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“Delphi, where’s your rose?”
“Hmmm?”
“Nana Rose’s necklace—where is it?”
My hand flies up to my neck out of habit. “Oh, I... I took it off.”
“You’ve been wearing it every day since you were thirteen,” he says slowly.
“I still do. I just... I’m having it cleaned. I’ll have it back soon.”
Dad lets another awkward moment pass, but I can already sense where we’re headed. Suspicion radiates from him and his furrowed brow and tight lips.
“I’m getting worried about you,” he says. “You haven’t been answering your calls like usual. It took you a whole week just to get back to me about lunch today.”
“I’ve been busy.”
“You just finished telling me you’ve taken time off.”
I draw in an uneven breath. My skin warms. I hate lying to Dad—mostlybecause I’m almost certain he can always tell. Even if he hasn’t always called me out on it. When I look up at him, his mouth has pulled even tighter.
He knows something’s up.
“I suppose now is the time to mention this,” he says carefully. “Your apartment renovation. I’m confused about it. It’s my old bachelor pad. Even slept there many nights when working hard on a case going to trial and I couldn’t make it home to your mother and you kids. The place is in mint condition. Remember how just two years ago you had that inspection done, and it passed with flying colors? What changed?”
A forced smile comes to my face. “I told you it was just for aesthetics.”
“Yes, I remember you saying that. I happened to be in the area the other day, and stopped by. I spoke to Rachel, Flynn’s ex-wife. She told me about the break-in.”
Crap! Think of something!
“I can’t help but wonder why you wouldn’t tell me?” Dad continues. “In fact, I can’t help but wonder why you’d tell me your apartment was being renovated when it doesn’t look like any work was ever done on it. Certainly not enough to justify moving out for renovations?”
“I... I might have lied. I said it was under renovation, but the truth is, I moved out because I didn’t feel safe there anymore.”
“Why didn’t you say anything? You could’ve come home to stay with me. We could’ve hired you security. Do you know how many years my life was threatened when I was DA? Those mafia thugs think they run the city—”
“I have it under control.”
“You seem shaken even speaking of it. I’m not sure you know what you might be up against, sweetheart.”
“Dad, I said I can handle it,” I snap. “Please take me at my word.”
A sudden calmness settles over him. He unfurls his cloth napkin, his expression slackening. “Of course. I don’t mean to pry. It’s just... I have one more question. If you’re not at the apartment, and you’re not at work, what have you been up to, and who have you been staying with?”
“She’s been staying with me.”
Both Dad and I look up. Brenda beams at us as she stops at our table. Carlos, another colleague of ours, is with her. They must’ve just walked in for lunch. Dad greets them hello and shakes their hands.
“Delphine has been staying at my place,” Brenda fibs brightly. “It’s kind of cramped and I live in Old Northam, so it’s not the newest apartment, but it’s been working out.Exceptfor when we both need to get ready in the morning! Two gals, one bathroom!”
Brenda’s melodic laugh lightens the air. Carlos joins in, though he’s obtuse to the lie being told. I mouth thank you to Brenda the second I’m certain Dad isn’t looking. She merely gives the subtlest of winks.
“Well, that sounds like quite the setup,” Dad says. He nods at them. “It’s nice meeting you two. Thank you for doing Delphine such a favor.”
They move on to their table, taking the triumphant moment with them. As soon as we’re alone again, it’s clear Dad didn’t buy a word. He retreats into suspicious silence, sipping from his sparkling water.
We need a change of subject. Desperately.
