we got to my car. It was nothing like the car Declan had bought my father for his birthday or the other expensive cars that chauffeured Charles around, but it was mine, and I was proud of being able to own a vehicle. Even if it was secondhand.
“So you’re really staying in Cincinnati?” Charles asked on the way.
“Yep. Already handed in my resignation, although it doesn’t go into effect until after my vacation time is up.”
“Where did you work, and what did you do?”
“I worked in office management in Columbus,” he replied. “JMM Corporation is a global technology solutions provider that’s focusing on expansion. I was hoping they’d build the office here, but they chose Cleveland.”
“What are you planning to do now?”
“I’ve been sending out my résumé. Hopefully something comes up soon, but I’m not worrying about it.”
I didn’t have expensive habits, and I’d saved up quite a bit over the past six years since I left home. I made a quick detour at the local Walmart and cajoled Charles to go in with me to go over paint strips and choose something for my secret room.
“I don’t know anything about decorating,” he said as I studied the samples the employee showed me.
“I call BS on that. You’re so anal about how everything has to go well together. I bet you could redecorate my entire house if you put your mind to it.”
“Are you trying to get me to redecorate your house for free?”
“Weeell.” I winked at him. “I’m sure we could think of another way to pay you.”
His cheeks turning red was the sexiest thing I’d ever seen. Charles Moore was an attractive man, and the way he responded to my flirting made me think he wasn’t exactly as straight as he thought. Maybe he was just curious, but it was a start.
I’d been curious too before I came out as pansexual.
“You have five minutes to pick out paint samples.”
I narrowed my eyes at him and bit my tongue to stop myself from saying something that would ruin the moment. Like how I was the one in charge and not him. If I wanted to spend an hour looking at paint samples, he would stand there, look handsome, and not complain about it.
After our shopping expedition, we stopped back at Declan’s house to collect Lucky. He hopped in the car with little fuss and settled down without much interest in Charles and me.
When I parked in my yard, I examined the modest building in front of me. What would Charles think about it? He and Declan couldn’t have lived a different life than the one I’d had growing up. Dad had struggled to take care of three children. As the eldest, when I was capable, I was often left in charge of the other two.
“I’ve never been here before,” Charles said, but he made no comment on the peeling paint. The building was old, but nothing a little loving couldn’t fix.
“Well, come on out and let me give you the grand tour.”
Lucky was only too happy to scamper from the car. I didn’t take him off the leash until we were inside. He raced off down the hall and disappeared.
“It’s not much,” I told Charles as we walked in at a slower pace than the dog. “The downstairs is a washroom, living room, and kitchen. The bedrooms and bathrooms are upstairs.”
“You grew up here?” Charles asked.
Not much had changed about the living room. Dad hadn’t taken anything when he moved in with Declan. Except for the photo frames with our family pictures. They were all gone, and with it, some of the personality of the room had disappeared. Those were his memories, though. I’d need to create new ones here.
“Yes. Lived here all my life until we went off to college.” He didn’t flinch or look disgusted, just interested. “It’s not much to look at.”
“But you had a happy childhood.”
“Yes, we did. Some hiccups here and there, but all in all, it worked out well.”
“Like what hiccups?”
I hesitated. I hadn’t brought him here for a heavy discussion of my past, but he seemed genuinely curious.
“My other father, James, left us when we were seven. He had his own reasons for doing so.”
He winced and glanced away from me. “Sounds like we both did the same thing to our kids.”
“He explained why.”
“I can explain a thousand times why I became distant when Miranda died. Doesn’t excuse the fact that I shunned my only child.”