Page 32 of One Small Secret

We are the picture of domestic bliss. Beneath us is a title in red letters.

Ruben Palmer’s Secret Family, Unwrapped on Christmas!

I grab the counter for support and quickly scan the article, as well as a few others. My name is never mentioned, and it's easy to see from the conjecture of multiple “sources” that nobody actually knows anything. Conjecture has us hiding out in Rosco, since Ruben rarely has media following him here. Others claim that I've been extorting him for money. They could have taken one look at the small apartment and lack of window coverings and known that wasn’t happening. Basically the article’s only substance is the picture. Nothing else is concrete. I loosen my grip on the counter. Ruben is a playboy with a different woman at least every year. This might just blow over?

Maybe?

Ruben will definitely have some explaining to do with Daphne, but I can help him. It isn’t like she’ll be intimidated by me in my 15-year-old sweatshirt. Everything about Ben’s strange behavior snaps into place. He isn’t becoming senile—he thinks Ruben and I have been hiding a grandson from him.

Why in heaven’s name would we do that?

My bedroom door cracks open and Ruben’s eyes scans the scene. When he catches sight of Ben, he throws open the door. “Grandpa, I thought I heard you. What are you doing here?”

Ben stiffens, and all the joy that has been practically rolling off of him melts away. Why in the world did Ruben leave my room? It’s the last thing we need.

“Ruben.” Ben’s voice is hard. “This is where you’ve been all morning? I should have known.”

“How could you have known?” Ruben hasn’t picked up on Ben’s tone. He jaunts over to the couch, ruffles Axley’s dark hair, and then sits next to Ben. “Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas?” Ben pulls Axley closer to him. “I suppose it is a Merry Christmas, but I might have missed out on it if it were up to you.”

Ruben rubs a hand down his face like he's trying to keep up. “I’m sorry, did I miss something?”

“Are you deliberately trying to hurt me? You know how much I've always loved Cadence. Why would you keep this from me?”

Ruben slides away from Ben and looks him up and down. “Keep what from you? Of course I know you love Cadence, but don’t read anything into me being here. I accidentally fell asleep on the couch. Nothing happened. Don’t get your hopes up.”

“Don’t get my hopes up?” Ben looks down at Axley and back at Ruben.

Ruben has zero clue what he has just walked into. I try to wave at him, but his eyes are trained on Ben. I’ve never seen Ben so livid, and I get the feeling Ruben hasn’t either.

Ben stands up with Axley still in his arms. “If you think I won’t get my hopes up, you're wrong, young man. I have no idea why you and Cadence have chosen to keep Axley a secret from me, but it stops now. I’ll have him in my life whether you like it or not. All your philandering has to stop. It’s high time you settled down.”

Philandering? I press my lips together to stop a laugh. It is a pretty good description of Ruben’s dating life, even if it's a word that hasn’t been used in the past fifty years. Ruben stands, both hands on his hips. He looks as if he's about to lash out at Ben, and Ben looks like he'll welcome it. I won’t have it. Not on Christmas.

“Ben,” I say. “I think there’s been a misunderstanding. Let me explain.”

Ben’s face softens as he turns to me. “No, Cadence, you don’t need to explain anything. I’ve been telling Ruben for years he needs to settle down, and he has always known how much I hoped he’d settle down with you.” Ben’s voice catches and my eyes flash to Ruben, but he’s focused on the floor, his jaw set. “I don’t know why he’s asked you to hide your relationship from me, but that’s something I will take up with him at home. Thank you for letting me see Axley.” His smile drops and he turns to Ruben. “Ruben, I expect to see you within the hour.”

Ben walks into the kitchen and kisses Axley on the top of his head before handing him to me. “Merry Christmas, Cadence.” He places a soft kiss on my forehead. It’s the closest thing to a kiss from my Dad I’ve had in fifteen years, full of pride and familial devotion. A lump forms in my throat. “You have given me the best gift imaginable.”

I take Axley but don’t move. Ruben is stuck in place as well, glancing between Ben, Axley, and me.

Ben lets himself out without any of us saying a word.

“So…” I have no idea what to say. “Time to stop your philandering, eh?”

My sad attempt at a joke doesn’t even register on Ruben’s face. He shakes his head. “What was that all about? Does my grandfather often visit you?”

“Um, no. Today was a special occasion.”

“Christmas?”

“No. At least, not just Christmas.” I pull his phone from my back pocket. “You might want to look at your messages. Or any internet site or social media app.”

He takes his phone and swipes it open. His eyebrow’s raise, and I assume he’s shocked at the number of notifications on his phone. But before he has a chance to click anything, his phone rings.

He curses under his breath, but answers it.

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