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“Coffee with a bit of cream? Or would you like something else?”
“That would be fine.”
He scooted off and she politely took a cookie and set it on the plate he had for her. When he returned, he poured coffee for them and took a seat, staring at her with glistening eyes.
“When you called, I thought I was dreaming. Reese, I’m so sorry. I’m sorry I left, and I’m sorry how that hurt you. If I could take it all back, I would. And I’m especially sorry for all the things you’ve been dealing with these last few months. I wanted to call so many times, but I feared you wouldn’t take my call.”
You’re not wrong on that.
She’d learned in therapy that she had to share her feelings with the people she loved. Even if she wounded him, and she wasn’t about to spare her father. “You hurt me so deeply, Dad. You leaving changed the way I viewed relationships with people. Do you know that until recently, I haven’t been able to have a meaningful and healthy relationship with a man? That I’m always afraid they will leave me? And I didn’t come here to be mean, I came here because you need to know this.”
“I understand, and I deserve it.”
“And you left me with her.”
The pain in Reese’s voice made her want to crumble to the floor. She looked at her father and saw some of the same pain. He let out a deep breath and frowned.
“I thought I was doing the right thing by leaving you with your mom. You were established in the house and you had a routine. I suppose I didn’t expect your mother’s reaction. I thought that the two of us could work out an arrangement, but she got so angry. And then you got angry, and I didn’t know what to do.”
“But you didn’t fight for me. You didn’t try to talk to me. All I had was her, and she told me all these horrible things you had done to her. I stupidly believed it all. And by the time I knew better, the rift was too deep. I felt betrayed because you didn’t try to reach out.”
“I did try, sweetie. But your mother blocked my calls and told me to stay away. I shouldn’t have listened to her. And this isn’t about me attacking your mother. I won’t do that.”
“It doesn’t matter. I barely have a relationship her. I got free of her and took care of myself.”
“I’m so sorry, Reese. I’m sorry for everything. I don’t know how I can ever make this up to you, but I want to try. It’s not too late for us to have a relationship again.”
She instinctively looked up at the picture of her father and the woman up on the wall. He followed her gaze.
“That’s Beth. I met her six years ago. We got married three years ago. She’s a lovely woman. I don’t want you to think I was having an affair with her when I left your mother.”
“I’m pretty sure I know why you left.”
“Again, I won’t attack your mother, but our marriage was over. It had been over for a long time, but I thought if I waited until you were eighteen, that you could decide for yourself what your next steps were. If you wanted to live with me, I would have welcomed that, but Fran insisted that you stay with her, that you wanted to stay with her. I didn’t want to make the separation any harder.”
“I never wanted to stay with her.”
Gordon gulped in a breath. “I didn’t know. I believed what she told me. She wouldn’t let me come over and get my things. She insisted on keeping the house; she wanted everything, and to keep the peace, I agreed to it. But it never made things better. And when you told me you hated me and never wanted to see me again, I knew I’d made so many terrible mistakes.”
“I feel like I’ve been parentless for ten years.”
“I don’t want you to feel that way anymore. What can I do to be back in your life? Reese, you’re my girl, and I love you with all my heart.”
She broke her cookie in half, but she didn’t eat any of it. Instead, she pushed the plate away and looked into her father’s eyes. “I can’t promise you anything. I’m not even sure I’ll want to talk to you again after this. Coming here was hard and I’m still trying to sort my head out. But at the very least, I could use your support. I’m going through this stupid scandal, and I’m feeling alone right now.”
He leaned forward. “What can I do?”
“Nothing, I suppose.” She thought for a second, then said, “No, there is something. Please don’t talk to the press. And maybe we can think about talking again in a while. I’m not promising anything, but I think I want you back in my life, but it will take some time.”
“That’s okay. I don’t want you to feel any pressure. And I won’t speak to the press again. When I talked to Mr. Semple, he made it clear that he wasn’t going to destroy your life. I believed him. I hope I’m not wrong.”
“I hope so too.”
“If you need me for anything, please know that I’m there for you.”
“Thanks, Dad. I’m glad we had this talk…and I think I’d like to do it again. Maybe meet Beth.”
“I’d love that.”
