Hi. Um, do you have a minute? Liz said you’re free?”

“I’m always free for you, Amber. Come in.”

They stared at each other awkwardly. His possible parentage was definitely the elephant in the room and Amber was guessing her mother hadn’t talked to him yet.

“What’s on your mind?” He gestured to the vacant chair on the other side of his desk.

She remained standing. “I just wanted to tell you that I think Russell is dropping the whole trailer thing. So you don’t need to worry about that any longer.”

“Thanks. I heard. By the way, I was talking to Rosalind this morning.”

“Oh? What did she have to say?” Amber hoped the woman wasn’t about to kick her out with little notice, now that she wasn’t sharing the place with her nephew. She’d save a lot by moving, but she’d grown fond of the old house and its quirks, and didn’t have a new place lined up.

“She conveyed her apologies for her nephew’s behavior and wanted me to tell you that if you’re interested in still staying in her house she would reduce the rent. She wants someone there for insurance purposes while she’s away. She’s willing to knock the rent down by half and pay all utilities.” John tugged a pink phone slip out of a stack of papers beside him, scanning it before saying, “She said with the reduction it would be five hundred a month.”

“Wait. That’s a 75 percent discount.”

John adjusted his reading glasses. “She said the full rent was one thousand, and with the discount it would be five hundred. As well, no utility costs if you stay.”

“Are you freaking kidding me?” Amber turned and stared at the ocean print. Pastel colors meant to soothe. It wasn’t working. She’d financially supported Russell for the entire year he’d been writing his book. He’d not only had his paid sabbatical leave, but he’d had her covering the entire rent. He had lied, and she’d taken it like the perfect, easy target she had been, so desperate to have things work out that it had allowed her to cancel everything her brain was telling her about Russell. She had blinded herself to the truth, too afraid of what she’d see if she opened her eyes.

“Are you okay?”

---