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Even hearing the man’s voice on speaker gives me a visceral feeling of rage.
“It’s me…Dakota,” she says. “I, um…I was wondering if you could come to Donuts for Dads? It’s at school and—”
“Uh, no, I’m not…I can’t do that,” he says.
I squeeze her little hand that’s still tucked in mine when her face drops.
“But it’ll be lots of fun. You get free donuts! I bet you could even have five or six…and I’ll be there and you can meet my friends. Owen isn’t there though because he’s too big for my class, but—”
“Dakota,” Cash says harshly. “Put your mom on the phone.”
Dakota looks up at me, worry on her face. Marlow calls from the other room.
“Dakota, who are you talking to? Come get in the tub, your water’s ready.”
“Bye, Daddy,” Dakota says. She hangs up and tosses the phone on the couch. Her eyes are big when she looks at me. “I’m not ‘sposed to use Mama’s phone like that,” she whispers. “Or open the door either, but I saw it was you…”
I don’t know what to say, whether I should correct her for making that call or tell her it’s okay for her to call her dad.
“It’s important for you to listen to your mom,” I say. “Do what she tells you to do, okay?”
She nods solemnly. “Okay. Would you go to Donuts for Dads, Wyatt?” she asks.
“When is it?”
“It’s tomorrow.” She runs and picks up a paper with the details. “Here.” She wraps her arms around my legs and her head rests against my side. “I don’t want to be by myself.”
I swallow hard and look up to see Marlow standing there watching us.
“What’s going on?” she asks. “I didn’t know you were here.”
“I let him in,” Dakota says.
Marlow gives her a look and I mouthsorry.
“I should’ve called and let you know I was here.” I lift the sweatshirt. “Brought this over.”
“I called Daddy and he’s not coming to get donuts tomorrow, so I asked Wyatt to come instead,” Dakota says.
“Oh, Kota, that’s—” Marlow pauses when her phone rings.
Dakota moves toward her toys and sings to herself as she plays.
Marlow makes a face and holds up her phone to show me it’s Cash. “I’m sorry, I should take this. Don’t go yet…”
I nod and she answers the phone, walking toward the front window.
“Hey. No, I didn’t have her call you.”
I try to act like I’m not listening while also straining to hear her quiet words to that jackass of a man.
“You’re her dad,” she whispers. She turns back to look at Dakota, who’s still singing happily in her own little world. “It’s normal for her to want you there. No, I’m not guilting you, I’m just telling you how it is.” She puts her hand on her head and takes a deep breath. “I’ve gotta go.”
When she hangs up, she looks back at me and shakes her head, her cheeks splotchy with anger.
“I’d be happy to go, if it’s okay with you,” I say to Marlow.
She swallows and nods, looking at Dakota, who starts dancing her way over to me.
