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Ida glanced toward the bathroom as she stepped closer and looked him straight in the eye. “You’re Sebastian Schultz.”
His heartbeat raced. How did she know?
“I knew you looked familiar, but I could not place it. And then I remembered an article I read a while back about the children of the Schultz Chocolate founder taking on bigger roles in the company.”
“Ida—”
“My memory is very long, especially when it comes to what I’ve read. This I know I’m right about.”
“I have a good reason. Please let me explain.”
“I don’t know why you’re keeping this from Genny, but—”
“I can’t really go into everything at the moment.” His gaze shot frantically toward the bathroom. “I’ve had bad experiences with relationships in the past,” he explained as quietly as he could so Genevieve wouldn’t hear him. “It’s hard to know who I can trust. But I think I can trust her, and I know it doesn’t seem like it, but she can trust me, too, Ida. I promise you, I’m going to tell her. Please, just give me a chance.”
Ida was quiet for a long, uncomfortable minute, and appeared to be contemplating the situation. “I won’t tell her.”
He was shocked by this. “You won’t?”
“I haven’t seen her this happy in a long time, and I know it has to do with you.”
“I never meant to hide this from her. It just happened.”
“I’m sure you have your reasons, but let me say this …” Ida took another step closer, looking him straight in the eyes. “You need to tell her, and soon. The longer you wait, the worse it will be.”
“I know,” he replied.
Ida shook her head. “She’s going to be very hurt.”
He hung his head. “I know that too. And please believe me when I say that hurting her is the last thing I ever want to do.”
Ida nodded once, her lips pressed together in a tight line.
“I will tell her before the regatta.”
She patted him on the arm. “Good. Then we understand each other.”
“We do.”
“We do what?” Genevieve asked as she walked into the kitchen and opened a drawer, removing a notepad and pen from within.
Sebastian’s heart was in his throat. “We need to get back to GR.”
“Yeah, just let me leave a note for Luna about Charisma.” She looked over at Ida. “Mom, I know you don’t like the horses, but I need you to check on her in a while and keep the knee wrapped. If it’s not better in the morning, call me, and I’ll call the vet. If she has to see him, I want to be here.”
“All right,” Ida replied. “And I like the horses just fine. So long as I don’t have to clean up after them.”
Genevieve looked straight at Sebastian, confirming with her eyes what she’d said about her mother earlier. She laid the notepad and pen on top of the counter. “Make sure Luna only comes if Charisma’s knee is better. And if so, make sure she sees this. I don’t want Luna taking her out and making it worse.”
“Got it.”
Genevieve walked over and hugged her mother. “Thanks, Mom.”
“Again, it was nice meeting you,” Sebastian told Ida.
Ida nodded. “Same to you.”
He looked back over his shoulder and gave Ida a final nod of understanding before following Genevieve out the door.