Page 13 of Inside Silence

Truthfully, I’m more flattered my daughter does not find me hideous.

“That’s not a very nice thing to say,” I point out, fulfilling my parental duty.

Tatum rolls her eyes and leans forward across the table.

“Dad, seriously? She’s hitting on you with your daughter sitting right across from you. For all she knows you’re married. That’s not nice, and pretty tacky.”

Can’t argue with that.

Two seconds later, Tate is making eyes at that boy again. When I look over at their table, I catch sight of his father looking this way. He lifts his chin in a silent acknowledgement and I give a nod back.

The next thing I know, he is walking over here with his mortified-looking son in tow.

“Sorry for interrupting.” I take his offered hand as he identifies himself. “Hugo Alexander, and this is my son, Carson.”

“Nate Gaines and my daughter, Tatum.”

“I know. I believe my son has something he’d like to tell you.”

You wouldn’t know it by looking at the kid, who appears about as mortified as my daughter does.

“I’m…uh…sorry.”

“For?” his father prompts him.

The boy shoots his father an angry look, but I’d swear it shows a hint of betrayal as well. I remember that feeling, where people expect the worst of you. Even when you’re trying to do the right thing which, from what I understand, the kid was doing by looking out for my daughter.

The sudden, unexpected kinship I feel with this kid prompts me to turn to his father.

“No, actually, Carson’s got nothing to apologize for. Your son took care of my daughter, helping her out of a difficult situation at school. Granted, taking her to a coffee shop instead of alerting a teacher or the principal was probably not the smartest move, but I think he had the right intentions.”

Alexander looks taken aback and glances over at his son, whose face registers surprise. Guess it doesn’t happen often that someone speaks up for him. I get that too.

“It’s true,” Tatum softly affirms. “I’m new at school and some kids were mean. Carson was just being nice.”

“I see,” the man mumbles, dropping his head before twisting his neck to look at his son. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“You were too busy being mad at me.”

Ouch. That’s got to hurt. Eating crow isn’t fun and I should know, I did a bit of that myself after finding out my daughter didn’t just skip school.

“Have you guys eaten yet?” I change the subject.

“We’re just waiting for our dinner,” Alexander answers.

“So are we. Why don’t you pull up a couple of chairs?”

I’m not sure where that came from, being social is not my style, but if I’m going to make a go of it here in Silence, I could probably use a friend.

Plus, the beaming smile Tate sends me feels pretty damn good.

Chapter 5

Savvy

* * *

“Like hell I will!”