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David could be standing in a courtroom with that damn even expression. “If you didn’t want me to know what happened with the show, you should’ve returned Alan’s calls. If he can’t reach you or Meredith, he calls me.”
“I don’t need a parental chain of command.” No point in defending myself against whatever Alan told him. “I can read my contract. I know when and where I need to be to promote the mid-season finale. “Am I supposed to be stoked about Jax’s death?”
“From what I understand, you made some unwise choices on set.” If David wore glasses, this is where he’d take them off and clean them with a handkerchief while he looks down his nose.
“From what I understand, you made some unwise choices with my mom.” I copy his condescending tone, wishing formyrarely-used glasses as a prop.
“We’re talking about your choices right now.”
Of course we are. A low simmer starts under my skin. “So your shit’s off-limits but mine’s up for grabs? Why are you even here? Highland Park’s not on the way to your office.” He works a few miles from his loft in downtown Dallas.
“I left something yesterday.” He holds up his house key.
The key I’d never questioned until now. “How much time did you spend here while I was filming?”
He unlocks the door, reaches in to key the code in the alarm panel, but doesn’t go inside. “You need to make a decision about the house.”
“Coley doesn’t want to sell.” I cross my arms.
“She’s thinking with her heart, not her head. That’s why you’re taking the power of attorney.”
The possibility that he might’ve just given me a compliment unfolds my arms. “You think I’ll make better decisions?” Is he high?
“Your mom did. She made me promise to get you to sign the papers.”
So much for the compliment. The simmer stokes inside me. “Maybe I’m tired of shooting in the dark.” I gesture to him. “You own half the house. You sell it, then Coley can hate you.”
“It’s not my place.”
“Why the hell not when you’re up in my business about everything else?” I don’t pause long enough for him to answer. “I know.” Sarcasm ravages my words. “Let’s track down my dad.”
“That’s not going to happen.”
I grip the railing against the meteor hurtling through my gut. “Right.” Using my bottomless acting arsenal, I punch down every feeling I have. “Because what kind of father ditches his kids?”
David goes rock still, then says, “The kind who doesn’t deserve to be one.” He disappears inside.
A text from Coley buzzes my phone.Are you selling my house?
Did she track my cell here or David’s?Are you talking to me now?
Not if you’re selling my house.
I look up to see Jess a few feet away, barefoot and hugging herself.
“Do you mind if I use the bathroom quick?” She studies my face.
She thinks I don’t want her to go in, when it’s me who can’t stomach what went down here. I step out of the way and open the door. “Bathroom’s straight back and on the left.”
“Thanks.” She slips past me, almost running into David on his way out.
He’s empty-handed. What did he leave yesterday? A pen?
Ten minutes after his sedan backs out of the driveway, Jess still hasn’t returned. I suck it up and step inside to find her. Taking the long way around, I head toward the kitchen, hoping for a clue to what David came to find.
Nothing’s out of place. Except the picture frame I left on the table. The photo’s missing. That’s what David took. Eighteen years of questions race through my head. None of them coherent.
A scream from the downstairs guest bathroom cuts off my David chaos and has me sprinting through the house.
