AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I mutter an order of hotcakes to the waitress, despite not really feeling hungry. I know that if I don’t eat something, Dad will needle me with questions and criticisms until I do.
“So, Clar-Bear,” Dad starts with his bestI’m-only-thinking-of-youvoice, “Martin’s told me all about his side. Now, I want to hear yours. And he’s promised to let you finish before jumping in. Right, Martin?”
Martin nods and sips his coffee. I’m struck with the notion that I’ve always hated his mustache; it just never stuck out to me until now. Now, while I watch the cream-filled coffee soak his facial hair, I just…
Ew. I kissed that?!
“Well, let’s see.” I stir the lemon wedge in my ice water, gathering my thoughts as much as my courage. “I was tired of being Martin’s punching bag. And I feared for my daughter’s safety. So I left.”
Dad slowly rolls his wrist, waving for me to continue. To elaborate.
I look at him, confused. “What more is there to say? He hit me, Dad. All the time. Thank God he never did that while I was pregnant! Slapping me around and pulling my hair and forcing me to—” I stop myself. We’re in a public place, after all.
“Forcing you to what?” Dad gently asks.
Suddenly, those hotcakes sound like a terrible idea. I might end up puking them right back onto the table. “Honestly? That shouldn’t matter. It should be enough for you that he hit me. Martinhityour child.”
Dad scoffs. “You’re hardly a child, Clara. Don’t be so dramatic.”
But right when I’m ready to climb back out of the booth and leave this fucking diner, he surprises me. “Still, these are pretty serious accusations I know you wouldn’t make lightly.”
Hope blooms in my chest. Does he… does Dad actually believe me?
He levels his hard stare at Martin. “Well? Is this true? Did you abuse my daughter?”
The way he says it makes that hope burst wide open. He sounds angry. He sounds like he’s ready to arrest Martin for domestic assault and child endangerment. He sounds like the protective father I need him to be.
Martin balks. “What kind of question is that? Really, Greg, I thought you knew me better.”
Dad sips his own coffee and doesn’t look away once. “I thought I did, too. But now, my Clar-Bear is telling me some very disturbing things about you and how you treat her. What am I supposed to think?”
Finally. He’s finally on my side.
“What are you—” Martin scoffs and leans back in his seat. When he looks at me, it’s all fake sympathy as he slowly shakes his head. “God, Clara… I am so sorry. I should have been there for you more. I should have… God, I should have been more careful.”
I have no idea what he’s talking about. And neither does Dad, who squints at him.
Martin holds a hand out to me. “I know it’s been stressful, being home alone with our daughter. And I haven’t always been there for you. That’s my fault and yeah, I’m gonna own it.”
“What are you?—”
“Fuck, Greg, you remember that case over in Summerlin?” He turns to Dad, sadness etched all over his face like a cheap mask. “That woman and her mental break?”
Dad heaves a heavy sigh. “I’ll never be able to forget that one.” He stirs another sugar packet into his coffee, only glancing up at me once. “Mother of four. Stayed at home, lost her mind. Drowned all her kids before she tried killing herself. Terrible.”
Martin solemnly nods. “Absolutely terrible. And I’m gonna say it right now: I should have learned from that and spent more time with Clara and the baby.”
“The baby.” She has a fucking name, asshole.
“Is that what’s going on, honey?” Dad rests his hand on my shoulder. “We can get you help?—”
“I don’t need ‘help.’” I bite the words so I don’t burst into tears. “What Ineedis for Martin to get the fuck out of my life and away from my daughter!”
Martin simply looks at me, fake empathy in his eyes as he slowly shakes his head. “I didn’t know it’d gotten this bad. When I saw the drug cabinet go empty, I just… Honestly, I don’t know what I thought. Clearly, I should have paid more attention to you and I’m so sorry.”
Dad rubs my back. “When did you start using, honey? It’s okay—no one is going to arrest you. We just want to help you.”
I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe. My ribcage is folding in and my lungs are squeezing so tight…
