Page 128 of His Secret

She smiles a little, eyes flickering in my direction before answering. “I do miss Chicago. It’s a bit smaller here. Not what I’m used to, but you know, it’s fine.”

My father nods. “You could come visit.” A quick look at me. “You both could. It’s not too far away.”

“Yeah, I was thinking about going back for my father’s birthday. I know he likes to have these big extravagant parties.”

“And he’s turning sixty, so it’ll be extra big,” my dad says with a small laugh. “Have you talked to your mother?”

I look over the menu as they have their conversation, wondering why the hell I was invited in the first place.

“Yeah. I guess she’s been busy redecorating their new place.”

“Oh yeah. Her and Suzie may have found a new hobby,” my father says, talking about my mom. “She’s already talked about wanting to re-do our guest room.”

“What’s her plan?” Charlotte asks.

“Oh, I don’t know. She has her own plans. I nod and agree, and she’s happy.”

Charlotte laughs. “You guys are so great together.” A pause. “I guess some people are just meant to be. Soulmates. Do you believe in that?”

I fight to keep from looking over my menu. I let out a soft sigh and pretend to read some more.

My dad clears his throat. “I believe in soulmates,” he says, surprising me. “But I believe there are different types. Most people think a soulmate is the one and only person you’re meant to be with forever. I think you can have a platonic soulmate. I think you can have a romantic one. I think you can even have more than one.”

I finally lower my menu, watching my father with confusion on my face. I’ve never heard him talk about relationships at all.

“More than one? Doesn’t that defeat the purpose of a soulmate?” Charlotte asks.

“No. Not to me, anyway. Sometimes people come into your life and change it in a way that alters your path, your outlook, or fixes a part of you. That doesn't mean you have to be with them forever. They served their purpose.”

I swallow, hanging on his every word.

“But Suzie…she’s your soulmate, right? Your forever.”

My father looks at her, but I see his eyes shift slightly in my direction, like he’s just now aware that I’m here.

“She’s my forever, yes. But she wasn’t my first soulmate. She wasn’t my first love, either. A series of events led me to her.”

This is news to me. Mom has always talked about their relationship with this fairytale haze over it. They met in college—a meet-cute in the quad due to having mutual friends. They had their first date two days later, and werein love and together from then on. They never spoke of other relationships.

The table goes quiet, and then the waiter appears. Conversation shifts into non-important things. My dad tries to pull me in with questions about work, but I answer only what he asks. I’m too focused on what he said earlier. Were his statements for Charlotte or for me? It sort of felt like both.

I was here for her to help her in her journey, but not necessarily meant for forever. Or is he saying that Matías was part of a series of events in my own journey.

After quickly eating, I look at my watch. “I need to get back to work. I have another meeting soon.”

“Oh. I can take you back,” Dad says.

“It’s fine. We don’t even have the check yet.” I pull out my wallet.

Dad raises his hand. “I got it.”

“Thanks. I’m gonna grab an Uber. I’ll see you later,” I say, looking at Charlotte. I turn my attention to my dad. “Hope you have a good trip back. I’ll see you…sometime, I guess.”

He nods and I just put my hand on his shoulder before I leave.

Outside, after I order a car, I check my text thread with Matías and find he hasn’t replied to my last message.

Once I’m on my floor, I go to his office and knock.