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but didn t feel right staying here either. How had he become so hopelessly
entangled?
Dan waved a hand. I don t want to make you feel guilty. I just want you to
sit tight for a couple of days like Nia said. I ll see if the cops can clear away the
paparazzi from in front of the school when it s time for you to pick up Cara. You
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The Au Pair Affair
stay with the kids and keep things as normal as possible until I get back. Can you
do that for me?
Anything. I would do anything for you. What you re asking isn t even a chore. It s
exactly what I want to do.
Sure, Louis answered, rising from the edge of the bed.
Thank you. Dan stepped in close, cupped his face and gave him a quick
peck on the mouth. It s going to be all right.
He left the room before Louis could even breathe again. And for the first
time all day, Louis thought maybe things would be all right after all.
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Chapter Seventeen
Call first. Don t just show up on their doorstep, idiot. The thought pestered at
Dan like a buzzing fly, but he ignored it. He didn t pick up his phone, didn t text,
didn t call; he just drove.
If his mom answered and she d seen the tabloids, he d have to deal with her
on speakerphone during the long drive while getting increasingly frustrated.
That probably wasn t a safe thing to inflict on other drivers. If his father
answered, whether he d heard the news or not, he d be his usual aggressive,
annoying self.
No. Dan would drive there and take a chance on them not being home,
which would be just his luck on this awful day.
The sun was shining. Traffic was light. Brilliant flowers bloomed along the
highway. Dan tried to focus on the normal details of life, which went on
regardless of stupid human dramas. He needed to put this in perspective. What
was the worst fallout that could occur from the tabloid headlines? Crissi s or his
careers might be jeopardized. Not the end of the world. There were other jobs.
Their family was alive and healthy. That was all that really mattered.
Just as he was starting to breathe slower and feel calmer, his thoughts
hopscotched over to Louis, and his pulse quickened. What about Louis? Gossip
would die quicker if he was taken out of the equation. But Dan didn t want to
cast Louis out of the family. That was the last thing he wanted. The question was
what would Crissi want? Dan couldn t act as if his new relationship didn t affect
her and the kids. God, it was all so complicated.
The Au Pair Affair
One issue at a time, he reminded himself as he entered his parents
neighborhood, old by California standards. Large trees shaded cool green lots
with houses set back from the street. There was his parents stucco wall with the
gates guarding the driveway. He gripped the wheel hard as he pulled in and
punched in the code to enter.
Grow up! he ordered himself. They re your parents, not the Gestapo. Say what
you ve come to say, then get the hell out.
So simple. So why hadn t he done it before now?
Dan, you re here! His mom pulled him into a strong hug as she welcomed
him in the foyer. It s been so long since you ve been home. We ve missed you so
much.
I know. I m sorry. Work and the kids keep me really busy. It s hard to find
the time to drive out here. Great. He was already making excuses.
I m always willing to meet you in the city for lunch any time. And you
know I d be happy to have the kids come spend the night whenever you and
Crissi decide they re old enough to spend a night away from home. Her tone
suggested she thought it was well past time for them to be allowed to stay with
Grandma.
I ll talk about it with Crissi, and we ll arrange something soon, Dan
promised. But, Mom, there s something I need to talk to you and Dad about.
Something important. That s why I m here.
His mom frowned, a crease between her eyebrows struggling to form on the
smooth sheet of her Botoxed face. That sounds ominous. Well, you re already
divorced, so it can t be that. Are you seeing someone new? Her expression
brightened, resuming placid ease.
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Bonnie Dee
Is Dad here? I don t want to have to say this twice.
Yes, you ve caught him at home for once. I swear the man spends more
time away than he did when he was working full time. He s on the damn golf
course for hours every day.
She led him toward the back of the house. His dad s office door loomed
before Dan like a portal to hell. He knew he was blowing this out of proportion,
giving his father too much power over him. He was an adult, for God s sake,
who d long ago begun making his own decisions and charting his own course in
life. Why was this still so very hard?
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