Chapter Thirty-Two
Another week passed before Honey found the courage to approach Ira. She’d been hoping he’d come back to her. No such luck. She stood beside her car on his long driveway staring at his house, willing him to come outside and greet her. She stood there until the chill fall air chased her toward the door. Her feet were freezing and it felt like snow. How could it snow in September? Hopefully it would hold off until at least October. Preferably November.
Well, wishing wouldn’t make it happen, nor would wishing fix things between her and Ira. She trudged up the steps and rapped lightly on the front door. There were several lights on inside. Either he was home, or left the lights on when he was out. She shook her head at the silly thought. Talk about blatantly obvious observations.
Ira opened the door. His welcoming smile dropped away when he saw her. “Honey. Hi.”
“Ira. I probably should have called.”Boy, did she wish she’d called. But what if he had refused to see her. “Can we talk?” Her voice trembled.
He frowned and looked indecisive. She was certain he was going to refuse her request. “You can come in. I guess. It’s freezing out there, come in. Let me take your jacket.”
She handed him her jacket and scarf, and shifting foot to foot, waited for him to ask her further inside. Butterflies danced in her stomach and her shoulders ached from holding herself upright. She was half certain she’d collapse if she relaxed. He knees wobbled and her stomach churned.
“Come inside.” He waved her forward. “Tea?”
She’d much rather have a stiff shot of vodka, but tea would do. “Yes, please. Tea would be lovely. Thanks for seeing me.”
“It’s not like you gave me much choice. You did just show up unannounced and uninvited.” His words were adversarial, his tone resigned.
“Sorry.” She inhaled deeply. “I have a few things to say. I’m asking you to listen. Then, when I’m done, I’ll go.”
He shrugged as if he couldn’t care any less.
This was going to be more difficult than she imagined. He’d want more than an apology and explanation. She was going to have to suck it up and bare her soul. She waited until they were seated across from each other, tea in front of them. “I don’t suppose you have any Baileys? It’s great in Earl Grey tea, and frankly I need a shot of courage.”
He raised one eyebrow, but found a bottle and doctored her tea.
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
This was fast shaping up to be the most awkward non-conversation she’d ever had. Time to plunge in headfirst and let the chips fall where they may. She groaned at the mixed metaphor. She sipped her tea, and used her thumb to wipe a drip off the rim.
“Okay. Here goes.” Breathe, she told herself. “I can’t change what happened between us. But I’ve got an explanation, of sorts.” She inhaled and smoothed her palms on the silky fabric of her skirt. “I made mistakes. I admit that. I couldn’t tell you what I do in my other job. Non-disclosure agreement.”
“I know,” he said, not sounding very patient.
“I never lied about having another job. I told you I work on the computer. I just didn’t tell you for who.”
He nodded, a frown turning the corners of his mouth down.
Damn, she was botching this.
“Anyway. I talked to my boss. He vetted you. He had to before agreeing to let me talk about my work.”
“Seriously? You had me vetted?” Anger turned his voice dark.
“It was the only option. If you weren’t fully investigated and vetted, I couldn’t talk to you. So, I told Cameron to go ahead. You were right. Cameron is military. He’s a general. He’s an important man in the Canadian military.” Ira’s brisk nod wasn’t very encouraging, but she plunged on ahead.
“I’m part of an anti-terrorism task force. I stalk chat rooms, and follow leads I pick up there. We’re hunting terrorist cells and ferreting out plots. Espionage, terrorism, threats to the country. To the world.” She leaned back and folded her hands in her lap, giving him time to think.
“And you couldn’t just tell me?”
“I could not.” She was frustrated with his stubborn stance. “You’ve served in the military. You understand clearance and need to know. I had no idea what your clearance was, or is, and you certainly didn’t need to know, even if you wanted to.”
He nodded, and his expression lightened to something less than a glower.
“That’s all there is to it. I still can’t give you full details, but you’ve got the gist of what I do.”
