A childless man, being confronted with a then sixteen-year-old girl who was comparing him to the image of the father she carried in her head was something he couldn’t cope with. Of course, all her defiant behaviour caused by her perfectly normal hormonal mood swings were down to bad parenting by me. Something, on the few occasions they’d met, he’d tried to correct.
Raising a teenager is give and take, and of paramount importance is her safety. I’ve learned to pick which battles to fight. He’d want to take on every one. Alicia had hated him.
We’d parted ways.
In all, there had been three failed attempts at dating since Dave had been gone. None could hold a candle to him. What I’d never found was a man who’d shown any understanding of what a teenage girl could be like. In fact, one man had refused to even meet her. He’d thought I could be his booty call without him getting involved in my life. I made sure it hadn’t gotten as far as that.
The gruff tattooed biker who’d never had kids of his own had shown more understanding in one phone call than any of the men from my failed relationships.
Not that I’ve got any interest in Grumbler. It’s hard to imagine a man who lives in a sphere so far removed from mine. Anyway, once he’s located the photographer and got Alicia’s money for her, our paths will divide and never cross again.
While I’ve been in my reverie, I’ve finished the pot roast. I place it in the oven just as Alicia comes out of her room.
I watch her approach, seeing her do a little dance on the spot. “Everyone’s so excited for me. I’m going to be famous. I’m a real model, Mom.”
“I wouldn’t go as far as that.” I let her down gently. “It does mean, as long as the photographer pays up, that you’ve made a thousand dollars. That’s good going, girl.”
She’s in such a good mood, I’m immediately suspicious. “You can’t go out tonight,” I remind her, thinking she might have thought I’d forgotten.
She tosses back her hair. “I don’t want to anyway. I’ve still got people to tell, and I’m waiting for replies on my Facebook post. They’re going to be sooo jealous.” Her tongue licks her lips as though she can almost taste her success. “I might ring Devon to see if he wants to photograph me again.”
“No,” I say quickly, knowing that’s the last thing we should be doing, letting on that we’ve found him out. “Don’t do that. What’s the point if he’s not going to pay you?”
“But someone might spot me.”
“Let Grumbler try to find out more first.”
She grimaces. “Oh, alright. But Mom, I’m going to be a model! Maybe go to Hollywood?”
I don’t think that’s how this business runs. But our fight’s been put on hold for now, so I’ll count that as a win.
It’s such a plus that Alicia’s mood is on the positive side that I don’t want to send her back the other way, so I avoid returning to the subject that I know I ought to raise, knowing even if I do, it’s doubtful any of my warnings would sink in.
I’m worried she’s still got Owen’s contact details on her phone when I’d have preferred for her to delete them.
When I’d grounded her, I admit I’d blown my top, explaining in detail what could happen if she shared half-naked photos of herself. I hope that I’d gotten through to her with the explanation that while she felt she could trust him now, if their friendship ended acrimoniously, things might be different.
I don’t believe Alicia has done more than exchange texts and messages with the guy who I believe is far too old for her. She hasn’t had much of a chance. Like any mom, I try to keep track of where she is at any time. She’s well aware I can use the location feature on her phone to locate her. It’s a fair bet she’ll always have the device with her, it’s never not in her hand or close by.
It’s not that I don’t trust her, but I was once, though she might find it hard to believe, a teenager myself. I’d used every trick in the book to do what I’d wanted, even if that meant telling my parents what I thought was a white lie. Well, what they didn’t know, wouldn’t hurt them, would it? Alicia probably feels the same way.
Like Kristen, I’d made my own mistakes, though maybe not as dire as I suspect hers are.
Unlike my parents, I have technology I can use to track my daughter, and therefore, it’s so much harder for her to disappear off the radar.
I hope my lecture sunk in, but if it hasn’t, I’ll be watching her like a hawk. Any unusual request to meet a friend somewhere or at a time that rings a warning bell, well, I’ve already decided to check that by ringing said parent of the person she’s due to visit. And if I do check up on her phone location when she’s out, who can blame me for that.
Alicia can’t tell Owen’s a player, but I can. I didn’t need to meet him more than once to know he’s cocky and far too sure of himself. He didn’t try to hide he thought he was God’s gift to women. A man like that would only want Alicia for one thing.
The request for a sext from her? He’s pushing his chances, seeing how far he can go. The fact she was willing will only encourage him, whether or not the picture was actually sent.
Chapter Eleven
Grumbler
“Pimped your ride out again?”
“Hey. You going to model with it this time?”
I walk into church ignoring the comments coming from one side and
