“Everyone likes to get home to have dinner as a family. It’s one of the things I love about this town.” Molly dreamed of the day she’d cook dinner for her family. Of course, it could be years if her circumstances didn’t change in a hurry. She’d been on edge waiting to hear from Annie about her request to take Grace to the Apple Harvest Festival.
“Family is important to you, isn’t it?” Derek asked.
Her heart squeezed. She couldn’t deny it wasn’t something she desperately wanted. “Yes. Isn’t it to you?”
Derek stopped in his tracks and faced her. “Can I answer after we get our food?” He pointed toward the man-made lake next to the town’s only roundabout. “I discovered a great food truck over there. They’ve got the best chili.”
“Sounds good to me.” Molly was surprised he didn’t answer her question with a simple yes. In college, she’d gotten the impression Derek had a close relationship with his family.
The spicy aroma tickled Molly’s nose as they neared the truck. “Yum. It smells so good.”
“What can I get you? Mild, spicy or pass the fire hose?” Derek laughed.
“I’m up for the challenge. Pass the hose.”
“That’s my girl.” He glanced over his shoulder. “Do you want to grab a table?” He nodded toward the empty seats closest to the water.
“Sure.” Molly moved toward the table. The full moon shimmered over the lake, igniting it with a glow like thousands of twinkle lights. She took a seat on the bench. Gentle waves splashed ashore, filling the air with a soothing melody.
* * *
Derek moved toward her carrying a tray with two bowls of chili and three beverages. Her pulse increased when a smile flashed across his face, drawing her attention to his smooth, chiseled features, broad shoulders and slim hips.
Stop staring. You’re here to discuss the book signing on Friday. With speed, she shifted her gaze away.
“I got you an extra water, just in case.” He placed the tray of food on the table and slid onto the cedar seat facing her.
Molly reached for a plastic spoon and leaned toward the bowl. “It certainly looks delicious.”
“Try it.” Derek scooped a heaping portion and gulped down a bite. “It’s the best.”
Molly spooned a portion and popped it in her mouth. The velvety consistency contained a perfect balance of sweet and spicy. “Oh my! This is the best chili I’ve ever eaten.” She took another bite. Within a second, her mouth ignited into a fiery inferno. Jalapeño. Lots of jalapeños. Her eyes began to water.
“Are you okay over there?”
Through her blurry eyes, Molly reached for a drink, but the cup tipped over. Water splashed in all directions, but most of it went on Derek. She snatched the second cup and downed half of its contents before her eyes locked with her dinner companion’s. “Sorry. Usually I can handle jalapeños.”
He sheepishly looked down. “Oh, maybe it’s the cayenne pepper, too.” He grabbed a napkin to clean up the spill before he spooned in a mouthful. “I can’t get enough of this stuff.”
Molly drained the remaining water and placed the empty cup on the table. “You must have a mouth made of steel.” How in the world could he eat it so fast? He was halfway through his bowl. “Don’t get me wrong, the chili is incredible, but it sure packs a punch.”
“I learned the hard way. Now I order the medium fire. It’s plenty hot enough for the average person.” He smiled before passing his water across the table. “I think you need this more than I do.”
She accepted his offer and downed the liquid in four large gulps. “You could have at least told me.” She crumpled her napkin and playfully tossed it at his head.
He ducked, bent over and grabbed the trash. “I assumed the phrase ‘pass the fire extinguisher’ would give you a pretty good hint.”
Molly laughed. “I guess you’re right.” She spooned out half as much as her previous bite and ate it. “It is the best chili I’ve ever tasted, but you need to eat it slowly.”
Derek rested one elbow on top of the table and placed his fist underneath his chin. He leaned in closer. “You’re a tough woman.”
Molly shrugged. “I’m not sure I agree with you.”
A light breeze kicked up, carrying the chirping of crickets.
Derek looked around. “That sound always reminds me of going back to school in the fall.”
“What’s that?”
“Crickets. When I was a kid, I remember lying in bed the night before the first day of school. I’d toss and turn while the crickets sang outside my window. I never liked to see summer come to an end. Do you remember hearing them?”
Molly shivered. “No. Most of the time, the crickets were drowned out by the adults in the house screaming and yelling. With the exception of one family, most of the people who fostered me weren’t the most upstanding citizens.”
Her mind drifted to Grace, and a chill ran down her spine. The past two nights, she’d woken in the early morning hours, unable to breathe. Each time, she’d had a dream Grace had fallen into the river after they’d spent the afternoon together laughing and sharing secrets. In the dream, Molly tried to reach Grace as the child struggled to hold on to a tree branch hanging low over the water. Both nights, Molly’s eyes flew open as Grace lost her grip and was swept away. Molly couldn’t save her in her dream, but this wasn’t a dream. The adoption was real.
“I’m sorry to rouse bad memories.” Derek picked at a napkin.
She rolled one shoulder and then the other. “It’s okay. It was a long time ago. Boy, my childhood must seem like a nightmare compared to yours.”
“Is that why you asked if I wanted a family? Because you believe mine was so perfect when I was young?” Derek’s left brow arched.
“I know you said talking about your family is off-limits, but you had parents who loved and nurtured you. It’s what every kid should have.” Molly wiped a stray tear. “It’s what I want for Grace.”
* * *
Silence hung in the space between them. Derek looked to the sky before turning his focus to Molly. “It was all a lie.”
Molly was confused. From what she knew through Ryan, Derek had a family life most kids would dream of having. “I’m not sure I understand what you mean.”
Derek took the plastic spoon and stirred the almost empty bowl. “My family wasn’t as it appeared to the outside world.” He laughed, dropping the spoon and raking his hand through his hair. “It wasn’t as it appeared to me, either.”
The distraught look on Derek’s face was unnerving. His personality was always upbeat and positive, but since the conversation had turned to his family, his mood had darkened. “Do you want to talk about it? If it’s too painful, I understand.”
“No, I’ve wanted to talk about it.” Color drained from Derek’s face. “Because this lie affected you, too.”
Molly had no idea where Derek was going with this conversation, and a part of her wasn’t sure she wanted to know. How could his family have any effect on her? She pulled in a deep breath and slowly exhaled. “What is it, Derek?”
“When I was a little boy, I wanted to be like my father. He’d wake early every morning and head out to work, often before sunrise. He dressed in expensive suits and carried a shiny black leather briefcase. On most nights, he didn’t come home until after my mother and I had eaten dinner. It wasn’t until I got older that I understood what he did for a living.”
“Ryan told me he was a banker.”
Derek nodded. “Yes. He worked as a loan officer, handling multimillion-dollar accounts. On those rare nights when he got home in time for dinner, it felt like Christmas to me. I wanted to spend as much time with him as possible.” He stopped and took a drink from the cup of water in the middle of the table.
“And did you?” Molly was afraid she knew the answer.
Derek’s shoulders droo
ped, and he shook his head. “Not as much as I would’ve liked to. As a young boy, my mother tried to explain that he was a busy man, but I didn’t understand. My father was my hero. I wanted to hang out with him. I wanted him to love me.”
Molly’s heart ached for that little boy.
“As I got older, I realized a lot of responsibility came with my father’s job. I accepted the fact that our family vacations often consisted of my mother and me jetting off somewhere alone. My father would join us later for a day or two—never longer.”
Derek looked out toward the lake. His eyes pooled with pain.
“I’m sorry you weren’t able to spend time with him, Derek. Maybe it was important to him to be a good provider and give his family a comfortable life.” It may have been the case, although Molly was still confused about the lie and how it impacted her. But she didn’t want to push him, so she focused her attention toward the water, as well.
After a few moments of silence, Derek rose to his feet. He removed the empty food containers from the table. Molly watched as he meandered to a nearby trash can and disposed of the garbage. He turned, moved toward her and made a weak attempt at a smile. “Do you want to go for a walk around the lake?” He extended his hand to her.
Molly’s and Derek’s hands coupled, and he helped her to her feet. A wave of light-headedness took hold. Her legs wobbled as they continued to move toward the water. If she were truthful to herself, she’d have to admit Derek’s touch was nice. It felt safe and warm. This couldn’t be good. Could it?
* * *
Overhead, the full moon streamed light on the dirt path leading to the lake, and Derek kept a firm hold on Molly’s hand. He told himself it was so she wouldn’t trip on a stick and fall. Yeah, right. He liked it. He liked it a lot. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Once he shared his family secret and how it played a role in ruining her wedding day, he might never feel the warmth of her touch again. But it was a chance he had to take. She deserved to know the entire truth of that day.
They stepped onto the cement sidewalk that zigzagged along the lake. Ahead, a young couple walked with their arms locked.
“Look, they have paddle boats.” Derek pointed to the row of boats moored along the dock. “You could bring Grace and have some time alone on the lake.”
“I don’t know. When we were on the picnic, I got the impression she isn’t a fan of the water. I do hope to take Grace to the Apple Harvest Festival on Saturday. Annie’s been great about giving me time to get my financial situation back on track. She believes in my store.”
“As do I,” Derek said.
“Thanks. If the book signing goes well, there’s a chance I can begin to claw my way out of debt.”
Yesterday, Derek had spoken with Mark about the event and offered his guest room so the author wouldn’t have to deal with booking a hotel room. He planned to arrive in town Thursday evening. “Speaking of the book signing, Mark called me yesterday.”
Molly stopped walking and looked at Derek. “I hope it’s not bad news.”
“On the contrary. Mark spoke with his publisher and explained your situation. Since they like to support independent bookstores, they’re donating another thousand books to sign at your store.”
Molly’s mouth fell open. She pivoted and threw her arms around him in a tight hug. “I can’t believe this! Thank you so much, Derek.” She lifted her head off of his shoulder, and their eyes locked. Her breath smelled sweet against his face. If he moved just the slightest bit, their lips would touch. Is that what she wanted? He pulled back. “You’re welcome, but it was mainly Mark’s idea.”
Molly furrowed her brow. “But you orchestrated all of it. If it weren’t for you, Mark wouldn’t be coming to my store.”
“Please, don’t make me out to be a hero.” He stepped back and stuffed his hands in his pockets.
“What is it? Is this about the lie you mentioned back at the table? Please, tell me what’s going on.” Molly moved toward him and rested her hand on his forearm.
Now was his chance. He’d waited long enough. “Let’s sit.” He guided her to a bench with a view of the water. Molly took a seat first, and Derek settled in beside her. He sucked in a slow breath and released it. “You have every reason to hate me. The day of your wedding—Ryan changed his mind about marrying you because of what I said to him.”
“Is that why you brought me here? To tell me what you said?” she asked with her gaze focused on the lake.
“I told him he was making a mistake.”
Derek watched Molly. Her eyes glazed over as she attempted to process what he’d told her.
“I heard what you said. That day... I overheard you and Ryan talking.”
Derek’s stomach knotted. “You what? Where?”
“At the church. I was heading to the restroom before the ceremony started. I passed by the nursery, the door was ajar, and I heard the two of you talking. You told Ryan he shouldn’t marry me.” She raked her hand through her hair. The moon spotlighted the tears glistening in the corners of her eyes. His heart twisted. If only he could do it all over again. But would he have handled things differently? Would he have held his peace? He’d been so upset that day, he doubted it.
“For the past two years, I’ve tried to understand why you would do something so harsh. And why Ryan would have listened to you. I never did anything to you to justify such cruelty.”
“What else did you hear?”
“Nothing. I didn’t need to hear any more. I never heard Ryan’s voice again except for when he whispered in my ear that he couldn’t marry me.” Tears raced down Molly’s face. “I’d been abandoned again, but this time in front of the entire congregation.”
“There’s more to the story, Molly. It’s not an excuse, but maybe it will help you to understand why I said what I did to Ryan.” He blew out a strong breath. “The morning of your wedding, I found out my father had another life.”
Molly placed her hand on the base of her neck. “What do you mean?”
Besides Ryan and Mark, Derek had never shared this secret with anyone. For some foolish reason, he believed not talking about it would mean it wasn’t real. But he knew the truth. There was no point in trying to hide it any longer. “As a child, my father preached the importance of family. It was the only thing that mattered in this world. And he said keeping my word was the most important virtue I could ever have.” Recalling his father’s falsehoods made him sick to his stomach. “But I’ll tell you a family secret. That man, my father—he had another family.”
They sat shoulder to shoulder while insects buzzed in the night air. Derek considered Molly. Her shimmering emerald eyes blinked in rapid succession. It was a lot to digest. It had been two years, and there were times Derek was still unable to process the fact that his life would never be the same. “I know. It’s hard to believe. It’s like something from a made-for-television movie.” Derek dropped his focus to the ground.
“I’m sorry. I’m not sure what to say. It’s so unbelievable.” Molly leaned forward and turned to him. “Ryan never mentioned it.”
On the day of the wedding, Ryan had laughed when Derek told him about his father. He’d thought Derek was joking. Sadly, it was no joke. “That’s because Ryan didn’t know until the day of the wedding. And he made a promise to me that he’d never tell anyone. He said it wasn’t his secret to share.” Despite the cool, crisp air, perspiration crossed his brow. He ran the back of his hand across his forehead and blew out a breath. “I’d forgotten how hard this is to talk about.”
Molly placed her hand on his shoulder. “If it’s too difficult, you don’t have to say any more.”
Since his father’s confession, he’d felt as though he were living inside a pressure cooker. The time was right for Molly to know the entire truth of that day. “No, I need to talk about this.”
“Fair enough.”
Derek leane
d back and pressed his shoulders against the bench. The day was seared into his brain. “The morning of your wedding, I was running late. I’d forgotten to pick up my tuxedo at the cleaners. My father had called earlier, insisting he needed to talk to me. I told him I had to get to the church, but he pleaded with me. He said it couldn’t wait.”
An elderly couple holding hands walked by. They both smiled and said hello.
“Good evening.” Molly acknowledged the two as they moved toward the water.
Derek cleared his throat. “I told my father I’d stop at the cleaners and would be over soon. I remember how my mind raced, wondering what in the world could be so urgent.” He ran his foot over some loose pebbles.
“Do you want to walk some more? It might help.”
Derek nodded and rose from the bench. They continued down the cement path, but this time, their hands remained at their sides.
“Cooked bacon. I’ll never forget it. That’s the first thing I smelled when I got to my parents’ house and walked into the kitchen. I haven’t eaten it again since that morning. I remember my mother and father were sitting at the table with plates of untouched food in front of them. The look on my mother’s face—” Derek bit hard on his lower lip. He couldn’t lose it now.
Molly reached for his hand. It gave him strength to continue.
“I thought my grandmother had died or some other relative. I remember how afraid I was to step closer to the table. Like there was some invisible line I’d cross and get sucked into whatever was going on. I didn’t want to feel as bad as my parents looked at that moment.”
“But you did,” Molly stated.
“Yes. And it was worse than I ever could have imagined. My father had a relationship with a woman he worked with.” Derek paused and forced a laugh. “She’d even been to our home for some social gatherings my parents hosted for my father’s office.”
Molly shook her head.
A Dream of Family Page 14
