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Noah yanks her hand out of mine. “What is he doing here?”
“He’s your father and—”
“You tricked me.” She points a finger in my face. “You said we could talk about it and figure out what to do, but you called him behind my back. God, why does everyone always have to lie to me?”
Grant steps toward her. “Noah, what the hell is going on?”
“What’s going on? Remember that random stranger you banged fourteen years ago and then told me she died? Surprise! She’s alive.”
His eyebrows press together. “How do you know that?”
“Hannah’s mom took us to Houlihan’s for dinner tonight. Imagine what it felt like to see the woman I thought was dead as my waitress.”
His face pales. “How do you know it was her?”
“Because I saw her, Dad! Ask Lenny. She talked to her.”
Grant’s eyes flick to mine. “What did you say to her?”
“I pretended that I thought she was someone else and asked for her name.” I chew my bottom lip. “Her nametag said Tara.”
“And then what? Did you tell her about Noah?” He whips his head to his daughter. “Did you talk to her? What did you say?”
His hands are shaking, and his eyes are wide. He looks scared shitless.
“Grant, no one said anything to her, and that’s not the point.” I place my hand on his shoulder. “Please try to calm down so we can talk to you.”
Noah shakes her head. “How could you lie to me about something like that? You made me believe that she was dead. Do you know how sick that is?” She covers her mouth with her hand to muffle a sob. “Was anything you told me real? Was she even an addict?”
He scrubs his hand over his jaw. “Yes, she was an addict. And she did try to commit suicide. She was a mess, Noah. She couldn’t be in your life. I had to protect you.”
“The only thing I need protection from is you and your lies!”
My heart rips out of my chest seeing Noah so distraught, but I don’t know what else to do. Right now, they need to talk it out.
Grant moves toward her, but she steps back. “Don’t touch me. I want you to leave.”
A strangled noise leaves his throat. “I didn’t know anything about your mother when we met or the life she led. I didn’t know she was an addict. I’m the one who brought you into this world, and I needed to protect you. And that meant keeping you away from her. I’m sorry, but I—”
Noah cuts him off and turns to me. “Lenny, can I please stay here tonight? I really don’t want to go home.”
I glance at Grant. “I-I don’t mind if it’s okay with your dad, but I think you should—”
“He doesn’t get to tell me what to do. Not after pulling this shit.”
“Hey.” Grant stabs his chest with his finger. “I know I lied to you, but I am still your father, and you will still treat me with respect.”
“Respect goes both ways, Dad. You don’t respect me enough to tell me the truth, so why should I respect you when all you do is lie to me?”
His fists clench and unclench. He’s trying so hard to keep his composure when I know he wants to fly off the handle and carry her back to his house and lock her in her room.
“Maybe you both need some space to cool off and think.” I squeeze Noah’s shoulder. “But eventually, you’re going to have to face what your father did and go home.”
Without a word, she spins around and stomps upstairs.
Grant and I wait until we hear the slam of the door rattle the walls.
“I’ll do my best to calm her down, but it might take some time.”
