AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yeah, I’m training at an auto shop,” he says.
“That’s good,” I say. He’s been out of work and trying different things for years. This might be a good fit for him.
“So, you want to see Emma,” I say. “We should set up a time to meet. We could meet somewhere fun, like at that new indoor playground. I can stay with you guys until she gets used to you,” I suggest.
Matthew frowns. “She’s my daughter, she doesn’t need to get used to me. I’ll come pick her up someday soon and then I’ll drop her back to you in the evening.”
I resist scoffing. He’s got to be kidding. He clearly knows nothing about small children. He knows nothing about Emma.
“She doesn’t know who you are,” I explain softly, but I keep my voice firm. “You’ve only seen her a handful of times. You can’t just take her if she doesn’t even know you and expect her to behave and have a good time. She’ll cry.”
I can tell Matthew is getting annoyed. “Well, she’ll just have to learn to get used to it. She’s my daughter and I have a right to see her.”
“I know that.” I snap at him. As usual, he’s not seeing sense. “I’m not saying you can’t see her. I’m just trying to explain that it’s not going to be that simple. You need to ease her into these things. Even when she joined preschool, I had to start by dropping her off for only a couple of hours before picking her up. Eventually, she was fine to stay the entire day. With kids, you need to build up to these things.”
“You just don’t want me to see her. You’ve never given me a fair chance, Lily,” he says, his voice filled with a mix of frustration and accusation. “You didn’t put in enough effort to make this work. It’s always been your way or the highway. You never care about how I feel.”
I clench my fists under the table, feeling the heat rise within me. How dare he twist the truth to fit his narrative? The memories of broken promises and abandoned plans flood my mind, but I try to stay composed. I owe it to Emma to keep a level head.
“Matthew, it wasn’t only my fault,” I respond, my voice tinged with a touch of exasperation. “Relationships require effort from both parties. You can’t solely place the blame on me. I do care about how you feel, but you put your own feelings before Emma’s and that’s just not acceptable. It was you who made plans last to see her and then didn’t show up. You made us wait for you and you never came. You can’t keep doing that when you’re a parent.”
“Well, you should have rescheduled and checked whether I was free,” he insists.
I feel like banging my head against the wall, instead, I take a deep breath.
“That’s not my job,” I reply. “I’m not your parent. I shouldn’t have to arrange playdates for you. That’s your job as a father.”
“Oh, and you’re an expert on fathers, are you?” he rebuts. “Where was your father growing up?!”
As we continue our tense back-and-forth, my phone buzzes on the table, interrupting our conversation. I glance at the screen, seeing Blake’s name flashing across it. I hesitate for a moment, torn between answering and maintaining the fragile equilibrium of this discussion.
Matthew’s ire flares up as he watches my gaze.
“Can’t you focus on us for once?” he snaps, his frustration clear in his tone. “It’s like you don’t care about what I’m saying. I’m trying to fix things and you’re not listening to me.”
I take a deep breath, attempting to steady myself before addressing his accusation. “Matthew, I understand your desire to have a relationship with Emma. Her well-being comes first. I need to be available for her because she needs me. You can’t just appear in her life when you feel like it and then vanish for months when things get too hard. Newsflash: Parenting is hard.”
His face scowls in frustration, and I can see the anger simmering beneath the surface. If he thinks I’m hindering his attempts to connect with our daughter, it’s only because I’m protecting Emma. Being her parent means making tough decisions. I’m not about to let her spend an entire day with a man who is a stranger to her.
“Look,” I say, my voice firm but tinged with empathy. “I want what’s best for Emma. We need to find a way to coexist and communicate effectively for her sake. It won’t be easy, but it’s necessary. You’re clearly having some kind of issues with your mental health. I understand that. Please, if this is going to work then you can’t keep blaming me. You told me you want to be more responsible for Emma’s sake.”
He folds his arm and childishly looks away, thinking for a moment. I let the silence hang between us. I want to give him a chance, but he needs to meet me halfway. He can’t just show up and make these demands. I’ve stepped into a new chapter of my life, surrounded by love, support, and a renewed sense of confidence. He’s not about to destroy that for me or for Emma.
Chapter 20
Blake
IwakeupatEthan’s bedside in the hospital room. The soft morning light filters through the window, casting a gentle glow on his sleeping face. He stirs, his eyes fluttering open, and I offer him a tender smile.
“Hey there, buddy,” I whisper softly, my voice filled with relief. “You’re going to be okay. Rough night, huh?”
Ethan rubs his eyes, his hand reaching for mine. I take his hand, holding it tightly, feeling the warmth and love that flows between us. It’s a bittersweet moment, grateful for his well-being but still reeling from the events of the previous night.
As I sit by Ethan’s side, my mind races with the information the pediatrician shared with me. They suspect it was a grand mal seizure, likely caused by the fever. The medical tests, including a CT scan, showed no concerning signs. Ethan’s EEG, MRI, and overall development appear normal, offering a glimmer of hope in this challenging situation.
They’ve started him on medication to manage any future seizures and suspect that the virus he had triggered this episode. It’s a relief to hear that all the tests came back clear, but the worry lingers in the back of my mind because of how quickly I lost Sarah. Thankfully, the doctors took his illness seriously and ran all the tests they needed to reassure me. I need to protect my son and shield him from harm that may come his way. That means I’ll be bringing him back for regular tests now to be sure something hasn’t been missed.
I reach for my phone to call Lily again to update her on Ethan’s condition. A pang of disappointment washes over me when I realize she’s not answering. I didn’t want to bother her in the night but by now she should be up now and, on her way, to work. She’s a busy woman but I would love to talk to her. I need to tell her all about last night. How I felt so helpless and alone. How I heard his voice and how scared I was to see him having a seizure. I sigh. I’ll have to chat with her when she picks up Emma at three o’clock. It feels like a long time away, but I can wait if she’s swamped at the store.
