“I know, sweetie.” I kissed his chest. “This won’t take long.”
“Maybe I should come with you.”
“No.” I climbed out of his arms. “What you’re going to do is rest.”
“Promise me you’ll come back.” His voice wavered.
“I promise.”
“Kiss me first.”
A smile tugged at my lips, but I leaned in and gave him what he wanted then fled the room.
Walking toward my father’s room was torture. I knew what I wanted to say to him, but I wasn’t sure how I would say it. The words were all tangled up in my mind and it hurt me to pull them apart. Still, I stepped into the room, head held high. He looked up from the book he’d been reading, his right arm in a cast. I didn’t sit, I merely cleared my throat and stepped a little closer to the bed.
“What happened to you?” Jeffrey asked.
“Well, the man you pissed off tried to blow up the man I love.” I told him pointedly.
“Who?”
“You already know the answer to that.”
“No.” Jeffrey closed the book and set it beside him on the bed. “I will not approve of that.”
“I’m so glad you believe you have a choice in the matter.” I told him. “Let me start at the beginning. Tarek didn’t rape me. I lied.”
He didn’t react.
“Wait…” I tilted my head. “You knew that, didn’t you? You knew!”
“Of course, I knew you lied!” He snapped. “That kid didn’t have a vile bone in his body! His parents raised him better than. But I saw the way you looked at him. It was disgusting.”
“Disgusting? Why?”
“It doesn’t matter. I did not want that for my daughter. They had nothing and weren’t good enough for you! They were beggars, Ellie! They still aren’t good enough.”
“The actual—” I caught my breath, held it then pushed it out my mouth. The words I knew I would later regret were at the edge of my tongue. They almost fell into the universe. “Beggars? Really?”
He said nothing.
“I’m glad you’re okay, dad.” I told him. “But after all the shit you’ve heaped on my plate lately, I think we should take some time away from each other. Tarek could have died saving your life and the only thing you can say is that his family isn’t good enough.” I scoffed and turned for the door but stopped. “I don’t care if you approve. Tarek has loved and protected me more than you could ever understand. I will not hurt him because your biases blind you. And one more thing, you’ll never see Lilo again.”
“He’s my son. I have right! You can’t keep him from me!”
“Watch me.”
“I’ll sue you for custody!” He snarled.
“Be my guest. I could be the biggest hooker on Main Street and no judge in this country will give you custody. I’ll air every single bit of your dirty laundry and make sure to save my brother from you.”
I turned and made my way to the exit.
“Ellie! You can’t leave me here!” He shouted after me. “Ellie, don’t you dare walk out that door!”
I kept going.
“Ellie! I have nothing left! I’m your father!”
