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“Yes, until I’m an adult…”
“A father’s job never ends. Not even after you’re an adult.”
I try to rein in my temper. I know he only wants what’s best for me, but he has kept me under lock and key for far too long. Thinking I’ll do what my mom did and leave him all alone. But that has to stop. He isn’t my keeper.
“I know that,” I say, gently. “But Dad, you have to understand that I have to make my own way in life. I’ve never had a real job, not one that you didn’t organize for me. I’ve never gotten my hands dirty or done anything that wasn’t orchestrated by your staff. I haven’t really lived.”
He stares at me. “It’s a harsh world out there,” he says, his voice gruff. “You don’t know how cruel people can be. This latest stunt on that stupid show…”
“Dad, all of that was going on before the show. It only amplified when I went on there. I should have told you what I was doing, and for that, I’m sorry. It backfired. Going on there was a mistake, but then again, maybe I wouldn’t have realized what an asshole Dylan was either.”
“He’ll never work in LA ever again,” Dad mumbles.
“I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. I know a lot of kids don’t grow up like I have,” I say. “I am truly grateful for the blessings you’ve given me, but a part of me thinks you’re afraid to let me go because of Mom.”
His lips part, and I expect him to stand and storm out of here. He’s not usually the kind of man who talks about his feelings.
“Aspyn,” he whispers. He runs a hand through his hair. “I knew this day would come.”
“What day?”
“The day you’d want to know what really happened.”
My eyes go wide. “I do…” I’ve tried asking before, but he shut me down so many times that I stopped. “But you said…”
“You weren’t ready to hear the truth.” He sighs. “I never wanted to hurt you more than you already were when she left.”
I wait, unsure if I really want to hear this, but I know I need to.
“Go on,” I urge.
“Your mother wasn’t well,” he says after a beat. “I never kept you from her until she…she threatened to hurt you.”
My mouth gapes. “That can’t be…”
“As I say, she wasn’t well. I knew she wouldn’t go through with it, but I couldn’t take the chance.There was no way I could risk her being around you. She wrote me a letter… I had my lawyers take care of it, and I made sure she sought treatment.”
“Postpartum depression?”
He sighs. “She had problems before that, but maybe that played a part.” His eyes are glassy when he turns to face me. “I’d never put you in harm's way. Even with her. She never wanted a relationship. She wanted money, even after she was better…”
I had no idea it was that serious.
“So she took the settlement and never came back?” I stammer.
He shrugs. “I honestly don’t know. I promised she could see you once she got better, under supervision, but after she got out of rehab, I never saw her again. Over the years, I’ve looked into her whereabouts. She moved to England.”
My heart falters. “She really did leave us.”
He nods. “I don’t think she ever had any intention of hurting you, for the record. She just used that to get what she wanted. And it worked. I wanted her gone, at any cost.”
“Dad, I’m so sorry.” I leap up and fold into his arms, knocking him off guard.
“It’s…it’s fine, it’s dealt with,” he mutters, embarrassed.
“All this time, I just thought maybe you actually kept her away, out of spite.”
He pulls back to look up at me. “You really think I’d do that?”
