AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Charlotte, set up a meeting for me to see that building in the afternoon. I’ve sent the details to your email.”
“Will do. You have a call on line one.”
The call is about a business process re-engineering project I’m working on. It’s one of the things I want to change about this company. Sanders International has been using antiquated tools and procedures for far too long. We need a complete overhaul to bring it up to speed with the 21st century.
I end the call on a high note and walk out of my office.
“Charlotte, I’m heading out to lunch with my daughter. What time did you set the meeting for?”
“It’s at four o’clock this afternoon.”
“Then I’ll go meet my attorney right after lunch.”
I take the elevator down and walk through the crowded lobby and out the revolving doors, greeting the sunny day. I take a deep breath of fresh air and slide into the back of the waiting car.
“We’re going to Town School, Seventy-Sixth and York. I want to take Addison to lunch.”
“Yes, sir.” The driver closes my door and slides into the driver’s seat. We pull away slowly and ease into the traffic.
I immediately pick up the phone and call the school director to inform her that I’m picking up my daughter for lunch. For the rest of the drive, I answer emails, and before I know it, we are in front of Town School. The bell has just rung, and uniformed kids are pouring out of the building like ants. I spot Addison talking with a friend and give her a few minutes while I finish up with my last email.
The door opens, and Addison rushes into the car, slamming the door and flinging herself into my arms at the same time.
I laugh and hug her tightly. She is a flurry of energy and the brightest spot in my life. Sometimes, my heart aches when I look at her. Every day, she looks more and more like her mother, and I break a little inside each time I see her.
Addison has an uncanny ability to shatter my heart and mend it at the same time.
“Where do you want to go to lunch today, Addison?”
“Umm, let's have pizza,” she says enthusiastically, like we didn’t just have pizza a few days ago.
“Sounds good.” I catch the driver’s eye in the mirror, and he nods, knowing where to take us.
“How was school so far?”
Addison starts chattering about math, her friend from English, and this boy from science, and by the time we arrive, I’m out of breath without having said a word. She gets her excitement for life from both me and her mother, though mine has waned over the years. I must admit, it’s been a lonely life since her mom passed.
We go up to the counter and order our usual, pizza and Cesar salad. Addison has quieted down, and I glance at her to make sure she’s alright. We get our drinks and find our favorite booth. In this rare moment of silence, I look my daughter over and feel grateful. If it hadn’t been for her, I would have given up. She has kept me alive and sane these last twelve years.
As if reading my mind, she takes a deep breath in.
“Dad, tell me about Mom.”
I stiffen, and my jaw tightens, fighting back the lump forming in my throat. Any mention of her mom, and I start to shut down. She died of postpartum hemorrhage just hours after giving birth to Addison, intertwining my greatest joy and my deepest loss. There was nothing the doctors didn't try to stop the bleeding. She was one in a hundred thousand, and it didn't matter how wealthy and powerful I was. It happened all the same.
I take a napkin, wipe my mouth to buy some time, and answer cautiously, “She was wonderful.” That's all I’m able to say without breaking down. Losing her was unfair and cruel, and I had sworn off God for some time after her death, only slowly finding my way back to some version of spirituality over the past few years.
Sometimes, Addison lets it go at that, but today she persists.
“Why don’t you ever talk about her?” she asks, traces of anger in her young voice.
“Because I miss her terribly. But I will, pumpkin. Just not today and not here. Let's talk about something else. Please.”
Addison pouts, putting her fork down and crossing her arms. I let the quiet stretch and notice Addison eventually relax.
“Will you ever get married again?” Addison pushes.
“No. Now drop the subject.”
