Page 41 of The Gargoyle and the Songbird

Almost.

We make small talk while he finishes cooking, catching up on his classes and my tour plans. It’s nice, even if I’m editing out some of the wilder parts of my life these days.

I also avoid mentioning anything about Graeme. That’s… complicated.

I’m tucking into my bowl of risotto when Dad drops his bombshell. “So, I ran into your mom yesterday.”

I stiffen, my grip tightening around my fork. “What?”

“At the market.” He blows on his bite of risotto, trying to meet my eyes. I stare down at my food, stirring it anxiously.

“We talked for a bit,” he continues. “She asked about you.”

The mouthful of risotto I just swallowed turns sour in my stomach. Of course she did. “What did she want?” My voice comes out brittle.

Dad sighs. “To talk, I think. She said she misses you.”

I let out a harsh laugh. “Sure she does. More like misses having a rising star for a daughter she can mooch off of.”

“Ecco...” The disapproval in his voice makes me tense.

“What? You know it’s true.” I stab my fork into my risotto, no longer hungry. “She only ever cares about what other people can do for her.”

“I know your mom has made mistakes,” Dad says heavily. “But holding onto this anger isn’t healthy. Maybe it’s time to hear her out, start fresh.”

“Are you serious?” Hurt and disbelief war in my chest. “After everything she did? The way she used her siren skills to manipulate people, the messes she made that you always had to clean up?”

His lips thin. “We were young and figuring things out. And your mother’s powers?—”

“No, don’t make excuses for her.” My eyes sting and I blink hard. “She broke your heart over and over and never cared whogot hurt in the process. You can forgive her if you want, but I won’t.”

“Ecco—” Dad stops, and scrubs a hand over his face. He suddenly looks older, wearier. “People can change. Holding onto a grudge isn’t going to fix anything.”

“It’s not about fixing.” I push my plate away, my appetite gone. “It’s about protecting myself. Deandra only ever thinks about herself. Have you forgotten the way she left you? Leftus? I was a kid, Dad. I needed my mom around.”

His eyes soften. “Chickadee...”

I shake my head, my throat tightening.

“I can’t, Dad. I just… I can’t be around her without remembering all the crap she put us through.” I glance at the clock and seize the opportunity for an escape. “I should probably head out. I told Rian I’d be at the town hall early to help set up for choir practice.”

It’s a flimsy excuse and we both know it, but Dad just smiles sadly and pulls me into a hug. “Okay, sweetie. Thanks for coming by.”

I cling to him for a long moment. My eyes sting but I blink back the tears. “Love you, Dad.”

“Love you too, songbird. Always.”

Outside,the cold air stings my flushed cheeks and I pull my coat tighter around me. Graeme pushes off the porch railing where he’s been waiting, his nostrils flaring slightly as he takes in my red-rimmed eyes and pinched expression.

“What’s wrong?” His deep voice is laced with concern as he moves closer, looming over me. “Did something happen?”

I shake my head, but my chin wobbles. “It’s nothing. Just… family stuff.”

He reaches out as if to touch me, but seems to think better of it, his hand falling back to his side. “Do you want to talk about it?”

I start to refuse, to brush him off with a joke and a smile like I always do. But something in his steady gaze, the genuine worry in his eyes, has the words spilling out of me.

As we walk towards the town hall, I find myself unburdening all my family drama, my voice shaking as I vent my frustration with Deandra.

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