“I brought her to our place,” she said. “I had just turned the crockpot on and I didn’t want to leave it. You want me to have Peter drive her over and meet you at the house?”
“I guess so.” I felt like shit. She clearly didn’t want to be with me, but what was I supposed to do?
“We could have a sleepover,” Evelyn suggested cautiously. “Maybe she’ll feel better about things in the morning?”
I blew out a breath, frustrated. I didn’t know the right answer here. Was Josie trying to test me in some way? Would it be counterproductive to let her stay there? I was afraid she’d think I was proving whatever point she was trying to make—that I didn’t care, that I was failing as a father. On the other hand, maybe she was just feeling angry about things and getting some space would help.
“I don’t know,” I finally said, rubbing a rough hand over my face. “I guess…why don’t you ask her if she wants to stay and we’ll just leave it up to her.”
“I think that’s a good plan.” Evelyn’s voice contained so much kindness, so much sympathy, and it somehow made me feel even worse. “I’ll text you in a few, okay?”
“Okay. Thanks for getting her today. Sorry I didn’t have the phone on.”
“Don’t worry,” she said. “You’re doing just fine, Liam.”
I blew out a breath, sure she couldn’t be farther from the truth, and ended the call.
“I’m sorry things are rough right now,” Grace said without preamble.
“Thanks,” I said, leaning back against my car. I knew that I could confide in Gracie, could tell her all about this sick feeling in my stomach, and that she would listen. She might even have the magic right answer to make everything better.
But I couldn’t bring myself to open my mouth. I didn’t want to lay all of that at her feet. Or maybe I just didn’t want her to realize what a shitty father I really was.
As if in response to my self-recrimination, my phone pinged with a message.
Evelyn:She said she’d like to have a sleepover.
Of course she would. That was probably her plan all along.
Another message pinged on my phone.
Evelyn:I’m going to try to talk to her tonight about the way she’s been feeling. Just hang in there, Liam.
With numb fingers, I typed my thanks then slipped the phone back in my pocket. I couldn’t think about this anymore. Yet I now had that huge empty house all to myself. The thought of bouncing around on my own all night, worrying myself sick about how I was failing my daughter, was pretty grim.
“You know any good bars nearby?” I asked Gracie. Maybe she could point me in the right direction and I could go get myself wasted. That might make the night easier to get through.
“There aren’t many in this neighborhood,” she said and from the corner of my eye I could see her watching me closely. “Why are you heading to a bar at four-thirty in the afternoon?”
Shit, was it really that early? I was even more pathetic than I thought.
“I’m gonna take off,” I told her, twirling my car keys on my finger. “You have a good night.”
“Liam, wait. Why don’t we go and talk or?—”
I cut her off with a shake of my head. “I appreciate it, Gracie. But I have a feeling I’m not going to be great company tonight.”
She studied my face carefully, maybe trying to decide if she should let me go or not. “If you’re sure you’ll be okay… will you call me if you need anything?”
She sounded really worried, and that somehow made me feel even worse. I gave her a tight nod and walked around the hood of the Range Rover. Once alone inside, I let out the ragged breath I’d been holding. What a shitty day it had turned out to be.
I had made it to the stop sign at the street when I finally looked back at Grace in my rearview mirror. She was standing right where I left her but she wasn’t watching me drive away. Instead, she was staring down at her car, a hand on her hip, that frustrated expression I’d seen when I first pulled up back on her face.
Strange.
I watched her for a moment more. She pulled her phone out, held it to her ear, and waited. I didn’t see her mouth move but when she put the phone back in her purse, she looked even more frustrated.
Okay, something was going on there. I put the car in reverse so I could turn around. Gracie didn’t look up until I had almost reached her and there was surprise in her expression when she saw me.
