While we wait for the food, Tessa begins asking me questions, which I expected, since this is a first date and normally when you get to know a person. She wants to know more about my parents.
“They must have been great people, with the way you turned out. I wish I could have met them.”
My mother would love Tessa and praise her for being a single mom and doing such a wonderful job raising Emily all by herself.
“My mom was all about us boys. Never missed a game or practice. She was very involved in our lives. My dad, well, he worked a lot. Not that he wasn’t there for us when he could be.”
Our waitress drops off our food, and we all begin to dig in, but that doesn’t stop the questions.
“And your brothers?”
She’s met Liam, from the day of the fire, but not Aiden. He is the one I will have to worry about the most. He’s not the type to think about things before speaking. “Liam, the one you’ve met, he’s just trying to figure out what he wants. Aiden is more of the playboy type, revolving front door, and doesn’t have any clue on how to be a functioning adult.”
Tessa’s phone rings, and she pulls it out, examining the number, and then sets it down on the table where it continues to ring.
“Everything okay?” I ask because of the sudden shift in her demeanor.
“Just someone I don’t want to talk to,” she replies, tucking a hair behind Emily’s ear and smiling. “Plus, I’m here with you two. They can wait.”
For the next several minutes, it’s quiet besides the constant vibrating of her phone, and something just doesn’t feel right. Why wouldn’t she just answer the phone? Her cheeks are red, and the conversation has halted, becoming one-sided while she continues to pick at her food.
I decide to get the check and take them home. Something is obviously bothering her, and she has a phone call to return. If she wants to talk about it, then I’ll listen, but I won’t pry.
On the way from the restaurant, Emily talks about a special on Animal Planet that she doesn’t want to miss Friday and asks if she can come over to my house to watch it since they don’t have a TV.
“Of course.”
Tessa hasn’t said anything since getting in the car, just picking at her fingers.
As we pull up, a man is standing outside their duplex. Who the hell is that?
“Emily, stay in the car with Damon.”
“You know him?” I ask, eyebrows raised.
“It’s Chris,” she says, shutting the door.
That’s why she has been acting so weird. Her ex has been calling and texting her, but how does he know where she lives?
I hand my phone to Emily so she can watch videos of monkeys, and I can focus my eyes on them to make sure that if there are any signs of trouble, I can get out at a moment’s notice to step in. Or would she want me to?
I can’t hear what is being said, but both voices are being raised. Chris is getting closer and closer to her, and I don’t like that. If he so much as lays a hand on her, I will lay him out.
Then I see him point toward me. You got a problem? I don’t like that she’s standing outside in the cold in that dress. She must be freezing.
When Tessa starts crying, I open the door. “Are you okay?”
“This isn’t any of your concern. She’s fine,” he responds.
“I don’t believe I was asking you. Tess?” This guy doesn’t know me, and I’m not one to start anything, but I shut the door behind me, and just stand there, not getting any closer.
“I mean really, Tessa, who the hell do you think you are? She’s my daughter. You can’t keep me from her. She deserves to know me. Stop letting your feelings for me jeopardize your judgment. You’re a better mother than this.”
Rage fuels through me, and my knuckles become white. Who the hell is he to talk about her mothering skills? He hasn’t been around in how long? Then he shows up and starts talking like she’s a horrible mother for not letting him see her? You’ve got to be kidding me.
“Don’t act like you’re innocent. You haven’t seen her in what, four years? More? Hell, I couldn’t even tell you it’s been that long. You disappear and then all of the sudden expect me to just let you walk right back into her life? Fuck you. That’s not how it works. You could easily walk right out of her life again tomorrow. I will not put her through that again. You should leave.”
Good girl. Tell him exactly what you have been holding in all these years.