Page 55 of Tomorrow Belongs to Us
“That’s why if you come back we can have fun, Daddy. I won’t be by myself.”
It hits like a punch to my gut, and I’m still winded when she tells me she’s going to the washroom. Whenever Cassie is with Vivian now, I will worry even more.
I keep an eye on the washroom. It’s always tricky when I take Cassie out because being only nine years old, I’m hesitant to let her go by herself and I can’t accompany her, but the washroom is in my line of sight and it’s for one person only so I pick up my phone and check for messages and emails.
Nothing from Megan. I was hoping she would have calmed down enough to give me a chance to say my piece. On the spur of the moment, I call her and wait for it go to her voicemail again so that I can hear her voice but, to my shock, she picks up.
“Don’t hang up,” I say quickly, thrown for a loop that she actually answered. Maybe she’s cooled off.
“Stop calling me and texting me. I don’t want to hear from you again.”
“But you answered the phone.” She’s obviously playing difficult, and I decide to humor her.
“To tell you to leave me alone.”
“I need to talk to you, Megan. Please.”
“Talk about what? Your wife? Your daughter? Or did you want to show me pictures of you all on vacation?”
I can’t hear her too well and it sounds as if she’s in a busy place because I hear people laughing and talking in the background. There’s music playing, too.
She’s not too upset.
“Where are you?” I’m not about to explain anything on the phone.
“Somewhere nice.” She sounds oddly aloof, and happy. “On a date, depending on my next move.” Ripples of laughter break out at her end. My jaw muscles clenches.
She’s … out … on a … date?
But why not? She’s young and I’m an old man.I take a deep inhale to ground myself and regroup. “I want to explain.”
“I’m sure you do, I’m sure you’ll have a foolproof excuse, but I’m not falling for your lies anymore.”
“When have I ever fed you lies?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” she says, airily. “Where should I start?”
“Why don’t you start at the beginning?” I snatch at the opportunity to keep the conversation going.
“At the beginning … when you pretended to be worried about my grades slipping? When I look back on it now, I wonder.”
“Wonder what?” What does she mean? I’d been genuinely concerned about her. I’d started to care about her and I’d done my best to help her. “I want to explain about the other evening.” I swallow hard. “I know how it looked when Vivian showed up—”
“No more lies, Mr. Turner,” she says, smoothly. “I want to ask you one thing.”
I’m ready to answer any questions she has. “Anything.”
“Are you married?”
“I’m—” I hesitate because this is not the way to tell her. I need time. I need to meet her in person.
“Are you married? It’s a simple question and it requires a simple answer.”
I pause. “Yes, but—”
“Yes,but?” Her abrasive tone stops me.
“You need to hear me out, but not now.” I don’t want to have this conversation in front of Cassie.
