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“That was never an issue for me,” I said. “I didn’t want a romantic relationship, or an exclusive relationship, with anyone. And by the way, why didn’t you tell me Jack Smith was your father?”
“There was never the chance. I almost told you the first time we met when you told me you’d just met Randy.”
I remembered the conversation. He’d admitted his father wasn’t really his father, but that was as much as he’d told me.
“It’s big, Ryan. Especially since Pam is my stepmother, too.”
“We’re sort of related,” he said, snickering.
“No, we’re not.”
“Come in, you two,” Pam said. “Have dinner.”
“I just came for flour,” Ryan reminded her, looking away from me. “I’ll talk to you all later.”
He left out the veranda door, finally, a big cloud of anxiety leaving with him. Then Randy appeared, walking into the kitchen with his familiar swagger. He bent down to kiss my cheek, which he had never done before. I wondered if it was for Pam’s benefit.
“So sorry. I just got off the phone with National Geographic. They want to revive Adventure Trek.”
“Oh Randy, come on,” Pam said, clearly upset. “You promised me you wouldn’t travel anymore.”
“I thought it might be a chance for Laura to come along,” he said, smiling at me. “I want to take her on an adventure. Do you want to come, sweetheart?”
“You know better than that,” Pam said, standing to get his dinner. “I don’t want her to go, either.”
I was confused. We’d just talked on the phone a couple of hours ago. “Where is it this time?” I asked.
“Taiwan,” Randy replied. “They have the best food, too.”
“Gosh, I’d love to, but as you know, since you arranged it, I start my new job on Tuesday,” I said, relieved that I had a real excuse not to leave the country, which was out of my comfort zone.
“I’ll ask Michael Bennet for another extension,” Randy said, determination in his voice.
“No, please, not again,” I said firmly. “You’ll be gone a while, correct? It’s not like you’re only leaving for a week.”
“The last time he left, it was for six weeks,” Pam said, her nose in the air.
“Forget it,” I said, equally determined. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“I came home every weekend,” he said defensively. “I’m going, whether you two decide I should or not.”
“I’m not going to be gone for six weeks,” I piped in. “I just want to start my life.”
Randy turned to me, and I knew I had worded that the wrong way. “I’ll try not to take offense,” he said, frowning.
“Please don’t. I appreciate all you have done for me, Randy. You too, Pam. But I want to work at a job in my field, and doing security at the medical center is perfect. I took the detour for you, and now I want to do what I want.”
“Randy, she’s right. You jumped at the chance to use her in the series, and now she’s completed her obligation.”
“Wow. I didn’t realize it took such effort.”
“Randy, come on,” Pam said. “You didn’t give the girl a chance.”
“I thought being a television personality was a bigger investment in her future than being a security guard at a hospital.”
“And it was, I’m sure!” I said, trying to smooth things over. “And now that I’m well known, I can go back to my mediocre career choice.”
“Aw, that’s not what I meant,” Randy replied, calming down. “Forgive me. I hope it helped, doing the show.”
