Page 85 of Sugar Daddies


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“But it wasn’t alright?”

He shook his head. “No, it wasn’t alright. Katie hated me, hated the house, hated the kids. She didn’t want to come there, used to cry to her mum that she wanted to stay at home, but I’d turn up anyway, try and make it work. Bull-headed, Carl, I was bull-headed. When she got to thirteen she didn’t want to know me anymore, and when she got to sixteen she told me she’d had enough of the whole fucking lot of us. Wouldn’t take a penny from me, not for anything, didn’t want to know.”

“You let it go?”

“No,” he said. “Not really. Kept trying, kept pushing. It’s her mother, though, she’s so close to her mother. Wouldn’t even let me speak her name, still won’t now. She said I had no right to speak about her mother after what I’d done to her, no right to even think about her mother.”

“And what about what Debbie did to you?” I said. “Katie knows presumably? That Debbie lied to you?”

He sighed. “I dunno, Carl. I really don’t know what she knows. I’ve never rocked the boat far enough to bring it up with her, communication is tough enough as it is without that can of worms springing open. Katie doesn’t want to know me, no matter how hard I try, and Olivia and Verity kick off if I try too hard to make inroads, so I don’t, for an easy life. Not for me, for all of them.”

“Then why is Katie here?”

“Because she’s my daughter,” he said. “Because I love her. Because I want what’s best for her. Because I hope that Verity and Katie can find some common ground in adulthood, something to bring them together. I hoped it would be this Harrison Gables guy.”

I shook my head. “There’s animosity there, David, real animosity. What happened today was unacceptable.”

He sighed. “I’ll sort it.”

“How?”

“Maybe I shouldn’t have insisted Katie came here. Maybe it was a mistake.”

“That’s ridiculous,” I said. “It’s not Katie that’s the problem. Katie is mature and hardworking and committed to the programme. The issue is with Verity.”

He nodded. “It usually is. I’ll talk to her.”

I couldn’t hide my frustration. “Verity shouldn’t be here if she’s incapable of controlling her temper, David, regardless of who she is.”

“She’ll control her temper,” he said. “I guarantee it.”

I wasn’t convinced. “Verity is too used to getting her own way. She’s got no commitment to the training programme. She’s rude and sarcastic and does whatever she pleases.”

“Tell me something I don’t know.” He groaned. “You know what Verity is like, Carl, you’ve known her long enough.”

He had that right. I looked at my watch. “I’ve got to go,” I said. “Shit to do.”

I felt a pang of guilt at the realisation I was racing back home for Katie, just in case she decided to turn up again, even though she likely wouldn’t.

He stood and held out a hand. “Tell me you’ll do your best for them, Carl. Tell me you’ll try to build bridges between my two girls.”

I shrugged. “You think I can do that? I wouldn’t hold your breath, David.”

“Please,” he said. “I’ll bring Verity into line, but just… just try your best to get them on the same team, will you? It would mean everything to me.” His eyes were so fucking honest.

“I’ll try,” I said. “Although I probably stand more chance of herding cats.” I picked up my file and my phone. “You need to start communicating with Katie, David. The girl doesn’t seem to have any idea you’re not the bad guy in all this, not entirely. She needs a father who can support her, who wants to be there, if she doesn’t believe that’s you and you want it to be, then you’ve got some serious work to do.”

“I know,” he said. “I know I’ve got some work to do.”

I shook his hand. “I’ll see what I can do about building bridges, but it may take some time.”

“You’ve got six months.” He smiled. “Six months is the only time I can buy with Katie. She’ll be gone as soon as she’s done, I’m certain of that.”

“A lot can happen in six months,” I said.

“I’m counting on it,” he said.

As was I.

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