An Unforeseen Turn of Events

Chapter Forty-Four

As soon as he entered the Whitestone Creamery, Ryan smelled the hot fudge. It was a small store with five round tables, four chairs surrounding each one. Giant posters of tantalizing ice cream concoctions draped the walls. In the store was one customer devouring a large sundae.

Ryan loved ice cream and would normally treat himself if he wasn't preparing for a film that required him to slim down. However, ice cream was the last thing on his mind. Chin had sent him a report that his daughter Trudy worked here a few days after school. Today was one of those days.

Ryan's body was rigid and tight—even the aroma of hot fudge wafting through the air failed to tempt him; he was here on a mission. Ryan blinked repeatedly as he pretended to study the ice cream flavors. He was still trying to get ahold of the rage running through his body ever since he spotted the stranger at the high school. But curiosity about seeing his daughter overrode his caution to avoid the ice cream store today. He figured if that man didn't follow him here today, he would follow him if he came another day. Ryan had no control over him.

Just then he heard an employee come out the double doors to the other side of the counter. Ryan was too nervous to even move his head, but out of the corner of his eye, he saw it was a boy putting in more tubs of ice cream flavors.

Losing his nerve, he headed into the men's room.

He found his hands were trembling as he washed them in the sink.

Why is seeing my daughter more nerve-racking than my son? he wondered.

It's because this is more up close and there is a much greater chance of interaction with her, he answered his own question.

He grabbed a paper towel harder than usual, angry with himself.

You're a man now, not a frightened little boy! It's time to act like one! Closing his eyes and breathing in, he eyed the men's room exit.

Upon re-entering the main room, Ryan staggered, fighting off the urge to rush back into the men's room.

Wiping the tables was his daughter. He recognized her right away.

"Hi, do you need some help?" she cocked up her head and asked him cheerfully.

"Chocolate sundae please," he managed to blurt out before his throat constricted.

"Chocolate ice cream, hot fudge? Would you like whipped cream or any kind of toppings?" Trudy had stopped wiping and was giving him her full attention.

"Whipped cream and Reese pieces," he answered without thinking.

As she doled out two scoops of chocolate ice cream, Ryan sat at one of the tables and studied her features. She looked just like her brother. He noticed they both had his mother's expressive eyes and dirty-blond hair. When she wiped a table closer to him, he observed she had his Roman nose. She had Christine's long legs and slim figure. When she spotted him looking at her, she displayed her mother's easy smile and warm, friendly expression.

She was about to serve him the sundae when the other customer demanded her attention.

"Hey, miss? You didn't put enough hot fudge on my sundae. You were really stingy with the hot fudge!"

Ryan turned. The man was wearing old, faded clothes and slurring his words. He smelled the faint odor of alcohol on his breath.

"Oh, I'm sorry! I wish you would have let me know before," Trudy answered, turning red and not knowing what to do with her hands.

"I want a partial refund 'cause you gave me a smidgeon of fudge," the man yelled as he slammed the table with his sundae glass and dirty napkins on the table she had just cleaned.