House Of Secrets by Tracie Peterson

couldn’t believe I was saying all of this.
    “That’ll make our conversation harder, but not impossible,” Mark replied. “Why don’t we back up. What do you need in a friend right now?”
    I honestly couldn’t tell him. I had spent my life being careful not to cultivate relationships. If friendship was a garden, I had worked 24/7 to pour ground kill on my plot.
    “I guess I just wanted . . . well, I needed someone outside of the family. Just needed to step away from the mess and focus on something else. Tell me what’s happening in New York.”
    He chuckled. “Well, I miss you. How’s that for starters?”
    I shook my head and leaned forward to plant my elbows on the table. “That’s a lousy start. How’s the workload? Did you get the Armstrong contract completed? What about Mary Simpson’s historical on the life of Sarah Polk? Did she get the manuscript turned in?”
    “Yes and yes.”
    I was more than a little frustrated with his lack of detail. “And what about the Beijing Book Fair? Who’s planning to attend this year?”
    “Dad is taking a team of five. Daniel, Leo, Justine, and Michelle, and he’s stealing Sandy from me to act as assistant to them all. It seems she speaks Mandarin fluently. Should come in handy.”
    “I should say so.”
    I knew this conversation wasn’t at all what I needed or wanted. I wrestled inside my mind. Trust did not come easily to me, and even though Mark had only proved worthy of my confidence, I held myself in check.
    “What’s your weather like?” Mark asked since I remained silent.
    “This morning is beautiful. But they are too few and far between.” I glanced around and studied the yard for a moment. “The flowers are blooming—the scents are incredible. I like what the caretakers have done with the landscaping. There are a ton of honeysuckle bushes and roses. Everything is blooming early, it seems. Even the hydrangeas are starting. I’d forgotten how much I love the vegetation here.”
    “Are you planning to garden while you’re there?” he asked.
    “I have no green thumb. I kill houseplants.”
    “I’ll try to remember that when I send you flowers.” He sounded amused nevertheless. “So what are your plans for the day? Unloading baggage?”
    He caught me unaware and I actually laughed. “Don’t I wish. I mean, that is the plan, but it was also the plan last night.”
    “And things got away from you?”
    “Completely out of control.”
    “And do you think today will go any better?”
    I felt strangely at ease with this man. “I hope so. We’re planning a talk with our father this morning.”
    “I’ll keep you in my prayers.”
    “Funny you should mention that. My dad says he’s gotten his life in order with God. What do you suppose he really means by that?” I already figured I knew the answer, but at least it would give Mark something to talk about other than me.
    “I think you should ask him,” Mark said without missing a beat.
    Not exactly the answer I had hoped for. I was about to comment on my interpretation of such a statement when I heard Piper ranting about something in the house.
    “Look, my sister is back with Dad. I need to go. Thanks for being there.”
    “What are friends for?” he said. I could hear the smile in his voice.
    “To tell you the truth, I’m not exactly sure. I’ve never really had one.”
    I closed my cell phone and went inside. Dad was nowhere to be seen, but Piper was going off about something.
    I slipped the cell phone into my jeans. “What’s wrong?” I picked up my coffee and sipped it, thankful it was still fairly warm.
    “He’s gone already,” Piper declared. “Dad must have taken the first ferry out, because he’s not there.”
    “So much for having a discussion in private,” Geena said, spatula in hand. “So now what? Do we wait until we have him alone? Do we talk to him in front of Judith?”
    I had only known Judith as a voice on the telephone, speaking with her only the few