“I saw it in the newspaper, way in the back, but I saw the name and read the article.”
I shook my head with frustration. “I can’t believe he didn’t tell me!”
“I’m sorry. I assumed you knew.”
“I should have known. I’m his daughter and he didn’t have the decency to tell me! Rude. So fucking rude and childish.”
She looked around. “Shh. Come on. Let’s buy this stuff and go get some dinner.”
“I can’t believe him!” I exclaimed again.
She practically dragged me to the checkout. We paid for our things and quickly left the store. I was still pissed. Instead of wasting time and driving somewhere, we opted to go to the Olive Garden in the same shopping center.
“You need a drink,” she ordered. “How about something fruity?”
“I can’t drink. If I drink, I’m only going to get madder.”
“I’m sorry I told you,” she said.
“Don’t be. I blame him. I’m so pissed at him.”
We were seated at a quiet table.
“Let’s talk about something else,” she said. “Like work. How is it going? Any more gigs you need me to cover?”
“No.”
“Any juicy details on some celebrities that are going to be getting married soon? You always get the earliest scoop.”
“No.”
She stuck her fingers in her water glass and flicked them at me.
“Hey!” I protested.
“Snap out of it. I get a couple hours with you. I am not going to put up with a sourpuss. Let’s talk about Xander again. And his hot brother.”
“How can I talk about Xander when my father has essentially disowned me?”
“Because talking about Xander is a lot more fun.”
“Do you really think my dad intends on leaving me out of his life forever?”
She shrugged. “I can’t answer that. I think you need to make him tell you.”
“This is ridiculous. He’s not talking to me because he doesn’t like the man I’m dating. It isn’t like Xander is a serial killer. He’s done nothing wrong except be successful! For twenty-five years, it has just been me and him. He might have taken care of me for the first ten years, but I have been taking care of him since. I have bent over backward to make sure he has food and clean clothes. This is how he thanks me?”
“I’m sorry,” she said, keeping her voice low. “It’s not cool.”
“No, it isn’t cool. He is acting like a child. He’s acting like I committed some horrible sin against him. I didn’t do shit!”
Her eyes darted around the dining room. “Relax. Let’s eat and then you can figure out what to do next. You don’t want to try and come up with a plan when you’re angry. It is not going to end well.”
I leaned my head back and looked up at the ceiling. I took in several deep breaths, calming my nerves. “You’re right. I need to cool down. If I talk to him now, I’ll only say something that will definitely lead to the ending of our relationship.”
“This is what I’ve been saying,” she said.
I ordered my usual ravioli. I ended up pushing it around on my plate. I had no appetite. I was angry and hurt. My father should not be the one making me feel so miserable. He was supposed to be looking out for me and he was ripping my heart out. I made it through dinner with Nelle taking pity on me and releasing me from my friend duties.
I got home and kicked off my shoes, ready to drink a bottle of wine and block out all the feelings that were bombarding me. I felt abandoned by my father. It was a little dramatic, but it was how I felt. I blamed my lack of experience with the situation. My dad and I had always been so close. We rarely fought. I was certain it was why it was hitting me so hard now.
I didn’t know how to handle the feelings. I couldn’t ignore the situation. I couldn’t wait until I calmed down. I snatched my phone and pushed the button for his number. I waited, listening to it ring and ring. When his voicemail came on, I hung up and redialed.
“Call me back,” I snapped when his voicemail picked up again.
I tossed my phone on the couch. He didn’t get awards so often that this was not a big deal. It was a big deal. I should have been his first call. This was him punishing me. He was purposely trying to hurt me, and it was working.
Chapter 37
Xander
Charlie thought I was crazy. I probably was. He told me to come up with a way to save his ships’ rudders and I had.
Well, I hoped. Maybe I did. I wasn’t sure. I was still working out the details. Right now, it was all an image in my head. I wasn’t sure how or if it was even possible to make it work out in real life.
Then again, the ship designs were once nothing more than pipe dreams. I’d made that a reality. I was sure there was a way to make the rudders stronger and more effective.
Charlie didn’t say it, but I knew what he was thinking. He was thinking what Marsh had thought. What my dad thought. I was crazy.
He thought I was getting ahead of myself. People had been building ships for hundreds of years, and here I was, young and dumb, thinking I could change what had always been done.
I got in the car, checked the time, and figured I would see if Evie was free. I doubted it, given it was a Friday night, but I was going to try anyway. There was an elderly woman selling pretty flowers on the street corner. I bought a bouquet and parked my car before heading inside the building where Evie worked.
I hoped I wasn’t being too forward.
“Hello,” I greeted the young woman wearing a headset and sitting behind a desk.
“Hi,” she said, her posture changing as a bright smile spread over her face.
“I am looking for Evie Marsh. Is she in?”
“She is. Should I have her come here?”
“Can I go to her office?”
She grinned. “Absolutely. I’ll show you the way.”
“Thank you.”
The woman knocked on a door before pushing it open. Evie was sitting at her desk that was very organized and tidy. Her eyes lit up. “Hi!” she said and jumped to her feet.
“Hi,” I said before turning to look at the pretty receptionist. She smiled and quickly excused herself.
“What are you doing here?” she asked with surprise.
I handed her the flowers. “I thought I would surprise you.”
“These are beautiful. Thank you.”
“You are welcome. Do you have anything going on tonight?”
“Nope.”
“Would you like to have dinner with me?”
She nodded. “I would.”
“My turn to pick the place.”
“That works for me. You know, it’s very good timing you showed up today.”
I raised an eyebrow. “And why is that?”
“Because my car is in the shop. I was going to have to take a taxi home.”
I grinned and stepped closer. “Does that mean you need a ride?” We both knew what I was asking. A little sexual innuendo became part of our normal conversation.
“I do,” she whispered.
“I will be your chariot.”