Page 72 of Family Bonds: Alana & Brennan
“Nope. I could say no, but there is a part of me that feels I shouldn’t. She said she’s got gifts for her. I want Becca to know her mother. Or more like I don’t want to be the reason she doesn’t.”
“And you know what?” she said, swinging her legs off of him. “That’s not being mean. That’s not being nice either. It’s called doing the right thing.”
No other woman understood that. They definitely wouldn’t remain composed in such a situation.
“I’m trying. Do you care if I call her?”
“Go ahead,” she said. “I’ll get us some snacks unless you wanted to leave or needed to?”
“I’d like to stay if you’re okay with it. I have to get Becca early in the morning.”
“And I’ll go volunteer. We didn’t make plans this weekend and we don’t have to force it because of what happened tonight. I’m all good with just letting things happen the most comfortably they can for both of us.”
He leaned down to give her a kiss. “I really appreciate that.”
She nodded her head and walked into the kitchen while he called Rene. It rang four times before she finally answered.
“I didn’t think you’d return my call,” Rene said.
“I am. What’s going on?”
“I’m off this weekend. I’d like to see Becca. I’ve got some Christmas gifts for her. I can just stop at your apartment tomorrow afternoon or Sunday.”
He ground his teeth. “Rene. I moved. I told you this months ago. You didn’t reply. I don’t live in Boston anymore.”
“What?” Rene asked. “Where do you live?”
“Two texts,” he said. “I sent you two. Both you ignored. I can screenshot them to you and I saw you read them. I transferred to Amore Island for work. My mother lives here now and Gina got another job. I had to do what was best for Becca.”
“Gina? Is that your girlfriend?”
His fist clenched, his fingers aching at the tension. “Gina has been Becca’s nanny since the day you left.”
“Oh,” Rene said. “I don’t remember those things.”
“So I see,” he said. “If you want to see Becca, you need to come to the island this weekend; otherwise it won’t work.”
There was hesitation on the other line. “You can’t bring Becca here to my place?”
“No,” he said. He had the right to make this decision and he was. As much as he wanted his daughter to see her mother, he wouldn’t give in to every request. “It’s too short of notice and the weather won’t be that great to bring her on the ferry. We’d haveto stay in the car and she’s hard to keep occupied sitting that long.”
None of this was a lie.
He could do it and had before when they came back and forth a few times to visit and get housing set up, but most times he could entertain his daughter walking around the deck.
This time of year that wouldn’t happen.
“I have to check the ferry schedules and figure it out. I’ve never driven on a ferry before. Is there a taxi I can get to your house?”
He looked at Alana when she returned with a dish of fruit and cheese. “I can pick you up if you tell me which one you’ll be on.”
“That works,” Rene said. “I’ll let you know tomorrow once I figure it out.”
“I’ll text you the ferry schedule so you’ve got it,” he said. Because if he didn’t, she wouldn’t look until the last minute and then it’d be Sunday night before he got a text telling him what happened.
“Thanks, bye,” Rene said and hung up.
“Sorry.”
