The Secret She Kept by Amy Knupp

room. Jake decided it best to let the man get it all out.
    “Do you guys want me to leave?” Savannah asked.
    Strangely, Jake didn’t. He would’ve expected having her here would be the most awkward thing in the world, but the idea of her leaving him alone with his father, with this conversation, made him sweat. He shook his head and touched her arm.
    “You’re fine,” his dad said. “When you get this close to dying, you don’t worry so much about the small stuff. Only the big stuff.”
    Savannah relaxed a couple of degrees.
    “I’m sorry I ever told you to leave home,” Dean said, his attention fastened back on Jake. “Sorry about so many damn things….” His voice cracked.
    Jake leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, long-buried sadness making his head feel very heavy. He’d always thought that in the extremely unlikely case his father apologized, he’d feel somewhat righteous, but otherwise unaffected. He’d been wrong.
    Savannah put her hand on his back. Her touch seemed the most normal thing in the world in this very abnormal moment.
    “The fight that night,” his dad began again, “wasn’t so much about you staying out all hours. Oh, sure, I was ticked off you weren’t there when Emily got in trouble. Mad as hell I had to truck back from the conference in Kansas City to handle things. But you were nineteen. I knew we were lucky you were still hanging around. I was lucky you were still taking care of Emily when she was younger. You always did. Always knew what to do for her and for yourself.”
    He stared out the window toward the lights in the parking lot. When he turned to Jake again, Dean’s eyes were moist. “You were more of a father to that girl when you were a teenager than I’ve ever been.”
    “I just did what it seemed I needed to do. I didn’t know the first thing about it, either.” Jake’s throat felt thick with myriad emotions—sorrow, regret. Maybe even empathy.
    His dad smiled sadly. “You got the dad instinct that I’ve never had. You’ll do just fine when you have kids of your own.”
    Jake straightened and met Savannah’s gaze. They were both thinking that he did have a kid. Her eyes widened and she nodded subtly, as if to encourage him to tell his father.
    He wasn’t ready to do that.
    Jake couldn’t wait to tell the world that Allie was his daughter, but…not his dad.
    He appreciated the old man’s apology. It was a start, never mind that it was darn near too late. Saying he was sorry didn’t come easily for Dean Barnes. Yet the father-son closeness that would have been nice his whole life was still missing.
    Savannah continued to eye him expectantly, but he directed his attention back to his dad.
    “I appreciate the apology. I have to tell you I have a lot of years of anger to get over. Ever since Mom died, at least.”
    His dad flinched at the words. He gazed at the ceiling for several seconds, then finally nodded, looking defeated. “I imagine you do.”
    They talked about nothing significant for a few more minutes—mostly Dean and Savannah discussing college football. Jake noticed she was getting antsy, and shot her a questioning look.
    “I have to get the kids soon,” she said.
    He jumped up, relieved at an excuse to depart. Some of his resentment toward his father had lessened with their conversation tonight, but they could only get so far in an hour.
    “We have to drive back to Lone Oak,” he said.
    “You planning to leave town soon?” Dean queried.
    “This weekend.”
    “What day is it?”
    “Today’s Monday. I fly out on Sunday.”
    His dad made eye contact then, and Jake could see apprehension in his gaze. Dean wasn’t sure he would make it until Sunday.
    “I’ll be back in Lone Oak the following weekend, though.” Again, emotion balled up in Jake’s throat, surprising him with its intensity. “I’ll try to visit again before I go.”
    His dad nodded, seeming too fatigued to say another word.

CHAPTER TEN
    S AVANNAH AND J