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“I’m not here to get my job back,” I exclaim. “But I didn’t realize working for you and being your daughter were mutually exclusive.”
Despite our issues over the years, I’ve continuously tucked my tail and given in to his demands. After all, he’s the only family I have, and I can acknowledge that all his hard work is what led to my very comfortable upbringing.
Other than wearing my heart on my sleeve, I’ve done my best over the years to make him happy. I’ve dressed the part of a sophisticated woman, smiled and shut my mouth when it was expected of me, and gave up on my own dreams to work here with him. But I completely lost sight of myself in my years of trying to fit into the mold he wanted me to, and still, it was never enough.
“Then why are you here, Addison?” He slides his glasses back onto his face and turns to his computer. Despite his question, that simple action feels like a dismissal.
“I’m going out of town for a while. I’m not really sure how long exactly. I just wanted to let you know. You weren’t taking my calls,” I finish, barely above a whisper. I attempt to swallow around the emotion clogging my throat, but it’s no use. His response is only a grunt, and the last little bit of hope I have for us dies on the spot.
“Dad,” I say quietly. I give him a few moments to respond, but when he says nothing, I rise to my feet.
Why did I think coming here was a good idea? Just hours ago, I had been so overwhelmed with love for my unborn child, and here he is, pushing away his only child one more time. One last time.
I know I can’t keep walking on eggshells to try to win his love. If he was ever going to give it to me, he would have done so freely. At this point, my relationship with him is nothing but isolating and toxic. It’s definitely not a relationship worth keeping.
“So this is it, then?” I ask him. “I don’t marry Ethan and choose to start living a life that’s more authentic to me, and now I’m shunned?”
He shakes his head and sighs. “Can we finish this talk another time, perhaps? I really don’t have time for this today.”
“Consider it finished.”
When I walk out of there, I feel lonelier than ever.
