An Unexpected Father

by Lisa Ruff

  “It sounds to me like you just need a sabbatical,” Anna said. “Time off to regroup and figure out what comes next.” Mimi shrugged and opened her mouth to speak, but Anna beat her to it. “You can’t throw talent like yours away, Mim. You’re too good. I still have that CD you sent me in college.”

  Mimi laughed, remembering that particular band. The music seemed so simple and derivative in retrospect. “That was almost eight years ago, Annie. Maybe I’m not as good as you remember.”

  Anna snorted. “Right. Talent like yours doesn’t just fade over time, it gets better. Besides, I can’t imagine you not playing and singing. It’s who you are.”

  “Have you been talking to my dad?” Mimi asked, shaking her head.

  “No, but I’m not surprised he thinks the same thing. I’ve always liked your father. He’s a smart man, Mim. It’s about time you started listening to him.” She turned off the ignition and picked up her purse. “Come on. Let’s go get lunch before we fry ourselves.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “Celia’s Garden. It’s Kate’s recommendation. She says the food is fantastic.”

  Both women got out of the car. Mimi followed her friend to a three-story brick building. The door was painted butter-yellow, the trim around it a vibrant turquoise. Stepping inside, they found themselves in a long narrow hallway with a high ceiling, the original passageway between two narrow row houses that had merged to make the restaurant. The walls on either side were painted to resemble a trellis with roses abounding. The floor was paved in square tan terrazzo tiles, adding to the gardenlike ambience.

  “I wonder if there’s a real garden back there somewhere,” Mimi asked, craning her head to look up at the pink, white and red roses hanging from the ceiling.

  At the end of the hall, the entrance opened up to a small waiting area with a hostess stand. Just then, the swinging doors in the back of the reception area parted and a tall bald man stepped forward to greet them.

  “Welcome to Celia’s. How are you?” he asked.

  His tone made Mimi think he really cared about their well-being. She warmed to him immediately. His smile brought one to her lips.

  “Hello. We’re fine,” Anna said. “How are you?”

  “Oh, the heat! It’s a killer.” He put the back of one hand to his bald head. “And me with no natural protection to hide under. I’m just so grateful to be inside.”

  “We have a reservation. For Berzani,” Anna said.

  The man glanced at the book on the hostess stand. “Of course. I have a wonderful table for you. Come right this way.” The man slipped two menus off a stack and led them up the stairs. At the top, he escorted them to a table at the front of the room, next to a window. Pulling out first one chair and then the other, he seated them with panache. When they were settled, he handed them each a menu, putting a third one on the table between them. He crossed his arms and tapped a finger on his chin.

  “Now, the specials are inside your menus and these are the wines-by-the-glass.” He patted the smaller folder on the table. “We have an extensive wine bar. If you want to see a full list, just let me know. I’ll bring you some water and let you look over the menu. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask. My name is Christopher.”

  “Thanks, Christopher,” Mimi and Anna said in unison. As he turned to go, their eyes met and both suppressed a giggle. Surely the waiter was putting on a performance for their amusement. But who could be sure?

  Mimi looked around. The room was nearly full of diners, some in suits, some in jeans. There was an air of happy conviviality with cutlery and glassware clinking merrily. “Wow, this place certainly looks fabulous.”

  “Mmm.” Anna picked up the wine list. “Want to splurge?”

  “Definitely. This is our celebration.”

  Anna looked up. “Right. We have ten years to pay for.”

  Christopher returned promptly with two glasses of water, slices of lemon floating among the ice cubes. “Any questions so far?”

  “We haven’t even looked,” Mimi said.

  “Why bother? The specials are absolutely superb and our chef knows his way around a kitchen. Let me tell you about them.” Christopher rattled off poetic, mouthwatering descriptions of four culinary masterpieces. “Take a moment to think those over. Read the menu if you don’t trust me. I’ll be back in a few.”

  The two looked at each other across the table and simultaneously set their menus aside. Anna picked up the wine list, then she passed it to Mimi. Without either one consulting the other, they both selected the pinot grigio. When Christopher returned again, they ordered it and their food. Mimi chose a vegetable pasta with pesto, while Anna opted for the spinach and Parmesan omelet. Shortly, he came back with the wine and set it down along with a basket of fragrant rolls of various shapes, sizes and colors. Two small pots of butter—one garlic, one herb—accompanied the tempting treats.

  After he left them, Mimi picked up her glass of wine. “To old friends.”

  Anna raised her glass. “To friends at least. Speak for yourself about the old part.”

  Mimi laughed and tapped her glass against Anna’s before sipping the cold, tart liquid. It was delightfully dry, with a hint of citrus. “I know it’s been ten years since we’ve seen each other, but it seems like yesterday.”

  “For me, too. That’s the best, isn’t it?” Anna asked. “I don’t have too many friends like that.”

  “I don’t either. I suppose it’s because I’ve moved around so much.”

  “But you’re putting down roots now.”

  Mimi nodded, twirling the stem of her glass on the table. “Yes. As long as Jack’s in school, this is home.”

  “How does that make you feel?”

  “I have to do what’s best for Jack.”

  “You’ve become a responsible parent.”

  “I know. It sounds so, so…adult, doesn’t it?” Mimi wrinkled her nose as Anna laughed. “But it’s what I want to do for him.”

  “When Ian introduced me to Jack, I couldn’t believe he was yours,” Anna said as she picked up her knife, scooped up butter and put it on her plate. “And that Johnny Sinclair is his father. That’s even stranger.”

  Mimi’s fingers clenched around the multigrain roll she had just picked up. “How did you know?”

  “He looks just like him,” Anna said, casually setting her knife and the bread on her plate. “He’s got your eyes and hair, but his face is all Johnny.”

  Mimi put down the mashed roll and carefully wiped her hands on her napkin. Her stomach was clenched in a knot. Was it really so obvious? She hadn’t thought so, but Anna had seen the resemblance right away. Of course, Anna had grown up with Johnny, just as Mimi had. She took a sip of wine, wondering how to handle this situation.

  “I’m not supposed to know, am I?” Anna asked gently. She reached across the table to touch Mimi’s hand.

  Swallowing, Mimi raised her head. “I—Johnny’s not Jack’s father.”

  “It’s okay, Mim. I won’t tell anyone. You know that.”

  “I mean he is Jack’s biological father, but that’s it.” Her smile was merely a twist of her lips. “As it turned out, Johnny thought the idea of being a father was pretty strange, too.”

  Anna stared at Mimi for a long moment, then her face hardened. “He abandoned you? And his baby?”

  “As he so eloquently put it, it wasn’t his gig.”

  “I never liked Johnny, but I didn’t think he was that much of a bastard.”

  Mimi shrugged and sipped her wine. “It worked out for the best, Annie. Johnny would have been a terrible father. At least he recognized that.”

  “I can’t believe it! How could he just walk away and leave you alone with a child to raise?”

  “And I’ve done a pretty good job, I think.” This time Mimi laid her hand over Anna’s. “I appreciate you feeling mad for me, but it was a long time ago.”

  “Then why did you get so upset that I knew he was Jack’s dad?”
Anna asked. “You went as white as this tablecloth.” She thumped her finger on the crisp linen.

  “I—” Mimi stopped and organized her thoughts for a moment. “No one but me and my parents know who Jack’s dad is.”

  “Jack doesn’t? Hasn’t he asked?”

  “No.” Mimi shook her head, smoothing the napkin in her lap. “I keep expecting it, and I’ll be honest if he asks, but he’s never shown a bit of curiosity. I…I…have to admit that I’m not wild to tell him.” She looked up at Anna. “I don’t want him to be hurt because his father didn’t want him. When he’s older, maybe he’ll be better able to understand.”

  “And Johnny’s not just any old guy these days, is he? Having a rock star for a dad could be cool.”

  “Maybe, but I don’t think nine is the age of reason when it comes to things like that. If Johnny weren’t so famous, I might force the issue, but…” She let the words trail off. “I just want to be sure Jack’s ready to handle it. You know?”

  “Yes, I do know, Mim.” Anna smiled. “It’s a tough call, but it’s yours. No one will hear about it from me.”

  “But you saw the resemblance right away.” Mimi’s stomach twisted again at the thought. “Who else might see it and not keep it a secret?”

  Anna was silent as Christopher appeared at the table with two plates. With a flourish, he set the food before them and let the wonderful aromas waft under their noses. Mimi savored the crisp scent of basil and garlic as she admired the beautiful presentation of the pasta. Anna’s omelet looked just as tasty, with cheese oozing out the edges.

  “Now, can I get you beautiful ladies anything else?”

  “Not right now,” Anna said after sharing a smile with Mimi. “This should keep us in heaven for a while.”

  “Enjoy, then.”

  Both of them picked up their forks and began eating. After a few bites, Anna resumed their conversation.

  “I wouldn’t worry about anyone connecting Johnny and Jack,” she said. “I think I did because I knew you and he were…involved.”

  Mimi chuckled. “That’s one word for it.”

  Anna grinned. “Yeah, you were hot for each other.” She took another bite of her omelet, chewed and swallowed. “Who else knew about you and Johnny?”

  Mimi shook her head. “No one that I told. I didn’t have any friends but you that I would tell. And Johnny didn’t broadcast it.”

  “What a jerk,” Anna said with a snort. “He probably wanted to preserve his playboy image.”

  “Exactly. I never caught on to that,” Mimi said with a rueful laugh. “I believed him when he told me he wanted our relationship to be special, a secret just between us. I was so gullible.”

  “The man was all style and no heart. And you believed what you wanted to believe,” Anna said with a shrug. “Thank goodness we only have to be seventeen for a year.”

  They both laughed, then Mimi sighed happily. “I have missed you so much. I can’t believe we’ve let this much time go by without talking to each other.”

  “I know.” Anna pushed her plate to one side. “After we graduated from high school, I couldn’t wait to get away, go to college and start real life. In my rush to become an adult, I left a few good things behind me. You’re one of them.”

  “Well, let’s not let it happen again. The telephone is a wonderful invention that we should not neglect. And we can see each other when you come home.”

  “Crab Creek will never be home for me again.”

  Mimi raised her eyebrows at the ferocity of her friend’s words. “Easy, girl. I’m not the one with the lasso and the branding iron.”

  “Sorry,” Anna said ruefully. “I’ve been getting a lot of not-so-gentle hints that I should move back. My parents just don’t get that I’m not like my siblings. I need my space.”

  “And you have a great career and a steady income. You’ve made your way in the big bad world. Your folks must be proud of you. You should try being a poor, starving musician who travels all the time and never comes to visit and had to call once or twice to ask for money. My mother hated what I loved to do,” Mimi said with a laugh. “My dad was okay, though. He just wanted me to be happy.”

  Christopher came to remove their dishes and offer a dessert menu.

  “What do you think? Chocolate?” Mimi asked.

  “One of whatever’s the most sinful and two forks,” Anna said to the waiter. “You pick for us.”

  “You are an incredibly smart woman,” Christopher said, giving Anna a light touch on the shoulder, then took the menu and their dishes away.

  “So, you said living with your parents was okay, but are you happy?”

  Mimi leaned forward, elbows on the table. “I think I’m getting to happy. It gets better, easier, every day.”

  “I don’t know if I could come back and not feel like—” Anna abruptly cut herself short.

  “A failure?” Mimi asked. Surprisingly, the word didn’t hurt as much now as it had a few months ago.

  “I didn’t mean that—”

  “It’s okay.” Mimi reached out at the same moment Anna did and their hands met and clung. “I did feel like a failure when I got back. Tail between my legs and nothing to show for ten years of reaching for the stars.”

  Anna turned her hand so that their fingers were linked. “You have a son you love, the support of your family and a future where anything is possible. That doesn’t sound like nothing to me.”

  Tears sprang to Mimi’s eyes. “Well, when you put it that way,” she said with a wobbly smile as Anna pressed her fingers.

  Dessert came and both women sat back. A slice of chocolate cake was placed in front of them. Whipped cream rose in a mound on one side, floating in a pool of raspberry-colored sauce. Fresh raspberries dotted the plate, some nestled in the cream with a sprig of mint just peeking out from underneath.

  “Chocolate-raspberry torte,” Christopher said. He laid two forks down, one on either side of the plate. “Dive in, ladies. I don’t want to see one crumb left on that plate.”

  They didn’t wait for another invitation. When the first bite started to melt on Mimi’s tongue, she groaned. “This is wonderful.”

  Anna’s hum of delight answered. “Better than sex.”

  “Well, maybe not better,” Mimi countered with a wicked smile.

  Anna looked up from the dessert and put a hand out as if to block Mimi’s thoughts. “I do not want to hear any details about you and my brother. Eew,” she said with a shudder.

  Mimi froze, fork halfway to her mouth. “You think Ian and I are—”

  “Stop.” Anna’s hand was still out. “Whatever’s going on, keep it to yourself. Please.”

  Mimi carefully lowered her fork to the plate, her bite of cake still resting there. She knew she wouldn’t be able to swallow if she tried. “I don’t know where or how you came up with that silly idea, but—”

  “I wasn’t the only one who saw you two sitting together at lunch yesterday. The steam was so thick it was like being in a sauna.”

  “I barely know him!” Mimi’s words stuttered to a stop, her voice strangled. “Plus, he’s a total busybody, poking his nose in where it doesn’t belong and telling me how to raise my son.” “Really?” Anna took another bite of cake, but somehow kept a saucy, knowing grin on her lips. “I had it all wrong, then.”

  Mimi felt a hot blush travel up her cheeks. “Yes, you did.”

  “Mimi’s got a crush, Mimi’s got a crush,” Anna sang in a low, playground chant.

  There was nothing to do but laugh at the childish taunt. Then Mimi blew out a breath and picked up her fork again, chewing and swallowing the bite of cake she had abandoned, hoping a burst of chocolate would straighten her fuddled thoughts. “I was such an idiot.”

  “Because you have the hots for Ian?” Anna licked whipped cream off her top lip. “I think it’s weird, but he’s my brother and I’ve known him a lot longer than you have.”

  “I do not have the hots for Ian or anyone else right n
ow.” Mimi took another bite. “No, I had a flashback to our sophomore year. Remember when we both had a crush on Bruce Croft? That’s when I was an idiot.”

  “Bruce the Babe,” Anna said with a sigh. “We were both idiots. To think our friendship almost broke up over those great-looking buns.” She stuck her finger into the raspberry sauce and licked it off.

  “Whatever happened to Bruce and his delightful buns?” Mimi wondered.

  “He probably married Janey Murdoch and she fattened him up.”

  Mimi looked over at her friend for a long moment, then threw her head back and laughed. “I’ve missed you, Anna. I really have.”

  IAN TIGHTENED THE CLAMP carefully, aligning the door frame so the dovetailed joints in the corners were flush. After one more turn, he made sure the louvered slats were seated into place as the clamp closed. When it looked right, he checked the whole piece with a square and made a couple of small adjustments. He wiped off the excess glue where it had oozed from the joints, then racked the panel with three similar ones. Mopping his brow with his shirtsleeve, he collected the pieces of teak he had already cut, and assembled the fifth door on his bench. Two more of these louvered cabinet doors and his portion of the refit would be finished. Then he could move on to the next job Patrick had posted on the schedule.

  The door creaked open. Intent on applying glue to the joints, Ian barely glanced up. “No,” he said to his brother.

  “I haven’t even asked you anything yet,” Patrick complained.

  “Yeah, but the only time you come in here is to load me up with more jobs.”

  “I’m hurt,” Patrick said, pulling up a stool on the other side of the table.

  “You’ll get over it.”

  His brother was silent for a minute. “Listen, I was thinking—”

  “Always a dangerous thing.”

  Patrick chuckled. “About this Saturday. I thought we could—”

  The door opened again and Anna stepped inside. “Hey, guys.”

  “Why am I so popular today?” Ian muttered to himself.

  “Hey, Annie. What’s a girl like you doing in a wood shop like this?”