Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 56295 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 225(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56295 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 225(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
“Oh, Rory Michelle, how I love you.” I rush to her, not caring if she believes hugs are bullshit. I’m going to wrap my baby up in my arms, allow her to break down, to cry, to scream, to do any- and everything she has to in order to get it all out.
“Is it true what he said? Did he do that only because it was a game to him?” Son of a bitch. That motherfucker. If my daughter heard everything that came out of David’s mouth, and now she’s internalizing it and questioning her whole life, I’m going to storm out of this house and kick him square in the nuts. Nix won’t be able to stop me either. Emmy walks out of the hallway around the same time I’m going to respond.
“Where’s Nix? He didn’t leave, right?” She’s taking her earbuds out of her ears as she gets closer. My girls have some abandonment issues because of David and his epic failure at being a father. Now she’s attached to Nix. Not that she wasn’t before, but these days, it’s more intentional, texting the group chat if his tracking app isn’t working, making sure he’s coming home when it’s later than usual. Emmy and Rory both used to do the same thing to me, and now they’ve included Nix. I wondered if it annoyed him, especially if he was working on a vehicle. Nix being Nix shook his head and said, “The phone is for them to get ahold of me. They need to know I’m coming home and that I’m okay, you won’t hear me complaining.” The conversation ended, and I didn’t bring it up again. Emmy looks at me, then at Rory, who’s currently in my lap, sideways, face pressed into the crook of my neck, crying softly. I was hoping to at least shield one of the girls. My luck clearly ran out because Emmy is looking between the door and then to the two of us on the couch.
“Nix didn’t leave. He’ll be inside in a few minutes. Why don’t you take a seat? It seems I’ve got some explaining to do.” I open my arm, showing Emmy I’ve got enough room for both of my girls. She squeezes in, and Rory moves her feet, so she’s tucked into a ball, my stomach taking the brunt of her knees.
“Dad’s here, Em, and it’s not pretty.” Rory lifts her head, face red and splotchy. She uses the sleeve of her shirt to clean the tears as well as what I’m sure is snot, considering how wet my shoulder is, which means I also have it in my hair. The things you do for you kids, man.
“And we’re inside why?” Finally, Em sits down beside me. My arm is around her shoulders, her fingers find mine, and she laces them together.
“Because Nix wouldn’t have it any other way,” I tell her, kissing the side of her head. “All I know is Rory called the cops, Nix figured they were on his way, and he walked me to the door and told me to stay put with his girls. I’m not entirely sure why your father is back, what he stands to gain, or why he’s talking about what he is talking about. His problems are his own. Only he can fix them. Sadly, I don’t think he’s choosing to do so.” God, it’s hard to be the bigger person, to not admit what a dick David is. Now I get why Nix calls him Douchebag David. “That being said, if you want and the police gives you the opportunity, it’s up to you if you’d like to see him.” Rory’s eyes nearly pop out of her head, like I had the audacity to bring up the conversation. One day, when she’s a mother, she’ll understand. But please let that be a long-ass time away. It doesn’t go unnoticed by me that in two years from now, she’ll be fifteen, the same age I was when I found out I was pregnant. Hopefully, my girls don’t follow in my footsteps. Not that I won’t love them. Damn, I don’t want them to go down this hard-as-fuck road to get to the other side.
“No freaking way. I don’t want anything to do with him. He’s mean. What he did to you? What he did to us? And then to come back? I hope he rots in hell.” Okay, hello turd in a punch bowl at a kid’s birthday party, this is going over swell.
“You don’t have to. I’m not making you. It was only a suggestion.” I pull her closer to my body, hugging her so she can feel the warmth radiating off me, giving it to her in her time of need.
“The cops are here.” Emmy flies off the couch and moves to the window. She didn’t so much as give an answer. I’m not going to push it either. The red and blue lights are once again surrounding our house. I know Nix suggested I make the call to Sherry and Conrad, but there’s no way I’ll be doing that with the girls around. Rory’s heard enough for a thirteen-year-old, especially if she heard the way her dad betrayed me to create her. I pull my phone out and shoot off a quick text. That’ll have to do. I won’t have to alert Ya-Ya or Baboosh. Our neighbor has probably made the call. They were friends of the Drakos when they lived here and are still friends to this day.