Chapter 49

Chapter 49
Mandy listened to it three more times, stunned. Her father wanted to see her? Why? He hadn’t taken her out to lunch for no apparent reason since she was still in high school. He always saved lunch for business meetings, not for something as frivolous and unproductive as a family get together. She sat and stared at her phone and decided to call him back, sort of relieved when it went to voicemail. She listed off the days she was available for lunch before turning back to her computer screen and burying herself deep into work.

THEY ENDED UP HAVING lunch on Friday. They met at an Italian restaurant down the street from Mandy’s work. Her father was already there, looking awkward and uncomfortable when he rose to give her a hug. She realized he didn’t have his cell phone on him.

He smiled at her. “Hello, sweetie. You look nice.”

She looked down. She was wearing a new blouse and a pair of black pants. She had dropped even more weight since the time Carl bought her clothes and had to pick up a few more outfits as well as a sewing kit to take in the clothes she already had. Size eight clothes were starting to fit loosely. “You look good, too.” She leaned in for a quick hug. “You ready to order?”

He nodded. “Don’t have much time?”

“Not as much as I’d like.” She smiled and ordered chicken Marsala, one of the most fattening dishes on the menu. Her dad ordered the same thing. She didn’t care about ordering the high-calorie food with her dad because he was the only family member who hadn’t actually given her any grief about her weight. Besides, he was breaking his diet as well.

“How have you been?” he asked.

“I’ve been okay.” Mandy eyed him suspiciously. “What’s going on, Dad? We’ve never had lunch together, so we can’t exactly pretend this is a normal thing.”

“I know, I know.” He sighed. “I’ve missed you, Mandy. I know I’m not that family oriented and haven’t been the best father, but I really do love you, and I want to try to make things right.” He forced a smile. “Besides, sometimes I think you’re the only sane relation I have.” He grimaced slightly.

Mandy smiled. “Thanks, Dad, that really means a lot to me.”

“You are a good kid. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.” He smiled. “Now, tell me how you’ve been? How’s work? So proud of you with your new job.”

“It’s been good. Mr. Salvo’s given me a pay raise. Apparently, I’m doing a great job.” She laughed, loving that she could brag to him and he wouldn’t take it as she was being conceited. She was proud.

He raised an eyebrow. “Really?”

“Yes, it’s amazing! I took charge of a meeting when he had to call out of work and I was able to get twice the amount of money from the investors than what he asked for. Ever since then I’ve been in charge of some more things and he’s given me a pay raise.”

“That is amazing,” he said, clearly impressed. “Tell me more.”

They talked about her work and her dad’s work. They avoided the subject of Mandy’s mom and sister completely, much to Mandy’s relief. At the end of lunch, Mandy walked her dad to his car and hugged him. “Thank you for lunch,” she said. “I’m glad you called.”

“My pleasure,” he said, and he sounded very sincere, which gave Mandy hope for the future. “We should do this again. Maybe next week?”

Mandy nodded, unable to hold back her joy. “I would like that.” She grinned. “Definitely.”

He smiled. “Good. Now, I know neither one of us really want to talk about the unpleasantness at home, but... You know I will still think the world of you even if you don’t go to your sister’s wedding tomorrow?” He shook his head. “She’s completely stressed but that doesn’t mean she should be taking it out on you. Not to mention the history between you and Stephen—” He held up his hand. “I don’t mean about you, I mean about that prick.” He grimaced. “Personally, I wish she would just call the whole thing off. Stephen’s an asshole, but I’m apparently the only one in the family aside from you who can see past his good looks and little bit of money.”

Mandy laughed. “Honestly, his looks aren’t that good.”

He chuckled and then grew serious again. “I want you to know I’m proud of you, Mandy. Very proud. You’re everything I ever could have wanted in a daughter and more.”

Mandy swallowed but she could feel the tears rising up anyway. Please don’t break down. Don’t break down. She wrapped her arms around him in a hug to hide her tears and compose herself. “I love you, Dad,” she whispered.

“I love you, too,” he said as they broke apart. “Don’t marry an asshole like Stephen. Please don’t make me walk you down the aisle to a prick like that. I won’t do it.”

She burst out laughing and held up her hand. “I promise you.”

He looked at his watch and winced.

“You need to get back to work,” Mandy said. “Before you’re late.”

“Actually, I was late twenty minutes ago.” He smiled sheepishly.

“Dad! Why didn’t you tell me? We could have cut this short.”

He shook his head. “I have been too wrapped up in work. It’s about time I make some time for my family. They can handle me being late now and then.”

Mandy shook her head and then smiled. “Thanks for taking me out. I’ll see you next week. My treat next time.”

Her dad chuckled. “Then I’m definitely ordering dessert.”

After they parted company, Mandy managed to hold it together until she got into the elevator in her office building. Then she started to cry. She loved her family. She cried harder than she had in a long time. She didn’t even know that the elevator doors had opened until she felt someone’s strong arms around her, comforting her, rubbing her back and holding her close. She buried her head in the stranger’s chest, just thankful someone was willing to hold her. It felt good, even though she knew she would be embarrassed soon enough.

“Tell me what’s wrong,” Carl murmured.

Her head shot up in surprise. She stepped back quickly. “Sorry, I didn’t realize—”

Carl pressed the emergency stop button. “Tell me what’s wrong so I can make it better. Is it Stephen?”

She wiped her eyes. “Nothing’s wrong,” she said. “Everything is perfectly right.”

“Then why are you crying?” He handed her a handkerchief from his suit pocket.

She accepted it and blew her nose. “My father’s proud of me,” she said, and then started crying again. He pulled her even tighter to his body and she breathed in the scent of him. He smelled like pine. “He actually said he was proud of me today. We went out for lunch. He’s not mad at me at all.”

He smiled and rested his chin on the top of her head. “Good,” he murmured. “I’m glad.”

She hiccupped. “It was so out of the blue that he asked me out for lunch. I still can’t believe he did. And then he said that he was proud of me.” She felt the tears welling up again.

“How could he not be?” He smiled at her.

She inhaled a deep breath and stared down at her hands. “Thanks. Sorry about the crying. I don’t usually do that.” She went to hand him his expensive handkerchief back.

“Keep it.” He laughed and scrunched his nose. It made his face look adorably cute.

Mandy giggled and stuffed it in her pocket. “I’ll buy you a new one.”

“I think I can afford to lose one.” He chuckled, probably happy to see she wasn’t crying anymore and then pressed the emergency stop button again for them to go up.

Mandy bit her lip when she realized that they had been stopped for over twenty minutes. “Oh no,” she said. “We stopped the elevator for that long?”

“It’s okay,” Carl said. “It’s my private elevator to my office. Only you and I use it, remember?”

She nodded and smiled. “Right,” she said. “Still, wouldn’t people notice?”

“Maybe, but it doesn’t matter,” Carl said. “We weren’t doing anything indecent, and even if we were, it would be none of their business.” He hesitated momentarily when he said indecent.

Mandy felt her cheeks warm. “I can’t exactly blame them for thinking that we are sleeping together. I mean, we have in the past.”

“Yes. But it is still none of their business.” Carl frowned. “Anything I, or you, do outside of the office doesn’t affect our professional lives. We still work together well.”

“Then why don’t you want to have a real relationship with me?” Mandy blurted out. Then she flushed. “Sorry,” she said. “You don’t have to answer that.”

His cheeks reddened
. “No, it’s okay,” he said. “I haven’t been fair to you, Mandy. I know that. You deserve an explanation.”