I tap on my dad’s door, and when he says to come in, I enter his office. He’s on the phone, smiling bigger than I’ve seen him smile in a while.
“I’m looking at her right now,” he says.
I pause and give him a second look.
He laughs and motions for me to sit down.
“No, I know, Christian. You don’t have to tell me that. I know how it is.”
Are you kidding me? It’s bad enough that my dad is still so friendly with Christian, but they’re talking about me? I cross my arms and glare at my dad, but he’s ignoring me.
“Boys will be boys,” he says, laughing.
Excuse me while I throw up.
“All right. Talk soon. Will do. Bye, Christian.” He hangs up and looks at me, the smile still on his face.
It’s the most he’s smiled in weeks.
“Why would you talk to Christian about me?” My tone is clipped, and his smile drops.
He frowns. “You’re the mother of his child, Dahlia. Why wouldn’t I?”
I shake my head, frustrated beyond belief. “I shouldn’t have to explain why you should be on my side about this, Dad.”
“I don’t pick sides, honey.”
“You clearly do, and you chose his.”
His jaw clenches. “You’re the one who chose this when you decided to get in a relationship with a colleague in my office…and have a child with him.”
“A relationship that you were all about, even after I found out he’d slept with half of Minneapolis.”
He sputters. “He was young, Dahlia. I guarantee if you gave him another chance, he wouldn’t repeat the same mistakes.”
“I was young. He’s a decade older than me. I can’t believe you’re still defending him!” I stand up, on the verge of tears, and so angry I can’t see straight. “Why do I put myself through this?”
I move toward the door.
“Dahlia, sit down!”
I whirl around. “I’ll email you with my report. I can’t look at you right now.”
“God, you’re so sensitive. You need to get over it and act like an adult.”
I walk out, tears clouding my vision.
Once I’m at my desk, I shut down more and can only hope that no one needs me in the next few minutes. I go to the job listings I’ve had pulled up for the past few days, checking for any new options.
My computer dings with an email and I open it, bracing myself because it’s from my dad.
Subject: Reminder about professional standards
Dahlia,
You’ve been under stress lately, and I’ve done everything I can to make sure you and Chloe are taken care of. I’ve covered your insurance, adjusted your hours so you can run off to California at the drop of a hat, and kept your position stable when most people in your situation would have been out of work months ago. I’ve never once asked for a thank you.
Chloe deserves stability, and your job here offers coverage and benefits that you won’t find elsewhere, not to mention flexibility.
