AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I chuckle. ‘Yes, baby. I would love to take you to breakfast tomorrow.’
26
BROOKS
Day 11
Cady chose the quirky café we’re sitting in. It’s Japan meets New York. The wall of windows looks out toward the Hudson River. One wall is brick – city-style. Another is painted with two geishas holding fans and standing outside a Japanese teahouse. The third wall is lined with shelves that are decorated in an array of teapots: fine, floral-patterned china, Asian-style pots with iron handles and matching miniature cups, English teapots with images of the royals and Big Ben.
Apparently, this week’s thing is tea. Cady has become a tea connoisseur, as well as a brunette. I decide not to comment on her change of hair color, knowing exactly why she has lost the pink look. The tea focus could be the result of an article in a magazine, or the fact Alice has placed her under ‘house arrest’ for throwing her guts up earlier in the week.
She orders blueberry pancakes with syrup and a tasting tray of different teas. I contemplate bacon and eggs but opt for a mango smoothie made with coconut milk, boosted with a shot of protein, and finished with blackberries. It was the berries that clinched the deal.
‘Okay, who are you and where did my dad go?’ Cady asks when our server leaves us.
‘Some of these shakes aren’t so bad. They make you feel sort of… clean. Just don’t ever tell Izzy I said that.’
I wince once the words are out of my mouth, knowing I went straight to the most taboo topic I could have chosen.
‘It’s okay, Dad. I’m cool about it now. I mean, I’m still pissed at you both, but Mom and I had a chat about it…’
She shrugs.
‘You and your mom talked about Izzy and me?’
Something inside me flutters. But what’s new is, the reason isn’t the mention of Alice, or that Alice has been talking about me. It’s that simple phrase:Izzy and me.
‘Do you think I don’t know why you never drop me at home?’ she goes on.
I shuffle in my chair, out of my comfort zone.
‘Don’t worry, Mom says she thinks it’s because you don’t like knowing I live with someone in a father-figure role who isn’t you. But I know you don’t really have girlfriends. I know if it weren’t for Uncle Drew and Aunty Sarah, you would spend all your time between the four walls of your apartment and the gym.’
‘What does that have to do with anything?’
‘Stop being childish, Dad.’
‘What the—’
‘Shh, just listen. I know by the way you talk about Mom that you never got over her. Thing is, you always talk about the two of you when you were teenagers. Younger than I am now, even. So, I don’t agree with Mom. I think you don’t pick me up because you’re stuck with an idea of what could have been.’
I lean back into my seat and roll my jaw. I’m about to argue, tell her she’s wrong, but she has nailed me right on. It’s just as impressive as it is annoying.
‘When did you get so grown up?’
‘I have my moments.’ A server sets down Cady’s selection of teas. ‘Thanks. Anyway, Mom and I both agree on one thing.’
‘Enlighten me, Dalai Lama.’
She sips from her first miniature cup of tea and rolls her eyes at me as she does. ‘Izzy pulls you out of your comfort zone. She makes you do things you would never do. Like dancing and having public arguments. I’m not saying that’s a good thing. My point is, Izzy seems to have an effect on you that no one else has ever had.’
‘You and your mom spoke about this?’
‘Yes. And we’re both happy for you. Even if Izzy isn’t “the one”.’ She uses her index fingers for air quotes. ‘Maybe she’s waking you up. I love you, Dad, but you should have more in your life than that gym.’
I stare at my daughter, wondering when she got so smart. Maybe she’s right. Maybe I like to think of the old Alice, but she isn’t the same person any more. Maybe I’m not the same boy I was back then, either.
‘She told me to apologize to you, by the way. Izzy, I mean. She obviously never meant to hurt your feelings.’
