Twilight's Child (Cutler 3)

Michael stared at me, his eyes growing smaller, the impish glint turning into something harder, something sly and conniving.

"Did you tell him you were coming here to meet me today?" he asked.

"Of course not. He would be furious, and he wouldn't have permitted it."

"So?" Michael said, lifting his arms and smiling again. "You've lied to him before."

I shook my head.

"You're despicable, Michael. I came down here out of pity. I thought it was horrible that you had never seen Christie, and now you're turning it into something sordid. I've got to go," I said. "Come on, Christie."

I took some money out and threw it on the table for the bill. Then I stood up and helped Christie out of the booth. "Wait a minute, Dawn," he said.

"No, Michael. There's no reason for me to stay here any longer."

"I need that money, Dawn," he said, his eyes fixed on me. "I need this second chance, and you are in a position to help me now."

"How can you ask me after what you did, no matter what your reasons were?" I said. I shook my head and started away.

"Dawn!" he called, but I didn't turn back.

"Momma, that man is calling," Christie said.

"Just walk, honey," I told her. She turned around, and I dragged her along, fleeing from what seemed to me to be the evil side of the man I had once loved.

18

JUST DESSERTS

THE PHONE WAS RINGING IN MY OFFICE THE MOMENT I returned. Somehow I anticipated it would be Michael.

"Dawn, you had no right to run out on me like that," he declared angrily.

"I had no right to run out on you? You call that running out? How about the way you ran out on me?"

"I thought I explained all that," he said.

"Michael, there is nothing more to be said. We have to go on with our lives."

"That's exactly what I'm trying to do," he insisted, "and why I need the money."

"Michael, I can't—"

"I have some rights, you know," he said quickly.

"Rights?"

"To Christie. She's my daughter, too," he asserted.

"I was nice enough to play your little game, pretending to be someone else for now, but if I come around again . . ."

I sat down slowly.

"Michael, are you trying to blackmail me?"

"I just need a miserable five thousand dollars for now," he contended.

"For now?"