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“Hi, sweetheart,” he said.
“Uh, hi, Dad.”
It was sometimes hard to believe he was this high-powered attorney. He could make the world reshape itself around him in the court room. But just having a conversation where he wasn’t in charge, where he couldn’t anticipate the next argument, set him off. He didn’t want to be standing here and figuring this out with me. I could tell before he’d even said hello.
Which put me on edge.
I was his daughter. I’d learned my debate skills from him. I knew a reluctant opponent when I saw one. Those skills hadn’t always helped me in my career or romance, but they helped me here with my dad.
“What is it?” I asked with a sigh. “Spit it out.”
His nose crinkled. “I was wondering if you had interest in meeting me for lunch next week.”
“Do you actually want to get lunch with me, Dad? Or did Kathy push you into this?”
“I have a big case coming up. I don’t have a lot of time. But I can always make time for my daughter.”
I laughed. “You are unbelievable.”
His eyes darkened. “Amelia …”
“No. Just listen to yourself. You haven’t made time for me at all.”
“I’m here, aren’t I?”
“I was getting an award. That makes you look good. Just like when I opened the store. That was more about you than it was ever about me. If you wanted to put in effort for something other than the law firm, you would. We all know where your priorities lie.”
“That isn’t true.”
“Very believable,” I countered. “What an argument.”
He met my anger with his own. “It isn’t as if you’ve put in effort.”
“Shocking to find out, Dad, but I’m your child. You’re the parent. I am going to match your energy. I see Mom more than you, and she doesn’t even live here. Kathy comes by the store all the time to help.”
“I don’t have the luxury of helping.”
“I wouldn’t expect you to, but I still see Mom more. She calls. She checks in. She drives up to see me. She invites me over. She doesn’t even live here!”
“Well, we can’t all be as perfect as your mother.”
I snorted. “Oh good, deflection. Excellent. We’re done. I don’t want to have this conversation anymore.”
“Amelia,” he tried again, stepping into my path before I could bolt. “We should put this petty business behind us. You’re my daughter. We should make time to see one another.”
My anger flared white hot. Today was not the day to test me. After the call with Nolan and then the confrontation with Mark, I didn’t have any bullshit left in me. And I’d spent years with this pent-up frustration. I wouldn’t hold it back anymore. Not when I had just said I would no longer sacrifice my peace.
“Why would I want to spend time with you?”
“I’m your father.”
“Great. That doesn’t mean I owe you my time. You have put no effort in for years. Now, everyone is forcing you into a relationship with me. I saw Kathy push you forward. Mom told me we needed to move past this. But we don’t, and I don’t plan to.”
“What is all this even about?” he demanded.
I blinked at him in shock. “It’s not enough that you don’t put any effort in and I’m tired of it?”
“It started long before that, Amelia.”
“Maybe it’s because you cheated on my mom and ruined our family,” I spat at him.
He took a step back in shock.
Ash appeared at my side then. He put a reassuring hand on my back. “Mia,” he said softly.
I sank back into that touch. I’d gone too far. My dad looked distraught at those words. I didn’t know why since they were true and he’d had fifteen years to get used to the idea that he was a cheating scumbag. That he’d wrecked our family and shown no remorse for it.
“You haven’t acted like a dad in years,” I whispered, my throat closing as tears threatened to fall. “I don’t owe you anything.”
“Okay,” my dad said. “I respect your wishes … if that’s how you feel.”
Then, he walked back to Kathy, who touched his shoulder. He shrugged it off and sat down at one of the tables with his back to her. Everyone was looking at me now. Kathy and Mom had mirroring sad eyes. They’d wanted us to reconcile, and no matter how many times I’d told them I didn’t want that, they’d still pushed. And now, we were here. With the truth hanging in the room around us and both of us worse off.
“I want to go home,” I told Ash.
He nodded. “Of course. Let me get your purse.”
Ash spoke with Derek for a few minutes before grabbing my purse and following me out. I sank into the passenger seat of his car. I was glad when he pulled up to his house a few minutes later. The tears didn’t come until I was safely tucked against him in his bed. He ran his fingers through my hair.
