Page 14 of Rebound

“That was because of me. Your mother—”

“She is not my mother. If she was, she wouldn’t have just left me like she did.” I do my best to keep my voice level so as not to upset Jasmine, but I can feel the color creeping up my neck.

“She leftme,” he says.

“And me. She didn’t take me with her.”

“That’s because I wouldn’t let her,” he says. “You were the only thing I had left. I couldn’t lose you too.”

“Yeah, look at how you treated the only thing you had left, Dad,” I say to him.

“I never laid a hand on you. I love you. I always have. I can’t do things like regular people, Son. I wish I could be better foryou and Jasmine. I’m trying. I really am.” His voice cracks, and I feel guilty. I look away from the phone.

“I don’t want to talk about that anymore,” I tell him. “I have to finish washing Jasmine up.”

He casts his eyes down, and for a moment, I feel shame for making him feel bad. Me and Jasmine are the only family he has, but the bitter resentment that sits in the pit of my stomach always comes to the surface whenever I talk to my father. And since I’ve had Jasmine, we talk more often.

I was shocked at how happy he was to hear that I had a daughter, especially under the circumstances of her conception, but he was excited and begged me to bring her for a visit the first weekend I had her. Whatever issues I have with my father, I don’t want them to affect his relationship with his only grandchild.

“Will you come see me soon?” he asks, almost sounding like a little boy.

I take a deep breath and say, “We will.” He looks up, and I look into the eyes that look just like mine. He exhales in relief.

“Good. And stay more than just one night next time. I love you, Son,” he says.

“I love you too, Dad.” I turn the phone to Jasmine.

“Bye!” she says, waving furiously at the phone. I end the call and turn to the door of the bathroom. Layla is about as subtle as a fire alarm.

“Want to come in?” I ask, gesturing for her to enter the bathroom. After a brief hesitation, she walks in with her head held high and not a hint of embarrassment for being caught eavesdropping.

“I can call a ride-sharing service to take me home. Thanks for dinner.” She refuses to meet my stare, and that’s what I can’thave. The comments about being a whore, I can take, but this is not bearable. I can take insults but not pity.

“I’ll take you home,” I say while I lather the washcloth.

“Well, you’re busy. And don’t you have to put Jazzy to bed?” I hadn’t thought of that. After her bath, I let her play for an hour, and give her some warm milk while I read to her. She’s usually asleep before I finish the story. I’d hate to upset her routine. Even the smallest change can lead to a meltdown either tonight or tomorrow.

“Just sit tight and I’ll take care of it,” I say.

“Who are you bossing around?” she says before she scoffs.

“You. Now, go sit your ass down and let me finish. I’ll only be ten minutes, and Jazzy will want to say goodbye, so don’t run off.” She stomps her feet and walks out of the bathroom. “Women,” I say to my daughter. “You better not be like that.” I tap the tip of her nose with my finger.

“Baaaa,” she says before she splashes some water in the tub. She hits it so hard that some hits me in the face.

Chapter 10

Layla

I look around the vast living room and at the pictures all over the place. I don’t know what I expected when I came here, but it wasn’t this beautiful apartment. It wasn’t to see him be a good father. I had suspected as much. I see him occasionally, and he always has her with him strapped to his chest. Jasmine is happy, healthy, and very much loved. I would have bet my last dollar that he would either be a deadbeat dad or just pay the child support and never see the kid. I guess neither of those options are on the table when the mother dies. I don’t know what I expected when I heard he was going to have the kid full-time, but it wasn’t this. He’s stepped up, and now all I want is to go home and not dwell on the side of Whorekowski that I just saw.

And the man is a great cook, which is the most surprising thing of all. The hits just keep on hitting. My Gaga always said to be careful of what you’re looking for because you just might find it.

“What you need to ask yourself, Layla, is this. What are you gonna do when you find out?” Gaga said to me once.

I assumed by the time I got close enough to eavesdrop, he’d be done with his father and would be talking dirty to one of the Sethheads, but he was still talking to his dad and the little that I heard screams complicated family relations.

While he’s finishing Jasmine’s bath, I clean the kitchen and load the dishwasher. There are no leftovers, so it only takes me a few minutes to put the kitchen in order.

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