Page 29 of Echoes of Eternity

“That was the point.” Squirming out of his hold, she shook her head. “You can’t tell anyone, Ryan. Not Jason, not your sisters, nobody.”

He shook his head. “Mom, I know you want to protect his reputation, but people should know the truth. They deserve it.”

Furrowing her eyebrows, she looked at him. “Really, Ryan? You think people deserve the truth? You think there is good reason to go around and tell people your father has a fifteen-year-old girl named Tiffany? If you do that, kiss the grill goodbye and just move back to California now.”

“What?”

She shook her head. “Your grill would be empty if people knew the truth about Frank. Nobody in this town would ever eat there.”

“I don’t think people are that vindictive, Mom.”

“You don’t know Cedarwood Creek. It’s not the same town you grew up in.” She shook her head. “This town is full of secrets. The judgmental people of this town would have a field day if they knew the truth about your father. It makes me sick to even think about it. Don’t tell anyone, for your father.”

“Okay. I won’t tell anyone.”

Finding a moment to split away from the morning routines, Emily went into the bedroom to find Ryan putting his shoes on.

“Did you talk to her?”

He nodded slowly but said nothing.

She touched his shoulder. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. I don’t want to talk about it.” Standing, he went into the ensuite bathroom and shut the door. Feeling him slipping away from her again after finally getting him to open up last night on the front steps, she feared not acting. Going to the bathroom door, she knocked lightly without entering.

“Ryan, please talk to me. Don’t shut me out again. You finally opened your heart to me last night. That was just what I needed.”

He opened the door.

Concern filled his expression as his lips tightened and he shook his head. With tears welling in his eyes, he shook his head. “My dad had a kid with that woman Linda.”

Covering her mouth, Emily shook her head. “No . . .”

“Yep.” Stepping back in front of the mirror, he looked into the mirror as he continued. “A kid, Em. I feel like everything in my life was a lie.”

Proceeding into the bathroom, she came over to his side and leaned her head against his shoulder as she brought an arm up along his back. “Not everything, love.”

Kissing her forehead, he smiled. “That’s true.”

“Are you going to talk to Jason now that you know the full truth?”

He shook his head. “I can’t. I promised my mom I wouldn’t talk to anyone.”

“Carrying a secret isn’t good for the heart, Ryan.”

“Well, it’s my burden to bear, Em.” He sighed, then redirected. “I better get finished up here and get some website work done before I head to the grill.”

“And I need to get to the school. The principal wants to talk to me.”

Lifting his eyebrows, Ryan looked at her. “Why? What’d you do?”

She shook her head. “I don’t know, but we’re friends. I’m sure it’s nothing serious. She texted me this morning requesting that I come by her office.”

Gathering the kids, Emily headed to the school. The kids headed into the chapel for morning ceremonies while Emily went to the administration office to meet with the principal, her friend Sarah.

“Shut the door and have a seat.” Sarah’s voice was a bit firm, setting an uneasy feeling off inside Emily.

Sitting down slowly, she asked, “What’s going on?”