AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Oh.” I don’t know what else to say. I clear my throat and add in a, “Sorry.”
He snorts. “You’ll be happy to be done with me. You can say it.”
“Dad! I would never say that.”
“I know. That’s why I’m giving you permission.” He laughs again. When he looks at me, I see the spark of meanness in his eyes. Looks like I caught him in rare form tonight. Lucky me. “You quit paying for my phone, so I know you don’t want to call me no more.”
I know Timofey is standing behind me, but I have to pretend he’s not. Talking to my dad is hard enough without processing everything through the filter of Timofey.
What must he think of me right now? I’m pathetic and weak. I can’t stand up to my own father. I let him walk all over me.
I shake my head and focus on my father. “You told me you were going to take over that payment.”
“Sure, but I figured you’d give it a month or six before you pulled out,” he complains. “I didn’t have all the financing lined up yet. Now, I’m behind and I owe fees for letting my contract lapse. I can’t afford to get it going again.”
I should’ve known his burst of independence was a fluke. He’ll never do anything for himself if I’m willing to do it for him.
Apparently, I’m always willing.
I nod. “I’ll—I’ll call them tomorrow, okay? I can get that stuff waived; you just have to know how to ask.”
“I know how to ask,” he snaps. “I’m not stupid.”
“That isn’t what I said.”
He rolls his eyes. There’s meanness in his smile now, too. It’s spreading like a cancer through him. “It’s what you meant. I know you think I’m worthless, but I still deserve basic respect, goddammit.”
Frustrated tears burn the backs of my eyes, but I refuse to let myself cry in front of my father or Timofey. I swallow down the emotion and square my shoulders. “I don’t think you’re stupid. I respect you, Dad. I—”
“You show up here with your boyfriend like you need a bodyguard,” he hisses, gesturing to Timofey for the first time. “Like you have some reason to be scared of me? Then you don’t call or visit. That isn’t respect.”
“I’m sorry.” I look down at my feet, unable to meet my father’s eyes.
I should turn around and stomp out of here. I should have stared that nurse in the face and told her that I hate my dad and she could tell him I’ll never visit him again.
But for some reason, I can’t seem to sever this connection. This biological tie to the family that could have been. To the life that could have been mine if things had been different. Ifhehad been different.
I guess I keep hoping he’ll change.
Even as I know for a fact he won’t.
“I know you are,” Dad says uncharacteristically gently. “You’re a sweet girl, Pip. That’s why you take care of me.”
I give him a weak smile, all the fight drained out of me. I want to end on good terms, so I take a step back towards the door. “Well, Dad, we better—”
“You have more important things to do.” He waves us towards the door. “I know. Thanks for the brief drive-by. It’s better than nothin’.”
Everything he says comes with a barb. It’s exhausting.
I wave and send my love, but by the time I step into the hallway I barely remember what I said. I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck.
Then I turn and see Timofey watching me. And the truck shifts into reverse and flattens me again.
77
TIMOFEY
“So that’s your father.” My voice sounds calm enough, but rage has been simmering under the surface since the moment we walked through that door.
