I give her a knowing nod. Layla’s mother-in-law stays with them for the roughly two months of overlap in our season and the Camels’. It’s the only way they can manage childcare for their toddler because there are nights when they’re both out of town. It comes with a price though, and that’s Layla’s sanity. Her mother-in-law drives her nuts, constantly judging her parenting style. It’s only getting worse with each passing week.
When I walk into the living room, I notice Palmer and Shay each have a glass of wine in hand. Shay offers me some, but I decline. She doesn’t even ask why. I think it’s assumed we’re taking it easy with a big game later this week. I worried for nothing.
Palmer starts talking about her parents and how close she is to them. She’s super excited that they’re coming into town for all our remaining playoff games. Their relationship is sweet. I know she talks to her mom every single day. I can’t imagine.
Eventually Layla arrives. She plops down on the couch, grabs the bottle of wine on the coffee table, and drinks directly from it before shouting out what I’m pretty sure are a series of Spanish expletives.
We’re all staring at her until she eventually sighs. “My mother-in-law just told me I’m a drug addict because I use birth control. She wants us to have another baby and said Presley should take me to rehab because I’maddictedto birth control pills.”
We shake our heads in disbelief. “That’s insane,” I offer.
She nods. “It is. It’s almost as crazy as last year, when I was breastfeeding, feeling like my nipples were being cut by razor blades, the monster-in-law told me I wasselfishfor breastfeeding for so long because she wanted to be able to feed the baby more often. The bitch is officially off her rocker. I think it’s only getting worse with age. I can’t take it much longer. I’m not doing this again next season. I just can’t have her living with us for two months again.”
She exhales a long breath. “Maybe it will end soon. Her birthday is next week. She’s suddenly super into taking baths and asked us to get her something bath-appropriate for her birthday.” She gives a sly smile. “So I got her a toaster oven. Take that in the bath with you, you pinche puta.”
We all burst into hysterics.
She begins sharing a few more mother-in-law and grandparent stories when it occurs to me that my baby won’t have a grandmother. I suppose Ashleigh sort of counts, but Daylen’s mother is gone, and I won’t let my mother around my child. While I adore Hank and know he’ll be an amazing grandfather, I don’t want him to be the only grandparent in my kid’s life. I’m feeling like it’s time to have a real talk with my father.
Probably due to my crazy hormones, I’m suddenly unwilling to wait a second longer, so I stand. “I’m really sorry to bail, but I need to run. I forgot about something I need to do.”
Sulley gives me a look as if to ask if everything is okay. I nod that it is.
Everyone expresses their disappointment, but don’t push, sensing something is going on with me. When the season is over, I’ll tell them everything.
As I drive over to my father’s, I’m filled with anxiety. I have so much to say. We need to talk about our relationship, and I need to tell him about Daylen and the baby.
I know Daylen wanted to be here for this conversation, but I need to do it alone. I’m not sure how my father will react, and I don’t want things to escalate with him and Daylen. I’m going to absorb the blow for him. Whether Daylen agrees or not, I’m trying to protect him and his job. He’s been my protector. Now it’s my turn to return the favor.
I ring the doorbell a few times, but there’s no answer. I had texted Pierce as to my father’s whereabouts, and he replied that Dad was home tonight. I know they speak on the phone or text nearly every day. Maybe Dad’s out by the pool. It’s a warm evening, and I remember him mentioning that he likes it back there.
He once told me that his code is my birthday, and he encouraged me to use it anytime. I decide to unlock his door myself for the first time ever.
Walking inside, I’m immediately hit with the sounds of music coming from the backyard area. I guess that’s why he didn’t hear the doorbell.
Wiping my clammy hands on my shirt, I slowly make my way toward the back of the house filled with nerves. As I approach, I see him in only his bathing suit with his back to me. He’s dancing to some slow song that’s likely from the eighties, knowing my dad. I’ve never heard it before.
A woman’s hands are wrapped around him, caressing his back lovingly. I can’t see much of her, he very obviously towers over her, but I can see her bare legs and enough of her body to know she’s in a bathing suit too.
I know my parents are divorced, but it’s slightly weird seeing my father with another woman, especially since they’re half-naked. I’ve never once seen him with anyone but my mother. I wish I could say the same for her.
A small smile finds my lips. I’m happy for him. If what Daylen and Pierce have said is true, he’s waited a long time to find someone. He deserves to be happy, especially after being married to that miserable shrew for so many years.
I’ve never seen him dance before. He and my mother barely looked at each other, let alone danced. I never once saw them be affectionate or loving. Seeing how Daylen is with me makes my heart ache a little for my father. No wonder he never wanted to be home.
The woman’s hair sways into my sightline, and I see that it’s blonde. He certainly has a type. Petite blondes.
I’m about to interrupt when he bends his head and kisses her. Her fingers run through his hair. Their in-sync movements are familiar in a way that I know they’ve done it many times before. She’s not new.
Suddenly he lets out a moan, and his hands move down her body. Okay, this is getting creepy. I’m leaving. I’ll come back another time when he’s not five seconds away from having sex.
I turn to leave when the sounds of a woman’s laughter hit my eardrums. Wait, I know that laugh. It’s very familiar. Where have I heard it before?
I turn back toward them, and that’s when the biggest gut punch of my life hits me. That’s saying a lot because I also walked in on the sounds of my kitchen table banging the wall as my then-boyfriend was nailing my mother.
The woman my father is now dipping as they smile and laugh into each other’s mouths is Fallon.MyFallon. The only maternal figure I’ve ever had in my life.
Reality hits me like a ton of bricks. It was all bullshit. She never cared about me. She was using me to get to my father, just like every single person in my childhood.
