The Test by Patricia Gussin Page B

damned. Yeah, I just didn’t expect I’d be meeting the modern-day Jim McKay.”
    â€œGlad to meet you,” the sports announcer grabbed Dan’s hand. “Caught out of context, huh?”
    â€œRight,” Dan said, slapping his forehead with the palm of his hand. “
Pat Nelson, Sports in Review
. Just last week, you interviewed Tiger Woods—the ‘Tiger Slam.’ Geez, I’m sorry.”
    â€œAnd my niece, Jenna,” Monica interrupted. “She’s hanging out with me and Patrick this weekend.”
    Dan held out his hand to a young woman with large hazel eyes and shoulder-length dark hair. He figured her to be about the same age as his twins.
    â€œShe’s a real sports fan,” Nelson said. “Ask her anything. Any sports trivia.”
    Monica chuckled. “Jenna, meet Dan Parnell, Terry and Carrie’s father.”
    Indeed Jenna was a sports fanatic and Dan detected a spark of mutual interest between her and Terry. But what would he know about kids that young and romance?
    The meal provided both a leg of lamb with all the trimmings and a thorough analysis of professional sports, thankfully playing to one of Dan’s limited conversational strengths. It wasn’t until Monica and her retinue had left that Dan, for the first time since Gina had walked out on him, was alone with her and the twins. As Boney James played in the background, Dan sat on the sofa next to Gina, their bodies close, but not touching. Terry paced back and forth between the kitchen and living room, and Carrie sat comfortably by her mom.
    â€œWhat’s with all the pacing?” Gina asked. “Trying to work off the dinner?”
    â€œIt was great, Mom,” Terry said.
    â€œCouldn’t have done it without you two. Dan, did you know that the kids are fine cooks? Chefs, I should say, as in gourmet.”
    â€œMom, you exaggerate.” Carrie patted Gina’s knee.
    â€œWe learned to fend for ourselves while Mom worked.” Terry’s tone made Dan squirm. The kid had a chip on his shoulder. Who could blame him?
    â€œWell, Terr, what do you think?” Carrie asked with a wide grin.
    â€œAbout what?” Terry turned to give her a withering look.
    â€œThe gorgeous Jenna? Don’t forget that I’m your twin. I can read your mind.”
    â€œWhat’s the deal? Are we related or not? Monica is my biological aunt.” He stopped and faced Dan. “But Jenna is the daughter of her adoptive brother. So there’s not blood relationship. Right?”
    â€œI guess, but remember she doesn’t know about the Parnell-Monroe relationship,” Gina said. “So keep it hush-hush. Dan, when do you think the news that she’s a Parnell will become public?”
    â€œDon’t know,” Dan said. “I don’t deal in family politics.”
    Terry shrugged, then he and Carrie chatted about Monica’s concert and Nelson’s television show until Carrie finally excused herself. Dan took that as his cue to say good night and stood up to leave. Immediately, he felt the void as the warmth from Gina’s body next to his dissipated. But he couldn’t change his mind and sit back down, so he thanked her again and headed out into the light drizzle toward his truck. Terry was waiting for him there, half hidden by a clump of palmettos.
    â€œCan I talk to you a minute?” Terry asked.
    â€œUh—Sure.” Dan shoved a pack of cigarettes back into his pocket. “Hop in.” He went around to open the passenger door for Terry.
    â€œLet me get the air cranked up.” Dan turned on the ignition, adjusted the fan, and turned off the Kenny G CD.
    â€œWhat did you want to talk about?” Dan was the first to break a long silence between them.
    Dan hadn’t realized it, but Terry had two cans of beer in his hands—Coors.
    â€œI don’t know much about you,” Terry said, flipping off the lid of one can