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It was two in the morning, and our grand opening had been a success. But now, there was a sourness between us that turned the air rancid. I hadn’t mentioned her father for weeks on purpose because I wanted to savor this honeymoon phase, but I’d known it would only last so long before reality hit us in the face again.
She got into bed and turned on her side, dismissing me.
I did my nighttime routine then got into bed beside her. I lay there and stared at the dark ceiling. I could tell she was wide awake because of the way she breathed. She wasn’t even tired, based on how labored her breaths sounded. “Baby.”
She lay still and silent.
“The last thing I want is for this to come between us. I’m sure you agree.”
She lay there.
“Baby, come on.”
She continued to ignore me.
“Don’t make me come over there.”
She pulled the sheet farther up her shoulder.
I slid across the bed and came up behind her, my big body pressed up against her littler one. My arm circled over her tummy, and I pulled her close, letting her boil in my heat, letting her feel my hard muscles. I took a breath and let her feel my chest rise and move her with it. “I’m sorry that you’re upset. But don’t be upset with me.”
After a long stretch of silence, she finally caved. “I know you have good intentions.”
“I always have good intentions with you.”
We sat together at the dining table, having dinner with the laptop open, looking over the numbers for the first weekend at the restaurant.
She had been so good at bookkeeping for her father that managing the expenses of a restaurant was a walk in the park for her. She had everything organized into Excel spreadsheets and even had analysis reports. She did them on a daily basis, and I thought that was overkill.
I pulled the laptop toward me and looked through it. “It’s hard to get the full financial picture in just a weekend, but it looks like things are good.”
“Things will slow down after the grand opening.”
“Maybe they won’t.”
“That’s just how it is.”
“You’re awfully pessimistic, even after a grand-slam opening.”
“I’m just trying to be realistic.” She pulled the computer back and closed the lid.
Aldo knocked on my bedroom door. We’d just received our dinner not too long ago, so the plates were nowhere near ready to be collected. He’d hardly given us half an hour. He poked his head inside. “Your father is here to see you.”
I turned to Scarlett, knowing this would drain the blood out of her face. She’d just gotten back to being in a good mood, but now that would be shattered into hundreds of pieces.
“I don’t want to see him,” she said quietly, looking down at her plate.
“I’m sorry, I was unclear.” Aldo looked at me. “I’m referring toyourfather, sir.”
All of Scarlett’s anger dissolved. Her gaze immediately lifted to me, her eyes wide in surprise.
I continued to stare at Aldo, and I felt my heart stop. Seconds passed, and then I looked at Scarlett, but it was one of the few times when I didn’t actually see her face. It was just a haze. “Did he say what he wants?”
“No, sir.”
“Are you sure it’s him?”
“Absolutely, sir,” he said. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen him, but I would never forget his face.”
