Together, we form a semi-circle around Elowyn as Mom stands next to her with an arm wrapped around her.
“It’s funny,” Ingrid murmurs as she nudges me with her elbow. “All this time, you thought you were missing out. But… you weren’t.” She gazes up at me lovingly. “Half the people here for Elowyn are yours,” she whispers. “They didn’t even know her, Wilder. But they showed up anyway.”
I lean down and kiss Ingrid.
Because she’s right.
I’ve spent years thinking that I wasn’t worthy of good things because of my dad, the Allreds, even Olivia-Sophia.
But that couldn’t have been further from the truth.
My semi-circle might be small, but it’s stronger than most people’s.
We eat little cucumber sandwiches and snack on an array of veggies and dips. Ingrid tells Elowyn at least a dozen times how sweet and thoughtful she is. And Mom does the same.
People stay for a little while, but then they slowly all file out until it’s just us left with Elowyn.
That’s the exact momenthedecides to show up. Drunk.
“What did I miss?” Dad yells as he stumbles into the reception hall.
Mom steps in front of Elowyn. “The whole thing. We’re cleaning up. Maybe you should do the same.”
“Taya,” he slurs her name. “How many years has it been?”
“Not long enough,” Mom mutters as Ingrid grabs Elowyn’s hand.
“I’ve come to pay my respects!” Dad announces as he throws both his arms out. He has a stain on the white dress shirt beneath his black coat jacket.
I can’t believe I was upset this guy left us. What a clown.
“Take Elowyn and Ingrid back to the house,” I mutter to Cash as I had him my truckkeys.
“What about clean up?” Cash whispers back.
“We can handle it,” I tell him.
He gives me a curt nod, then relays the message to my sister.
They leave as Dad pulls out an empty chair and sinks into it.
Thankfully, Grandma and Grandpa are still here helping. They start packing up all the food while I grab a glass and fill it with water.
“Order him a car,” I say to Mom.
She immediately pulls out her phone as I hand the sperm donor the glass of water.
“Why are you here?” he asks me.
“Elowyn invited me.”
“You don’t show up for one goddamn family vacation but you’ll show for a funeral?” he spits.
I chuckle harshly. “You show up for the fun stuff. And me? I show up for the hard stuff.”
“Don’t use that tone with me,” he grumbles before taking a sip of water. “I just lost my wife.”
“You aren’t acting like it,” I snap. “And you’re not acting like a father either. Though, we both know you’re a shitty one at best.”
