'My first wife didn't realy understand me.'
I groaned. 'Oh, Jesus, Dad. God.'
I got out of the car and slammed the door. I didn't want to
listen to his crock-of-shit explanations for why he'd fucked
his secretary, knocked her up and left her to raise their kid
alone. I didn't want to hear his reasons for being unfaithful.
Maybe if he'd married my mother, if the story had become
a fairy tale with a happily-ever-after, with me, their pretty
princess, in a white dress and white patent-leather shoes
princess, in a white dress and white patent-leather shoes
with a pony and a clown at her birthday party, I might
have cared. I might have listened. But as it was, I turned
my back and tried to leave him behind.
My dad got of the car, too. 'Paige!'
There had been few occasions when my dad had to raise
his voice tone. I'd always been so terrified he'd stop loving
me, I'd never misbehaved. My feet stiled automaticaly,
but I didn't turn.
He caught up to me and reached for my arm, but didn't
grab it when I glared. 'Paige. Wait a minute.'
'Dad, realy. I have to get inside. I promised Mom I'd stop
by and I have to get home to take care of Arty.'
He looked blank.
'Arty. My brother.' I didn't add the 'half.' 'He's in an afterschool-care program, but I have to get back in time to
pick him up.'
He looked up again at the building, then back at me. 'I
don't think I'd better go in there. But wil you tel her I
asked about her?'
asked about her?'
'Of course.' I paused, then decided not to hold back.
'You know, Dad, she's been laid off from the factory for
the past couple months. I don't know what her insurance is
like, but I'm sure she could use some money.'
'Did she tel you to ask me that?'
I'd been annoyed before, but now his quick suspicion
pissed me off. 'No. She wouldn't. But you have it, and she
needs it.'
My dad shoved his hands into his trouser pockets and
looked at the ground. 'How much does she need?'
'How much can you spare for someone you say you
loved?' I shot back, not caring if I made him mad.
He looked up at me. 'You realy don't know the story,
Paige.'
'I don't have to know it, Dad.'
We faced each other over cracked concrete and neither of
us moved. My father sighed and stretched his neck back
and forth, then tossed up his hands. 'If I give you a check,
and forth, then tossed up his hands. 'If I give you a check,
wil you give it to her?'
