Page 79 of Hoodoo House
Declan shrugged. “No idea.”
“None other than the accountant on the foundation board…our very own Palvinder Attwal.”
Declan shook his head. “How many pies does that man have his fingers in? Do me a favour. Send him a note thanking him for processing the payment so promptly.”
“Will do,” Charlie said, turning to leave.
“How is it that you didn’t pick up on his connection to all of this?” Declan asked.
It was Charlie’s turn to shrug. “I guess I just never got around to checking into who was on the board,” he said sheepishly.
“Maybe you’re not ready to go for your P.I. licence after all?” Declan teased.
Charlie grinned. “Bastard!”
“Come here,” Declan said, kissing him when he got nearer.
“Isn’t that a bit unprofessional? What if a client comes in?”
“They’d have to find someone else to kiss them. How about we close the office early and head upstairs? Up there, what we do is our own little secret.”
More secrets.
Charlie pulled away and said, “I still have to get that cheque into the bank and…”
“What’s wrong?” Declan asked.
Charlie walked around the desk and plopped himself into a chair. “This whole case has got me thinking. Everyone was keeping secrets—Mrs Cameron and her sister’s identity, Tull being a ghostwriter for Marjorie Ellis, Henry and what he did to Mr Tull. Sinclair and Cody were both terrified about what would happen if their private lives ever came out.”
“Okay,” Declan said as he came around the desk and sat on the edge.
Charlie stared down at the floor. “I know some secrets are important to keep in order to help people. But others…personal ones…they can really eat away at you.” He looked at Declan. “I’m tired of doing that. I don’t want to keep those secrets anymore.”
“Secrets like what?”
“Like the fact I’m gay and I’ve never had the guts to tell my parents. It’s a huge part of my life that they don’t know about. “
Charlie took a deep breath. “I also want to be open with them…about us. I know it’s early, and it may not last, but I want them to know that I’ve found someone special and I’m not alone anymore. Would you be all right if I told them?”
Please don’t say no.
Declan reached down and took a hold of Charlie’s hands and pulled him up into a hug. “I think telling them is the right thing to do, and that includes telling them about me.”
Charlie pressed his face into Declan’s chest.
“So, when is all of this going to happen?” Declan asked.
“I won’t tell them about us right away. Being gay is going to be tough enough for them to process without having to face up to the fact that it’syouI’m involved with.”
“Am I that terrifying?”
Charlie pulled back and looked him in the face. “Yup.”
They both sat down.
“Are you going to tell your dad and Gwen about me?” Charlie asked.
Declan paused, then said, “Gwen probably already has an inkling, but yeah, if I’m going into this relationship, I’m going to go all in. I have no idea how my dad will react. Who knows, maybe he’ll surprise me? After all, I’ll finally have someone responsible in my life.”
