“Amber.” I draw her name out.
She doesn’t bring it up much, but she hasn’t worked through the guilt she has about leaving Maddy so she can perform. I’m not sure there is anything I can say to make it better, and I hate that leaving her daughter for her job makes her feel inadequate.
“I know,” she says. “Maddy’s fine with me being away.”
I wish I knew how to convince her that she isn’t ruining Maddy’s childhood by bringing her on tour. Kids need a lot from their parents, but they don’t require their undivided attention to be happy. And they can learn a lot from watching their parents succeed.
“Are you okay?” I ask carefully.
“Mostly.” She shrugs. “I’m pissed at Teddy though.” She reaches for my hand and pulls me down next to her. “And I’m worried about the interview,” she whispers.
Me too.
She bites her bottom lip. “We only have one chance to spin this story and if we get it wrong…”
“We aren’t going to get it wrong,” I say with more certainty than I feel. “We—” My phone vibrates from where I left it on the floor and we both glance at it.
Alarm clouds Amber’s voice when she says, “Why is Teddy FaceTiming you?”
“He probably wants to check on Maddy.”
I swipe to accept, and Teddy’s face fills the screen. He’s less disheveled than yesterday, but he still looks tired.
“Hey…uh…is this okay?”
“I told you that you could call me,” I remind him.
“I know.” He scratches the back of his neck. “How is Maddy?”
“She’s good. Better.” I pan the screen so he can see her. It passes Amber on the way and Teddy squeaks. “Amber. Uh…hey…how’s it going?”
“I’ve been better.”
“Yeah, I know. I’m sorry about…everything,” he says quietly. “I just wanted to check on Maddy, I’ll let you go.” He hangs up before either of us can reply.
“That was odd.” She rests her cheek on her knees and asks, “What happened yesterday when he stopped by?”
I give her as succinct an explanation as possible.
“So, you and Teddy are going to be…friends?”
“I guess that’s the best way to explain it.”
She blinks rapidly. “You’re serious?”
“Don’t you think this’ll be easier if we’re friends?”
“Yes.” She shifts and reaches for my hand. “Teddy could use a friend. I just didn’t expect it would be you.”
“Why not?”
“He’s my ex-boyfriend who outed our relationship to a reporter, and he can be something of an asshole.”
She’s not wrong. I had all the same thoughts yesterday and they aren’t any less true today. “It’s going to be easier if we aren’t at odds with him and he needs someone to help him become less terrified of his daughter.”
She studies me carefully. The scrutiny is so intense that heat starts to creep into my neck. Did I make a mistake? “You’re unbelievable. Ninety-nine out of a hundred people would be furious, but you decide to be his friend.”
I’m a bit confused. “Is that a problem?”