grades in science,” he responded.
“How good?” she asked at once.
“Straight A’s,” he told her proudly.
“Good for you,” she told him, her expression turning thoughtful.
“What are you thinking?” Wade asked.
“Just pondering a couple of ideas,” she said.
Wade let the subject drop because he got a feeling she didn’t want to mention the ideas in front of Jimmy. The fact that she’d so obviously taken an interest in a boy she barely knew touched him on a whole new level, though. Not that she needed any additional recommendation in his book.
She stood. “It’s obvious Grandmother is not sending anyone else to handle this table, so let me rustle up some food for you. I’m sure you need to get back to work.”
“Two cheeseburgers with fries,” Wade said at once. “Soda, Jimmy?”
The teenager nodded, his rapt gaze never leaving Gabriella. Clearly he was smitten. Wade knew all too well exactly how he felt.
* * *
Even after Wade and Jimmy had left Castle’s, Gabi hadn’t been able to shake off their conversation or the eager expression on Jimmy’s face when he’d talked about biomedical engineering. She wasn’t sure why that look had touched her, but it had.
Maybe it was because she understood what it was like to want something so badly and know it was just out of reach. That’s the way it had always been in her relationship with her father. He hadn’t withheld his love, just routine affection and approval. He’d given lip service to being a good dad. He just hadn’t been around. While Emily had responded by dismissing him from her life and Samantha had feigned acceptance of Sam Castle’s flaws, Gabi had spent years trying to earn his attention.
At the end of the day, still unable to shake the image of Jimmy’s resigned expression of acceptance that he’d never achieve his dream, she pulled out her cell phone and called her father’s private line.
“What is it?” he snapped impatiently when he answered.
“Always a pleasure to hear your voice, Dad,” she said, not even attempting to keep the sarcasm from her voice.
“Gabriella?”
“Yep, it’s me. I’m probably the only one of your daughters who dares to interrupt your work.”
“Did you call for something specific or just to make a point about my sins as a parent?” he inquired.
“Actually, for once, I’m not calling to judge you. I need your help.”
For an instant, stunned silence greeted the remark. “That’s a first,” he said eventually.
“I hope that means you’ll take it seriously, then.”
“Of course I will,” he said impatiently.
“I’m staying over at Grandmother’s,” she announced. “Emily and Samantha are here, too.”
“Why?” he asked, a worried note creeping into his voice. For once he sounded more concerned than exasperated that something inconvenient might be about to disrupt his life. “Is your grandmother sick?”
“No, we’re making plans for Emily’s wedding,” she said, figuring that was the least controversial explanation she could offer. “Since President’s Day weekend is this week, could you drive over? At least for a day?”
“I seriously doubt your sister wants my input on her wedding,” he countered.
“She might like sharing her plans with you, though,” Gabi said. “Be an interested dad for once. Couldn’t you do that?”
After a lengthy pause, he finally said, “I’ll drive over Saturday morning. Is that all?”
“I need you to bring an open mind with you,” she added. “There’s a young man I want you to meet.”
“Someone you’re seeing?”
“No, someone I just met today.”
“I don’t understand.”
“You will,” she promised. “I think he’s going to remind you of someone.”
“Who?”
“You,” she replied softly. “See you on Saturday, Dad.”
She hung up before he could have second thoughts and take back his promise to come.
“What are you up to?” Cora Jane asked, studying her intently.
Gabi glanced up at her. “You heard?”
“Enough to know that you’ve reached out to your father,” Cora Jane confirmed.
“I’m hoping Dad will dig deep into that heart we all suspect him of having and maybe give a helping hand to a kid who needs it,” she said.
Cora Jane regarded her worriedly. “Oh, honey bun, are you sure about this? Are you really ready to see your father right now?”
Gabi knew what she was really asking’was Gabi ready for her father to realize she was pregnant and start making judgments. “It’s not about me,” she said. “That kid deserves a break, and I think I know a way to make it happen. Dad’s company gives some scholarships for qualified kids. They start taking applications around this time of the year. Usually the applicants are high school seniors, but I think under the circumstances I can convince him to make an exception for Jimmy. Dad has the ability to make this happen for that boy.”
Cora Jane shook her head. “You’ve always been an optimist where your dad’s concerned. You’ve seen the good in him, even when he’s done his best to hide it from all of you.”
Gabi shrugged. “I’m not sure if I’ve even had a glimpse of it,” she admitted. “But he is your son, Grandmother. Nobody raised by Cora Jane Castle could possibly be all bad.”
Cara Jane chuckled at that. “You may be giving me too much credit.”
“I guess we’ll see on Saturday, won’t we?”
And at the same time, she’d be able to face the risk that her father would turn his back on her for the mess she’d made of her life. At least by forcing the issue here and now, she’d be surrounded by people who loved her and didn’t judge her.
If Sam Castle disowned her for making a mistake, well, it would only sever a tie that had never been very strong to begin with. Maybe it was time she knew once and for all if she could ever forge a real relationship with her father, or if she, like her sisters, was destined to have him on the fringe of her life forever.
5
“Dad’s coming over on Saturday?” Emily repeated skeptically. “You called him and he actually said he’d
