“Four thousand,” Isla says.
I saved up my deployment checks over the years, making a nice nest egg of almost two-hundred grand. I was saving it for college and other expenses for Aya, and this is one expense I’ll gladly pay to protect her.
“I’ll give you the money, but it’s going to be attached to a signed agreement.”
“Fine, whatever,” she says without asking about the terms I’ll have on this agreement.
“For your knowledge, the agreement will state that you are never to show up again. You are never to look for us or trespass again. Aya will not know who you are today or anytime between now and when she turns eighteen. Then, at eighteen, if she wants to know who you are, I will tell her, with a warning.”
“I can’t believe you,” she mumbles.
Please. Her words are merely air going in one ear and out the other. “If you break the agreement, I will supply the police department with the video footage I have of you breaking and entering my home. I will show them the records that reveal you ran out and abandoned your daughter with no financial support. I have records of the therapy bills I paid to help our daughter move past the trauma of her mother leaving her without a goodbye. I will provide all of this information to the authorities. I will also put a restraining order against you for attempting to cause harm inside of my property. Do I make myself clear?”
“Can I see her for a minute at least?” Isla asks.
I know my decision on this matter is right, though it feels so wrong. “No. You can’t. You gave up those rights.”
“Fine, whatever. Give me the money.”
“Meet me tomorrow morning at Cafe Lona downtown, and I will have the agreement printed out and a bank check for my records.”
“Jesus Christ, are you kidding me?”
Stay calm. I have to stay calm. “Does it look like this is my kidding face?”
“Fuck you,” she says, snarling.
“Go out the back door. I will see you at nine tomorrow morning. I’ll be waiting there for five minutes, and if you don’t show, the restraining order will still go into effect.”
She stands up from her seat, and I notice the extra weight she put on, the odor, and her filth. All I can wonder is how I ever felt attracted to this woman. I was in a dark place when I met her after my first deployment. Now I know how dark it really was.
She scuffles through the living room, following my pointed finger to the back, sliding-glass door. “Don’t trip on your way out,” I tell her. Cunt.
As soon as the backdoor closes, I open the front door, pulling Kai and Aya inside, locking the deadbolt behind them. “What was that woman selling? Dirty laundry?” Aya asks.
I laugh hard because even though I’m pretty sure she has no clue who that was, that is exactly what she was selling. “Actually yes,” I tell her through my fit of laughter.
“What a quack,” Aya says. “I would have left on my own even if Kai didn’t make me. It smelled like your gym socks.”
“Thank you,” I tell her, shushing her to be quiet.
Kai looks like she’s trying not to laugh and cry, both at the same time.
“I couldn’t hear what was happening, but it sounded like a Jerry Springer show,” she says.
I smile coyly. “Yeah, that’s one one way of putting it. Certain people should know not to mess with me. That’s all,” I spit out, along with a quick wink.
“Are you okay?” Kai mouths to me so Aya doesn’t hear.
“I’m fine,” I respond in the same manner.
I feel relieved in a small sense. I’ve been anticipating the day something like that happened, knowing I wouldn’t have much notice to protect Aya. I’m not sure I’ll ever be in the clear with her, but I bought some time at least, hopefully, and this is the perfect time to put my worries about Isla behind me.
“I’m going to go put myself to bed,” Aya says. “You two should probably kiss and live happily ever after or something like that.”
“Aya!” I snap.
“Oh please, I’m almost eight. I’m not stupid, Dad.”
