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"Oh," Leif said, understanding dawning on him. Birdie, like so many other children of divorced parents, yearned for reconciliation. She wanted her family to be whole again. He understood. As a kid who had never had a father in his life, he'd spent plenty of afternoons daydreaming about a handsome man driving up, having spent years trying to find Calliope, thrilled to learn he was a father. And then they lived happily ever after. Unfortunately, life wasn't a fairy tale...and Birdie had no control over her parents or their hearts.
"So you're asking me to step aside?"
Birdie turned toward him, her eyes narrowed. "Would you?"
"No."
The irritation in those green eyes reminded him of her mother. "Why not? He's my father and you're just some guy she doesn't even really know. She only likes you because you're hot and, like, all the moms like you."
"So you're saying your mom is shallow and only likes me because of how I look?”
Birdie looked at him as though his question were a trap. "I don't know."
"Okay. So I'm only what I appear to be on the outside? All people who are relatively attractive are interchangeable? We don't have any feelings? Any other worth other than beinghot."
"That's not what I meant." Birdie wrapped her arms around her legs. "I just wanted to say something because my dad's feelings were hurt. He's sorry about everything he did back then. He wants to make things up to us, but my mom's all distracted... by you. I can tell by the way she looks at you. Like you're candy."
Leif watched as the girl stood, looking a bit lost and at the same time magnificently determined. Damn, she was a remarkable kid, and even though he had no intention of stepping out of the way so Cal could schmooze his way into Abigail's life, he admired Birdie's gumption.
"I'm not trying to make you sound like you aren't a good person, Mr. Lively. I personally think you're cool. But my mom doesn't go out with a lot of guys and she's not like Marcie. She's normal and, you know…”
"You think I'm using your mom?"
"I read an article about how men don't really want women over a certain age... but they know they're desperate so they're easy pickings.”
“What kind of articles are you reading, Birdie?"
"Brigitte. I know I look young, but I'll be thirteen soon. I'm tired of everyone treating me like a baby."
"I don't treat you like a baby."
Birdie softened a little. "Not you. You don't."
"I'm not looking for hookups. I can have those if I want, but I don' t operate that way. You can't cover everyone with a blanket assumption. Just because I’m younger than your mom doesn't mean I'm some gross caricature looking for desperate older chicks so I can get laid. Give me some credit."
Birdie swallowed. "Sorry. I didn't mean that."
"Okay.”
"So?"
"So?"
"I guess you don't care what I want,” she said.
Leif shook his head, a little zap hitting his heart at this girl asking for the impossible. "You know I care about you, Brigitte, but you're trying to play God, and that doesn't work. What ever happens between your mother and your father is beyond your control. You know that. I'm not in the way. I'm not forcing anything on your mother, and I don't think the fact your father wants to be in your mother's life again is reason enough to with draw my interest. If your mother tells me differently, then that's another thing."
"Okay. Whatever. I tried," she said, padding down the steps in her black Converse high-tops with neon yellow laces. Such a tough girl.
"I'll see you tomorrow," he called.
She held up a hand as she cut through his yard toward the path her mother took when she sneaked over to Laurel Woods.
"Later," Birdie called, none too happily.
Leif lifted his hand to nosy Mrs. McCray, who gave him a half hearted wave before the fluffy dog laid another turd in the Toups' immaculate yard.
WHEN SOMEONE KNOCKEDon the door three hours after Birdie left, Leif prayed it was Abigail.
