“Milo and I are dating,” I blurt. “We’ve been getting close for a while, but everyone has only recently found out.”
Aunt Maddy’s hands make an explosion sign off her head. “What? Last I checked you were making any excuse tonotbe around Milo.” Aunt Maddy gives Milo a sympathetic look. “No offense, Milo.”
Milo shrugs, embarrassed.
“At least you’re only seeing them holding hands.” Kai smirks, folding his arms. “I caught them in full make out mode.”
“All right, Malakai,” his mother blurts, shoving him away. “Time for us to go home. Milo, you should probably come with us too.”
Aunt Maddy shakes her head, still figuring out what’s between me and Milo. “It’s okay, he can stay. I’ll drive him back later. Oh, thanks for bringing my car back, by the way.”
“Oh, Laura did that,” Mrs. Nelson replies.
Aunt Maddy looks at me questioningly, and I quickly say, “I’ll explain later.”
When Kai and his mother leave, Maddy enjoys asking Milo and I about our new connection. We enjoy telling her our ups and downs, for a moment leaving the sadness bubble. I even ask her about how her trip with David was to avoid these tough topics. Of course, David comes off as a pure gentleman in all her tales.
Unable to put it off any longer, I ask Milo to heat the tea kettle in the kitchen. I didn’t want him to disappear too far away, but I thought I should tell Maddy this in somewhat private.
“There’s something else you need to know.” I exhale and drag a hand through my hair. “I found out something and didn’t want to lay it on you while you were enjoying your vacation.”
“Baby, you didn’t need to hide anything from me,” Aunt Maddy says, her eyes shining with tears. “You always come first.”
“I know, but this was your time. You needed to come first.”
Aunt Maddy clutches my hand. “I appreciate that. Tell me what’s happened.”
I steady myself. “Remember how I found Mom’s diary?”
Aunt Maddy braces herself. “Did you find out who...?”
I nod slowly. “Mom lied.”
Aunt Maddy’s head jerks. “What was that?”
“My dad’s not dangerous,” I whisper harshly. “We’ve known him all along.”
“Jamie, you’re freaking me out. Who are you talking about?”
Tear pool in my eyes. The happy kind. “It’s Coach.”
It’s still not sinking in. “Coach?”
I tap the space over my heart. “My coach.”
Aunt Maddy shakes her head, unable to compute. “Brent? Are you talking about Brent Anders?”
I laugh with a mixture of nerves and joy. “Yes! Coach is my dad!”
Aunt Maddy’s jaw drops. “What?” She gasps. “Brent is your dad? And Lily hid it? Why would she do that? He was the nicest guy she knew. Maybe she didn’t know who your dad was at first?”
I shake my head unequivocally. “She knew. She didn’t want to tie him down.”
“Good lord!” She gasps again. “How could she keep such a big secret? He’ll be devastated to find out she kept this from him.”
I cling to Maddy. “Will you be there when I tell him?”
She sucks in her bottom lip and locks onto my eyes as she nods. “Absolutely. Are you okay about this?”
