Halle probably had expected to find me in better spirits when she showed up Monday for breakfast. I’d missed her company through the weekend again and now that the truth was out, I understood why. She’d been to see Charles again. I gritted my teeth as she spread jam on her toast and told me another lie.

“I can’t tell you how good it is to have a nice breakfast with you, Daddy. I considered sleeping in, but it’s such gorgeous weather we’re having, how could I resist?” She slathered that toast a bit heavier than usual and it didn’t escape me how thick she was laying it on me. I swallowed another sip of bitter black coffee and remained silent.

“Daddy, I swear you’re quiet this morning. Is everything okay?” She bit into the toast and closed her eyes as if savoring the bite.

“You’ll have to excuse me if I’m not in an equally sunny mood.” I took the knife and spread my own toast with butter.

“Did something happen at work?” She placed the toast on her plate and dabbed her mouth with her napkin, squaring her shoulders as if she were ready to hear a confessional.

“It’s more of a personal matter.”

Her brow twitched upward and she kept her eyes focused on her plate. “Is it a woman?” She glanced up and met my hard glare.

“Why don’t we talk about you? Where you’ve been the past two days and with whom?”

Her face fell and she scowled hissing Katie’s name under her breath. “So tell me how are those sessions going?”

“This has nothing to do with Katie. It has to do with your honesty. And as for the sessions, they’re done. I’m not going back.”

“Well good! I’m not sure it’s fair that I’m not supposed to discuss your precious sessions but it’s perfectly okay for her to blab to you about my personal life.”

“She didn’t tell me anything. She didn’t have to. I know your Charles Smith. He used to belong to the same group your sweet friend Willa has been telling you about.” Her eyes widened but I lifted my hand to keep her silent. “I know all about her too. You think I didn’t know you’d been talking to someone after getting me to go to counseling and all the silly questions about my personal life. Not to mention you’ve been running off out of town every chance you get.”

“Did you hire a PI or did your little girlfriend tell you?”

“Your little girlfriend was wrong, Halle. I’m not in a relationship, but maybe you should ask her why she’s so obsessed with what I’m doing. Ask her how she knows my whereabouts because I’m sure she’s lied to you about where she’s getting her information.”

“She said she’s friend with your girlfriend. She tells her everything, including how she’s planning to trap you.”

“Willa Brooks is a member of that same group. She used to pair off with your boyfriend before he moved away, though I guess I shouldn’t call him a boy. He’s too old for you. I want you to stop seeing him.”

Halle’s eyes filled with tears and she put her napkin back to her mouth, balling it into her fist. “He said they met at a therapy group.”

“He lied.” I took another sip of coffee hoping it would calm my nerves.

“I want you to stop having those parties, Daddy. It’s embarrassing. Having someone tell me my own father is involved in such things.” Her eyes shot up to mine as she gasped. “Please tell me you didn’t sleep with Willa!”

“Willa’s problem with me is that I don’t. She’s not my type.” No, my type was the gorgeous Katherine next door. The one I couldn’t get off my mind, the one I wanted so badly it hurt. But she had made her choice and I understood, even though I didn’t like it. Truth was, I didn’t want to lie to Halle. I hated that we had secrets from one another, especially the secrets she’d been hiding.

“I can’t believe he lied to me. I bet Willa’s been having a good laugh. I’m surprised she didn’t call me this week to tell me what happened and rub it in.” Halle wiped her eyes and I thought about Willa not calling. Of course she wouldn’t now that she knew Katie had exposed her. I was certain that was the reason and it worked out for me. She’d never blab about us being there together. I could put everything behind us.

Halle cleared her throat. “Promise me you’ll keep going to see Katie, Daddy. You need to work through this issue and move on. Katie’s a good listener. She’s also the only person I can trust with you.”

I took a deep breath and looked away. “I don’t think it’s going to work out.”

“What’s the worst that could happen?” She rolled her eyes and smiled. “Although, she could develop a crush on you, she does like older men. I bet you’re just her type too, tall, dark and handsome.” She sniffled and let out a tinny giggle as I stared blank faced. “I’m kidding!”

“Knock it off. And I mean with Charles Smith. He’s not good enough for my little girl.”

“I’m not a little girl, daddy. I’m only a couple of years younger than your therapist. If she’s mature enough to spill your problems to, then you should be able to talk to me, Daddy. You should also understand what I see in Charles. We’ve had a few rough times, but we’ve been working it out. I guess now I’ll have to confront him about Willa though.” She lowered her chin and picked at her toast.

“Don’t make me get involved, Halle. I will and it won’t be pretty.” I was already going to have to quit my own group because of Willa, but I would not have them using my daughter to get digs at me. Whatever little game Willa was playing needed to end immediately.

Halle pushed her plate aside and stood. “I’ll take care of it, but only if you continue with the sessions and promise to stop going to that damned group. You need help, Daddy.”

I couldn’t promise her something I had no control of and I couldn’t tell her why Katie didn’t want to see me. “I won’t promise you that.”

“Then don’t threaten me! If you’re not willing to get help, you’ve got no room to tell me how to live my life!” She turned and stormed out and as expected, she didn’t show up for dinner.

I spent the rest of my day being angry and holding myself back from finding Charles Smith and punching his sorry face. I couldn’t help but hear Katie’s voice over and over in my head. It’s no different than us. It certainly was different. I respected her, I cared about her, I could actually love her. But Charles, he didn’t love Halle and he’d never give up others the way I had to be faithful. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t been with anyone else or even wanted anyone else since Katie. Despite her therapy, she’d surely cured me. And I feared without her, I’d only find misery.