Page 59 of Second Dance
“I’m not sure. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens. Okay?”
“Sure. I can wait. But I know a happy ending’s coming for you.” Grace puffed out a satisfied sounding breath and turned to look out her window. “Stars are extra pretty tonight.”
Was she talking about the sky or the stars in her own eyes?
The next afternoon, I sat on a folding chair between Alex and Delphine on the sideline of the soccer field, watching the beginning of Bella and Annie’s game. Grace had drifted up to the bleachers with Mia and Tyler. Our morning fog had burnedoff early, leaving the sky a hard, bright blue. Parents in folding chairs lined the touchline with travel mugs and soft coolers at their feet. A halftime table held orange slices, a box of granola bars with the top flapped back, and a stack of paper cups ready for water.
The game began. Annie and Bella moved across the midfield, working together. Annie was steady and precise, always where she was supposed to be. Bella, all legs and fight, darted into an open space and called for the ball. Annie passed it to her, sharp and clean. Bella kicked it into the net for the first goal of the game.
Alex was sitting on the edge of his chair, his gaze following his daughter’s every move. Pride flickered across his face as he mumbled under his breath, “That’s it. That’s how it’s done.”
For a moment, I felt a tinge of jealousy. No father figure had ever looked at my Grace that way. No man had ever sat in the front row of her play or dance recital, looking at his daughter as if she hung the moon.
I wanted that for her. I’d not even known it to be true until this very moment. But Alex had his own children. Would there ever be room for Grace in his heart?
Was there room in my own heart for his children?
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a large figure lumbering toward the field. I turned, dread pooling in my stomach. Darren. And that greasy friend of his. They were here, at Bella’s game. Both looked as if they hadn’t had a shower in weeks, and their jeans were stained with dirt and probably spilled beer.
Darren lifted his phone toward the game. My heartbeat dropped into my stomach. Was he recording Bella on the field?
“Alex,” I said, keeping my voice low. I tipped my chin toward Darren.
Alex followed my gaze. His whole body went still. I felt heat radiating from him. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Delphine tracked our looks, then the line of my finger. “Oh no. Is that him?”
“Yes. That’s Darren. Why is he here?” I asked, as if either of them knew the answer.
“He’s recording her,” Alex muttered. “I’m going to kill him.”
On the field, play shifted. The ball spun out to Bella’s wing. She cut inside, head up, scanning. Then his voice rolled across the grass.
“That’s my baby girl out there,” Darren shouted, turning toward the crowd. “You see her? My Bella.” He rotated back to address Bella directly. “Daddy’s here.”
Heads turned along the line of chairs. Murmurs rose. Bella stopped, then turned toward the direction of Darren’s voice. For a second she stood very still, like someone had doused her in icy water and the shock had taken her breath.
The coach cupped his hands around his mouth, shouting directions at Bella. “Get your head in the game, Garcia.”
But her head was definitely not in the game. Darren had fully captured her attention. The ball skittered across her feet and away, an easy touch gone wrong. An opposing player swept in, body meeting body. Bella tangled, went down hard on one knee, palms skidding. Gasps erupted up and down the sideline.
Alex leapt to his feet. The coach called for a time out. A ref’s whistle cut the air. Play stopped.
Bella popped up, clearly embarrassed, chin tipped high. She brushed at her knee, then at her eyes, quick motions to dispel the tears running down her cheeks. Annie ran to Bella’s side, putting her arm around her shoulders.
Darren, perhaps sensing the crowd’s attention, upped his game, jogging toward Alex. “Can you all hear me?” He tossed his phone to his greasy friend, who pointed it at Darren. “Do yousee this man? Bella’s my child, and he’s kept her from me for fourteen years. He thinks he can get away with it because he’s rich.”
A couple of parents frowned at him. One woman said, “Sir, this is a kids’ game. Take your drama somewhere else.” Another man shook his head. “Dude, what do you think you’re doing? You’re upsetting the girls.” Others slid sideways glances at Alex, curious and hungry for gossip. Someone whispered, “Isn’t that the tech guy?” Another, “Billionaire.”
But Alex seemed unaware of anything but Darren. He started toward him, each step measured but at the same time threatening. Delphine clutched my arm.
When Alex reached his foe, he stopped with two feet of air between them. “You need to leave. Now.”
Darren grinned into his camera like he’d been waiting for his cue. “Hear that, folks? The man who stole my daughter is telling me to leave.” He turned back toward Bella. “It’s all right, baby girl,” Darren called out in a sugar voice that made my skin crawl. “Daddy’s here now. Daddy’s going to make this right.”
“Go home, Darren,” Alex said through gritted teeth. “No one wants you here.”
Darren laughed, a bright, ugly sound. “You can’t control me, Garcia. No amount of money can keep me quiet. I’m going to fight for custody of these kids and get it.”
