“She has nothing to be ashamed about.”
“She’s afraid she’s not enough, that she won’t make you proud.Maybe she’s right to worry about how you’ll react.”
I’m stunned.“You’re saying I’m a shitty father?”
“No.You’re the absolute best father I’ve ever encountered.”Emma’s voice cracks with emotion.“I’m asking you to take off your blinders and accept whoever Jasmine is.She loves you fiercely, and she admires you.You are her hero.Your little girl needs to know you’ll move heaven and earth for her.”
“I already do move heaven and earth.She already knows I accept her for who she is.If Jasmine has dyslexia, wouldn’t I know about it?I’ve been with her every day of her life.I wouldn’t let something like dyslexia slip through the cracks.”
Emma’s face is splotchy, and her eyes are filled with tears.“It’s an easy thing to miss, Finn.Please go talk to Principal Greeley.”
“But you caught it, right?You found an abnormality in my child?”
“Dyslexia, Finn.It’s just dyslexia.Excuse me.I’ll be spending some time with Phyllis.”She walks past me into the house.
CHAPTER 67
Finn
I sit in stillness for several long moments, staring at the waterfall and wondering what the fuck just happened.Then I use my phone to search for dyslexia therapists, finding that one of the best is based in Los Angeles.I make an emergency appointment for tomorrow.
I can’t believe what an ass I am.
Emma came to me with a concern.I took it as judgement of my parenting skills and I snapped at her.
Why did I do that?
I’ve dodged more bullets than I can count.And bombs.And knives.The shot Emma just fired my way was more lethal than every other attack combined.Because when she looked at me with those impossibly sad eyes, I saw defeat in her expression.
She already assumed I’d fail her again.She was expecting it, even.
And she walked away.
What have I done?
The last time I saw that gut-wrenching look on Emma’s pretty face was the day I found her sorting Jasmine’s toys and told her to leave.
Did I just do that to her again?
I jump up and start grabbing anything I can throw.I start with the ceramic pitcher filled with wildflowers and hurl it against a tree down the hill.It explodes.
Next I reach for a wrought iron chair and throw that into the deep end of the pool.I’m about to flip the table when I hear a low growl behind me.
“Yo, asshole.”
I spin around to find Special K glaring at me.Declan, and Evander are behind him at the double doors.
K looks like he’s about to pummel me.“What did you do to her?”
I just shake my head.“Leave me alone.Get out.”
I see no movement.
“I fucked up, all right?I’m such a fucking idiot.”
Declan laughs.“Youthink?”
Evander points at me.“We just saw Emma heading to Dad’s with her bag packed.”
