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Sadie stiffened. “I see.”
“What you said made sense, that I was using your emotional labor to avoid things. And well…” She glanced at Floyd. “We’re tired of fighting. We have started separating the things in the house.”
“What about my room?” Sadie asked stiffly. “My things?”
“Oh, don’t worry, dear. The house will still be there.”
I glanced between Floyd and Angelica, waiting for the catch. With Sadie’s parents, there would always be a catch according to her experiences. I felt like I was waiting for a jury to announce their sentence for a prisoner.
“I’ll be in the house,” Angelica said, “and your father will move into an apartment in the neighborhood over.”
“A smaller space?” Sadie asked. “Dad, is that what you want?”
Floyd nodded. “The apartment is close to the woodshop. I figured I should start getting my hands dirty again.” He looked at his massive knuckles, turning his hands over to study the age spots and gray hairs. “It’s been a while since I built much.”
“Well, your father wanted to ask you something about that.”
The man looked like a wolf staring down a hunter’s gun. He gaped at Angelica, and then stared at his daughter, and then looked at me like I would be able to save him.
Angelica elbowed him. “Floyd, wetalkedabout this with the therapist. You have got to start saying what you need and asking for help.”
“Gee, that sounds like somebody I know,” I joked as I turned to Sadie.
She somehow managed to sink her head into her shoulders while trying to forcefully laugh off the comment.
Angelica guffawed while Floyd chuckled anxiously.
I smiled and took Sadie’s hand. “Sorry, I couldn’t help myself. I won’t do it again.”
“No, you’re right,” she agreed. “That’s something I want to work on.” She looked at her parents. “So, therapy?”
“Yeah, we’re going to one of those uh, psychologists,” Floyd responded. “He told me I should ask you…” He scratched the stubble on his face. “Well, I should askifyou want to work in the woodshop with me again like you did when you were a kid.”
Sadie smiled crookedly. Fireworks were going off in her eyes. I couldn’t think of a time I saw her look happier, not since I said I would marry her for real this time. After a shaky breath, she nodded. “Dad, that would be great.”
“Good. That’s good.” He clapped his hands together and stood up. “Alright, then. Time to go.”
“Floyd!” Angelica barked. “Sit down and actually talk to your daughter for once.”
Floyd paused near the couch and shoved his hands into his pockets. “Angie, when you speak to me like that, it makes me feel like I don’t have a choice.”
Sadie grabbed my hand and squeezed it hard enough to cut off my circulation. I could feel her preparing for the worst. Was this what the start of their arguments looked like? I rubbed her upper back, trying to be supportive. I could feel how much she wanted to jump in and play referee. But this was part of her learning to be a daughter, and nothing more than a daughter.
Angelica folded her hands in her lap and took a few breaths. Her expression seemed to relax, and then she said, “Floyd, I hear you. I’m sorry. I just want Sadie to have a nice visit that doesn’t end suddenly.”
Floyd hummed thoughtfully and returned to the couch. “Alright, that’s fair.”
Sadie deflated. It was like watching a skyscraper crumble after a bomb detonated in its core. I felt her relief and her irritation about getting so worked up. But when she chuckled, I couldn’t help doing the same.
“I thought we were going to have to get into the bunker,” she teased. “Shoot, I almost fainted. How many sessions have you gone to?”
“Three,” Angelica announced proudly. “And we only got into one argument during that time. I’m surprised.”
Floyd agreed with a huff and a nod. He reminded me a bit of Spencer being of so few words. But he seemed to be doing his best with the visit, the remainder of which was surprisingly pleasant. Angelica helped Sadie clean up. Floyd made some small talk with me about the stock market and local architecture.
Everything felt perfectly normal. After they left, Sadie collapsed onto the couch and sprawled her limbs out. “I could sleep for a week.”
“Are you sure you want a child running around here after that?”
