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I can’t help but laugh at that.
“Did you just hear yourself? You are very good at ditching your family, Dad. You did it to me and Mom. And I’m not asking you to ditch her, just don’t bring her along. I see her around, and we’re not talking. You got it?”
“But…”
“Got it?”
Dad looks as if he wants to protest this. Thankfully, he doesn’t, and he nods.
“Okay, fine. I won’t bring her along. If I do that, we can talk?”
“We can. Now, will you go away? I need to go back to my daughter.”
“Can’t I watch her play? I am her grandfather, after all.”
I hesitate. I know that I can’t stop him - this is a public place, after all - but I’m not comfortable with it. Finally, I give up.
“You can watch. But you are not to approach her. Don’t say anything to her, don’t interact with her, nothing. Or we’re not going to have that talk.”
Dad looks upset.
“But this is my granddaughter, Elle. You didn’t tell me you had a kid, and I have to find out through everyone else.”
“You know why I didn’t tell you, Dad. Don’t pretend it was an injustice. I didn’t want anything to do with you.” I step around him. “Now, if you’ll excuse me? I’ll let you know through Grandma when we can talk.”
I don’t wait for him to respond, heading towards the field again. It’s not until I am back in the bleachers and sitting beside Luke that I can breathe properly again. Luke peers at me.
“You okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“Are you sure?”
I give him a small smile.
“I’ll tell you later. Just don’t ask me until then, okay?”
“Okay.” Luke looks unsure, but he backs off. “Whatever you say.”
At least there is one man in my life who listens.
Chapter 14 Luke
Three Days Later
“That’s it, I think,” Marcus declares as we put our things into our bags. “Are you going back now, or do you have enough time for a drink?”
“I’d better get back to the airport, actually.” I zip up my laptop case. “They’re ready to go once I’m on the way. We might be lucky to leave as soon as possible.”
Marcus looks amused.
“You’re that eager to get back to Cleveland, huh?”
“Can you blame me?”
“With you being on the cusp of having a ready-made family? Not really.” Marcus picks up his bag. “Just be careful, Luke. I don’t want you to get hurt because of this.”
“Nobody’s going to hurt me except myself, Marcus. Trust me.”
