Page 49 of Love is a Drum Beat
Oh right, she hadn’t wanted to be cooped up. Well world, coop her, coop her good.
Only then could she avoid the totally awkward conversation that needed to be had.
She covered her face with her hands as she replayed the kiss in her mind. It hadn’t lasted long because Jo pushed him away, walked into her room, and shut the door.
How the heck did she think that was okay? She blamed the hormones. Here she was, preggers with someone else’s baby. It was not the time to kiss anyone who was just trying to help her.
She’d have to apologize. Apologize big.
She pulled a pillow from behind her, pressed her face into it, releasing a scream. It didn’t make her feel any better.
Her phone lit up, and she answered it without checking to see who it was. “Hello?”
“Jo, I’m so glad I caught you. I don’t think my calls have been going through over the last month.” Her father knew how to manipulate people, but not her, never her.
“Oh, they’ve gone through. I just didn’t answer.”
He didn’t speak for a long moment. “Is that the way you treat the man who raised you?”
“You mean the man I ran from before I even turned eighteen? I’ve told you before, I don’t want you to call me or show up at concerts. Stay out of my life.”
“Josephine, you will respect me.”
“Respect has to be earned,Dad.I don’t remember you deserving my respect.”
His tone softened as if he wanted to try a different approach than guilt and anger. “Dear, I found her. I found your mother.”
“Like you did last time?” When he’d asked for money to go see her and move her across the country to live with him again.
The truth was, Jo didn’t want to find the mother who’d left when she was just a kid. She had memories, good memories of laughing with her mom and having fun. And after she left, Jo’s life changed. She no longer saw possibilities wherever she went. Her mom robbed her of that, of the smiles that came easy, the laughter that came free.
And all these years later, Jo still couldn’t trust that anything good would last. The only constant in her life was Noah. And now, he had his own family.
“How much do you need, Dad?” It was always about money.
“That’s insulting. You’re my daughter, and I love you.”
“Oh, you mean you didn’t just see an article about me being pregnant and contemplate how this could work for you?”
“I resent that.”
“Well, I resent a lot of things. Tell me how much you need, and I’ll give it to you with the stipulation you stay away from my son. He will not know you or mom if you truly have found her.”
“Josephine—”
“How much, Dad?” Tears welled in her eyes, but she didn’t let them fall. She’d promised herself she’d never cry over this man again.
“Ten thousand.”
Jo sighed. “Should I send it to the casino or the liquor store?”
“You have no faith in your old man.”
“True. I stopped believing in redemption a long time ago. I’ll send the money the usual way. But this is it, Dad. We’re over.”
“Now, you listen here—”
“Goodbye.” She hung up and threw her phone. Passing her thumbs under each eye, she wiped away any remnants of sadness, not realizing she hadn’t gotten the satisfied thunk of her phone hitting the door.
