Deceived: Lured from the Truth (Secrets) (5 page)

“That’s quite a dream.”

“My mom thinks it’s crazy. She’s a bookkeeper and some of her clients own restaurants. She’s always telling me how miserable they are. She says they never get time off and they’re always about to go under.” I spread some butter on a piece of warm crusty bread. “In fact, I’m sure that’s why she talked me into coming to work for Nadine. She thought it would be such a bad experience that I’d give up my dream altogether.”

“But Nadine’s isn’t exactly a restaurant.”

I nod, chewing. “I know. And I’ve worked in restaurants before. But because Nadine’s is small, I’m getting the chance to do some management things.” I roll my eyes. “At least that was how it was supposed to be. Most of the time it feels more like babysitting.” Now I tell him about the lazy employees. “Nadine’s niece is the worst. But how can I complain about her?”

“That’s got to be rough.”

“I just hope it doesn’t all blow up in my face before summer’s over.” I glance around the dining room again. “But maybe I could get a job in a place like this. Although I’ve heard that’s not easy to do. According to Nadine, a lot of the businesses over-hire at the beginning of summer and start letting the slackers go after the Fourth.”

“Maybe Nadine will let some of her slackers go too.”

“I doubt that.”

“What else do you like to do?” he asks. “Any hobbies?”

“I’ll tell you if you promise not to make fun of me.”

His dark brows arch with interest. “Why would I make fun of you?”

“Because a lot my so-called friends tease me.”

“I would never do that.”

“Do you know what 4-H is?”

He shakes his head as he forks into his four-cheese raviolis.

So, trying not to feel like a nerd, I explain. “The four Hs stand for head, heart, hands, and health.”

“That sounds interesting, but what does it mean?”

“The 4-H pledge might explain it better.” Feeling even more like a nerd, I repeat the old pledge for him: “I pledge my head to clearer thinking. My heart to greater loyalty. My hands to larger service. And my health to better living, for my club, my community, my country, and my world.”

“I like that.” He tilts his head to one side. “Why did you think I’d tease you about it?”

I shrug. “Some people think it’s geeky.” I tell him about some of the projects I’ve been involved with over the years.

“4-H sounds like a great organization. In some ways it reminds me of what my uncle is trying to do with his church.”

“Really?”

He nods eagerly. “The jobs at the dairy provide work for members of his congregation. And he’s fully committed to healthy living by producing natural organic dairy products. When you meet him, you should tell him about your 4-H pledge. I’m sure he’d be interested to hear about it.”

I resist the urge to pinch myself, but I can hardly believe that a guy this cool is excited about something like 4-H. Maybe the world is changing.

After dinner, we take the trail that goes around the lake, walking and talking for more than an hour. But by nine thirty, we’re back in front of the dorm and Josiah tells me he has to get home. “My uncle let me use his car tonight, but his curfew is ten.”

“And I have to work in the morning,” I tell him.

“So do I.”

I stand there looking at him, and his face looks even more handsome illuminated by the lamplight. “Thanks so much for a perfect evening.”

“Thank
you
, Rachel.” He reaches out to tenderly touch my cheek, and electric tingles run up and down my spine. I do not want this moment to end.

“It’s great getting to know you better,” I say quietly.

And then he leans down and kisses me gently but firmly on the lips. But just like that, the kiss ends. He grins, and then, tipping his head, he waves and takes off, jogging down the boardwalk. All I can do is stand there, with weak knees, watching as he disappears into the shadows. Is any of this real … or just a lovely, lovely dream?

On Saturday, I feel like I’m walking on clouds and I refuse to let anything or anyone bring me down. Naturally since it’s a holiday weekend, we are busier than ever. And Lorna has been scheduled for a full day, which could prove aggravating, except that I won’t let it. Even when we’re super busy and the shop is hotter than ever, I smile and treat every customer like royalty, and to my pleased surprise, they seem to respond with a bit more manners and patience. Or maybe it’s just me.

When Nadine comes in at three, I’m caught off guard to see my mom with her. Then I remember that she came up for the weekend. We exchange hugs and I introduce her to the crew, acting as if we’re all chummy friends.

“I thought you and your mom might like to take your lunch break together,” Nadine tells me.

“And Nadine said you can have more than an hour if you want,” Mom says. “Enough time to show me around the resort.”

“Are you sure?” I ask Nadine.

She waves me off. “No problem. Take your time.”

“Thanks.” As I remove the apron, I sense Lorna watching me with what looks like envy, or maybe it’s just curiosity. The fact that Mom is a blue-eyed blonde and I am part African-American sometimes catches friends by surprise. Not that I’d classify Lorna as a friend. Anyway, I smile and give a little finger wave, grab my purse, and make a quick exit.

“I got settled in at Nadine’s,” Mom says as we go outside, “but I haven’t really had a chance to look around.”

“And it was dark when you dropped me off here in June.” I lead us down to the lake and marina.

“I didn’t realize it was so pretty.” She puts on her sunglasses and smiles. “What a lovely place to spend a summer.”

I’m tempted to complain, but I don’t want to go down that trail. Instead, as I show her around, I sing the praises of Rock Canyon Lake Resort like I’m part of the official welcoming committee or selling real estate.

We snag an outdoor table at the Blue Moose Café for lunch, but when I see Steffie working here, I get worried. What if she waits on our table, and what if she says something about last night … or mentions the great-looking guy I was with? For some reason I am not ready to tell my mom about Josiah yet.

As we peruse the menu, I ask myself why I don’t want her to know. But it doesn’t take long to figure it out. She’ll ask questions and eventually want to know his age. If I say he’s nearly twenty, she’ll freak. I know she will. For now, I want to keep Josiah all to myself. It will be simpler that way.

Fortunately, Steffie isn’t working this area, so my secret is safe. In time, I will tell Mom all about him. Maybe after my eighteenth birthday … or after Josiah proposes to me. I smile as I set the menu aside. Okay, neither Josiah nor I are ready for marriage, but it’s still fun to think about. And someday, maybe after a year or two of college, or after I’ve just opened my new restaurant — someday I’ll be ready for that.

“You seem happy, Rachel.” Mom sips her iced tea, studying me.

“I am happy.”

“I’m glad to see that. I was a little worried about you the other morning.”

“You mean when you told me the news about you and Dad?” I frown. “You didn’t really expect me to be happy about
that,
did you?”

“No, I realize that you wish we were still together.” She stirs her drink with her straw.

“Don’t you wish you were too?”

She shrugs. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s for the best.”

“Are you
serious
?” Okay, I tell myself — do not go there right now. Do not start an argument with your mom. Remember how happy you are … stay in this happy place. I remember how Josiah told his mom he was on a mission, just to keep her from worrying. Surely, I can keep my mouth shut about this.

“I know you don’t agree with me, Rachel. You think that marriages are supposed to last forever.”

“Aren’t they?” I keep my tone soft, not like I’m trying to start a debate, more like I’m just curious. “I mean, didn’t you think it was going to be forever when you and Dad got married?”

“Of course. And he did too. But people change.”

I nod. “I know.”

“And I suppose you’re right, Rachel.”

“About what?”

“If I could have my wish, I do wish your dad and I could get back together.”

“Really?”

She nods in a sad way. “But it’s not going to happen. You know he’s been dating Selena.”

“I know.” Selena is the part of this equation I try not to think about. Never mind that she’s fifteen years younger than my dad or that she’s drop-dead gorgeous (in that Barbie sort of way). But I honestly think the most aggravating part about Selena is that she has money. Well, that and my dad. Sometimes I wonder, if Selena didn’t have her huge alimony settlement and a big house and a great job, maybe my dad wouldn’t have been so attracted to her. Or maybe I’m just naive.

“Well, I heard from Linda Allen that your father has moved in with Selena.”

I blink and set down my soda. “Seriously?”

She just nods. “Sounds like he moved in with her even before the divorce was final. Linda said his excuse was that Selena needed someone to stay with her boys.”

“So Dad is living at her house? Taking care of those monsters?” I can’t believe I used to babysit for Selena, that I used to consider her to be my friend.

“Can you imagine it? Your father chasing around after those two boys? What are their names again? I know they always sounded like cowboy names.”

“Tex and Wade. Tex must be five by now. And Wade must be close to four.” I remember chasing after them in Selena’s big house. “I’ll bet they can run even faster now.”

Mom almost smiles. “Well, there’s some satisfaction knowing your father will have his hands full with those two. Can you imagine him playing Mr. Mom?”

I shake my head. “My imagination isn’t that clever.” Now despite my resolve to continue enjoying my high from last night, I feel depressed. The news that Dad has moved in with Selena is truly disturbing. Still, I don’t want to make Mom feel any worse. So I make a few lame jokes about how exhausted my dad must be by the end of the day. “What if Selena expects him to do the laundry, clean, and fix meals?”

“Your father’s housekeeping skills are nonexistent. The helpless man barely knows how to boil water.”

“I know.”

“So you can see, I’m not feeling much hope that our marriage will ever be restored,” she says after our food arrives. “Mostly I want to get on with my life, Rachel. I’m sorry you get stuck with divorced parents and all that. But we both just need to move on now.”

I nod as I bite into my portabella-mushroom sandwich.

“I realize that your father is still your father,” she says as she forks into her Cobb salad, “no matter what kind of stupid choices he makes. And I don’t ever want to make you choose between us, Rachel.”

“Don’t worry. I know that. The truth is, I really don’t want to have anything to do with Dad right now. I mean, I know I’ll have to forgive him … eventually. But right now, well, I’d rather not think about him.” I take a sip of soda. “And I doubt I’m even on his radar these days.”

“Don’t be so sure. I’ll bet he’d
love
to have you visit. You could give him a hand with those wild little boys or even teach him to cook.”

Now that actually makes me laugh. “Fat chance. In fact, if he ever does invite me to come see him, I’ll have to think about it long and hard before I commit.”

Mom seems in good spirits as we walk back to Nadine’s. I can tell she’s relieved that I’m not obsessing over the divorce. Admittedly, that has as much to do with thinking about Josiah as anything else. Not that I’m planning to divulge that to her.

“I almost forgot,” she says when we reach Nadine’s. She digs in her bag, then pulls out her old flip phone. “I got this activated for you. It’s not the greatest and it always seems to need recharging, but it’s better than nothing.”

I nod and slip the phone into my purse as Mom goes inside. “Thanks.” At least Josiah will be able to reach me now. That’s something.

“My goodness, it’s warm in here,” Mom says as I’m tying on my apron.

“The AC is broken,” Nadine tells her. “I’ve got a man coming in next week. But in the meantime …” She sighs as she fans herself with a paper plate, blotting perspiration from her forehead with a napkin. She turns to me. “I know I usually stay until six, but since your mom is here, I’m giving myself the rest of the afternoon off. You’re in charge, Rachel.”

And just like that, they’re gone.

Lorna and Belinda both start acting like they’re getting paid to stand around and complain about the unbearable heat. Meanwhile, Alistair and I are scooping like mad. Although Belinda is running the cash register, Lorna is definitely slacking.

“Maybe you should just take your lunch break,” I tell her. “Since you’re not doing anything anyway.”

“I was just about to make some more waffle dishes.” She glares at me. “Since someone forgot to make any fresh ones this morning.”

“I made three dozen,” I protest. “And then it got too busy to make more.”

“Three dozen?” She looks skeptical. “Yeah, right.”

“Here.” I slap the scoop into her hand. “Why don’t you take over for me here, and I’ll make some more right now.”

“I don’t want to scoop,” she argues.