She was amazing.
Me:I’ll consider it.
Roman:Tell us about her. Glasses, huh?
Me:Glasses and curls. She’s small but mighty. I don’t know why I thought she might be shy, but shewasn’t. I tried to shake her hand, and she gave me a high five.
Adrian:You tried to shake your daughter’s hand?
Me:Look, no one’s ever versed me on the proper etiquette of meeting your four-year-old daughter for the first time.
Nate:Her giving you a high five confirms she’s your kid.
Me:One look, and I felt it. Like a rope burst out of my chest and tied around her.
Adrian:In other, less disgusting words, a connection. You felt a connection.
As Mazzy and Katty walked away, that rope stretched, going with her. I touched my chest over the spot. Katty was all the way on the other side of the city. But I was aware of her, like a tingle in my spine, a hitch in my heartbeat, a scratch in the back of my mind.
Me:Yeah. Is that crazy?
Roman:Not crazy at all. You’re a dad, Benny. Part of your heart is walking around outside your body. Of course you’re going to feel connected.
Adrian:Wild our own parents didn’t let that connection slow them down when they walked out the door.
Roman:To be fair, some people are pieces of shit.
Nate:Right. To be fair.
Me:Is it possible to keep the focus on me? Gather around me. Ask me questions about my daughter.
I wasn’t in the mood to think about the mother who had walked out on us and the father who had barely been there. I’d had a whole lifetime of that. Now, I wanted to bask in the discovery of my Kateryna, and for my brothers to be immensely jealous of how lucky I was.
Roman:When are you seeing her again?
Me:Tomorrow. I’m going over to their place.
Nate:So Mazzy is letting you in? That’s great.
Me:Doesn’t seem like she’s holding a grudge. Not against me, at least. She might kick Roman’s ass if I ever allow them to meet.
Adrian:As she should.
Roman:Really, Ade? As if you wouldn’t have had a similar reaction. Come on.
Adrian:Fortunately, we’ll never know.
Roman:I hope you told Mazzy how incredibly sorry I am.
Me:Meh, we didn’t talk about you, asshole.
BecauseIhadn’t forgiven him, there was no way in hell I’d be able to get Mazzy to understand his actions. I wasn’t capable of being that convincing.
Nate:Back to our niece. What’s her favorite thing to do on the playground?
Me:Slide, hands down. And get this: she counted how many times she went down it. 7 the first time around, 7 the second round. My kid is a verified genius.
Adrian:She must get it from her mom.
