Page 6 of Hard Focus
“Maybe I shouldn’t even bother.” Jonas steppedbackwardsand lifted his hands to his shoulders, brushing imaginary weight off his frame. “Maybe it’s not worth the effort after all.”
“Sweet Jesus, please do that. Give it up. Give her up.” Cole took another step forwards,andConnie saw his brother’s arm shake with the effort to hold him in place. “End this circus for once and forever. Stop doing this to my sister.”
There was a pause, and from the shifting expressions on the brothers’ features, she wondered what they saw. Anger flared, followed quickly bya resignedsorrow registered on each man’s face as Jonas spoke. “I’ll wait by the car for my kid. Audrey’s late sending her out, you should tell her to get a move on it, and don’t make me call legal.”
He returned to the carbutinstead of getting in as he sometimes did, he leaned a hip against the front fender, facing the house. Folding his arms across his chest inan unconsciousmimicry of the Stewart brothers’ pose, he settled in to wait for Adrianne to come out.
Nearly ten minutes later, the door openedandthe little girl skipped out, whirling and lifting her arms to Cole. He picked her up, wrapping her tightly in his embrace, and Connie saw his lips moving next to her ear, saw Adrianne nod before she bowedbackwardsto stare into his face. The other brother stepped close,andshe leaned over to hug his neck from the safety of Cole’s arms. The door closed behind the trio,andCole bent to place Adrianne on her feet.
The change in the little girl’s demeanor was startling as she turned to face her father. Shoulders going from straight to slumped, after a single glance at Jonas, she bent her neck and studied the steps, then trailed down them one at a time. Walking down the sidewalk slowly, she dragged her tiny bag behind her until Cole murmured something, then she picked it up and placed the strap over her shoulder. Adrianne bypassed her father where he remained propped against thevehicleand headed for the passenger door behind Connie. Wordlessly, the little girl climbed into the car and Connie felt the shift as the door pulled closed, then heard a click as Adrianne fastened her seat belt. Through it all, Jonas didn’t move, and neither did the two men on the porch.
“Hey Addy.” Connie used the nickname for the first time. It felt like Cole had granted permission with his earlier words, and Connie was desperate to make the little girl feel welcome and safe around her.
“Hi, Miss Connie.” Addy’s voice was quiet, but Connie heard a thread of sadness underscoring the words.
“You ready for the zoo, little lady? Daddy’s got quite the adventure planned for us today.” She twisted in the seat to look at Addy. “It’s his birthday today, you know.”
“Are you going to be with us?” Addy lifted her head and stared at Connie, an uncertain expression on her face. Connie nodded and received a ghost of a smile from the child. “All day? You’ll stay with me all day?”
“I wouldn’t miss it for anything,” Connie told her. “Promise.”
“Okay.” The word slipped out on a huge, relieved sigh. “I didn’t know it was his birthday. I don’t have any presents for him.”
“We’ll figure something out, okay?” Addy nodded. “I’m glad to see you, honey. Let’s just focus on having a good day, yeah?” She nodded again. “Is it okay if I call you Addy? I overheard your Uncle Cole call you that, and it’s cute.”
“Yeah. That’s what Mommy calls me.”
“In that case, I’m honored you’d give me permission. Thanks, sweetheart.” Connie smiled and saw a real one beginning to bloom on the little girl’s face. It dropped away quickly when the driver door opened and Jonas got into the car.
“Hello,Daddy.” Addy said the words as if coached, and Connie frowned as the child turned in the seat to look away from the house where she lived with her mother. She’d noticed the behavior before, only now recognizing it as grief at having to leave. It was as if Addy couldn’t bear to watch the house fade into the distance, clearly wishing she was anywhere but in the back seat of Jonas’ car.
Jonas didn’t respond, just slapped the gearshift into Reverse, backing quickly out of the drive and squealing the tires slightly as he drove away.It’s going to be a great day, Connie told herself as she turned to face front, trying to keep the tone of sarcasm out of the words, even in her mind.
“Hello, Daddy,” he mocked Addy, his falsetto high and thready, a close approximation of the little girl’s faltering greeting.
“Jonas,” Connie’s scold burst from her. She was shocked at what he’d done, after the dozens of times she’d heard him coax those very words from his daughter.
“Your uncles are a piece of work. I can’t believe I still have to put up with this bullshit every time.” The click of the turn signal was loud in the silence after he’d spoken. Stunned, Connie didn’t know what to say, but Jonas apparently didn’t have the same instincts, because he carried on in the same brutal tone. “Your mother should stop hiding behind her family like that. I’m tired of this.”
“You’re notasuppostto talk about Mommy.” Addy’s whisper barely made it to the front seat, but Connie watched as red flooded up Jonas’ neck and cheeks in reaction to the gentlechidefrom his little girl.
“Why don’t we talk about the zoo instead?” Connie offered a topic change, hoping Jonas would grasp onto it, disappointed but not surprised when he brushed aside her suggestion.
“I’m not ‘asuppost’ to, am I? I bet Mommy doesn’t stick to the rules, does she? I bet Mommy says whatever she pleases about me. Her and her brothers. I bet they aren’t shy about spewing shit about me.” He pulled out into traffic, accelerating aggressively until he had to change lanes and pass another vehicle. “I bet you don’t try to tell your uncles what to do, either. So why don’t we go with that, kid? Don’t tell me what I can and cannot talk about in my own damned car with my own damned kid. Let’s put that in theasuppostto do bucket for a change.”
Clipping off the words, in a knee-jerk reaction to his unreasonable behavior, Connie told Jonas, “Take me to my apartment.”He shouldn’t talk to her like that. Poor child. After this kind of a start to the day, she knew nothing good would come of sticking to the original plan. “That’s intolerable, and I won’t be party to this in any way.” Furious, she found herself more than ready to make an escape. “Now, Jonas. Take me home.”
“No,” Addy shouted, her voice cracking on the single word. Shakier words followed, and Connie realized the child had started crying somewhere along the way. “No, Miss Connie. You promised me. You promised.”
“Yeah, Miss Connie. Are you a promise breaker now? Are you asuppost to be a storyteller? Little liar?” Jonas mocked Addy’s tone again, and Connie stared at him, wondering where this vicious side of him had come from. He’d never been intentionally cruel before, but the words flowed from him in a way that seemed practiced and comfortable, as if bullying people was his chosen pastime. “You promised to spend my birthday with me.”
“And Addy,” Connie interjected, not trying to soften her tone. Jonas had stirred up every maternal instinct she’d always felt was missing from her. She’d never thought about wanting a child of her own, but hearing him belittle the now-sobbing little girl in the back seat had her seeing red.How dare he!“But you need to mind yourself, Jonas. I won’t be party to this little fit you’re throwing, and that beautiful child has done nothing to deserve this kind of treatment. She’s just a child. You’re not. There’s no excuse for this. So stop it now. If you want me to go to the zoo today or pick up the phone the next time you call, this needs to end.”
“You’d drop me over something like this?” His tone changed as he backpedaled, becoming cajoling in a way that rang with falseness, and Connie frowned. “Oh, come on. Adrianne knows I’m just kidding. Don’t ya, kid? Daddy’s just joking with you.”
“No, you weren’t joking.” Connie shook her head, unwilling to back down, even though her insides were quivering with something like fear. This was unfamiliar territory, how scary it felt to push the subject.When did I become afraid of how he’d react?“Youwere beingmean because of something that isn’t the fault of anyone in this car right now. Stop it.”
Quiet sobs filled the air,andConnie twisted in the seat to look at Addy. Chin down, the little girl was staring out the window, hands fisted around the strap of her bag. Tears trailed her cheeks, falling in giant drops to dampen her shirt. “Addy,” Connie called and waited. When the little girl didn’t look up, she repeated, “Addy,” and was finally rewarded by a tear-filled glance. “You want me to go to the zoo?” Addy nodded slowly, holding Connie’s gaze with her own. “Then I’ll go to the zoo. For you, sweetheart.” Connie wasn’t sure if her idea of salvaging the day would work, but it was worth a try. “If Daddy says he’s sorry, can you forgive him?”
