Beauty and Her Boss

He approached Gabrielle where she was sitting on the patio. She had pen and paper in hand, but she wasn’t looking at either. Instead she was staring out over the ocean with a faraway look in her eyes.

“Mind if I join you?” He stopped next to the table.

She blinked and turned to him. “I don’t mind, if you don’t.”

It wasn’t exactly the invitation he’d been hoping for, but he sat down anyway. “Something is bothering you. I’d like you to tell me what it is.”

She shook her head. “I’m fine.”

“No. You’re not. You haven’t been happy in a while.”

She sighed. “I didn’t know that it was that obvious.”

“Maybe not to others, but I’ve gotten to know you pretty well and I know when you have something on your mind. Is it the fund-raiser? Are you worried—”

“No. It’s not that. Things are going well. In fact, I’m already getting RSVPs to the digital invitations.”

Frankly, that was quite a surprise to him. He’d assumed the event would be a failure. Actually, he’d been counting on it. The thought of opening his home to all those people was not something he relished, but it was a problem he’d deal with later. Right now, he was concerned about Gabrielle.

“If it’s not the fund-raiser, what it is? Maybe I can help.”

Her tentative gaze met his. “It’s my father.”

“Your father? I don’t understand. Did something happen?”

“No. At least not that I know of.”

He should probably leave it there. It wasn’t like he was friends with her father. But the sadness on her face had him searching for the truth. “Then what is it?”

“We’ve just never been apart for this long. It’s always been just the two of us against the world.”

Deacon hadn’t expected this. “But isn’t it nice not to be responsible for caring for him on a daily basis?”

She shrugged. “It never really bothered me. Maybe it should have. I guess I like being needed.”

She did? “You mean you don’t mind taking care of your father even to the extent of you not having a life of your own?”

“Is that what you think?”

“Well, when was the last time you had a date?”

She glanced away. “It’s been a while.”

“And when was the last time you did anything with your friends?”

“Lindsay and I went to the movies the other month.”

“Other month? That sure doesn’t sound like a busy social calendar.”

“Why do I need a busy social calendar? So what if I don’t have time to hang out. I have two jobs to hold down. And the cleaning and shopping to do.” She paused as though she realized that she’d said too much. And then she frowned at him as though he was now the one in trouble.

He drove home his point with one final comment. “Maybe you take on too much.”

“I do what I need to do.”

There was no talking to her. She obviously couldn’t see that she did so much for others that there wasn’t any time left for her. He felt bad for her, but his persistence on this subject was only upsetting her more. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

She sighed. “It’s not you. I’m just frustrated. I’m not sure my father is taking proper care of himself.”