“If there is anything I have been thinking about lately, it’s my dad.”
I pull out the cards and deal a hand of Canasta. She shifts our drinks to the side to make more room.
“What about your dad?”
“Something Callahan said.”
I’m able to play on the first card, and that makes her brows furrow. Taking a deep sip of her Guinness, she licks her lips.
“When I told him about my mom, he asked where my dad was in all of this.”
“Hmm,” she mumbles, not looking up from her cards.
“What?”
“I don’t want to fight. You’re only here for five days.”
She lays down her cards, opening her side and making a canasta. I look to see what she played to be careful what to discard.
“Just say it.”
“I always thought the same thing. Even my parents didn’t like the way your mom spoke to you. I know you really love him, but I don’t understand why you aren’t mad at him for his part.”
I lay down a seven, which was a mistake. She picks it up and lays down a set of four of them. Now she only has five cards left in her hand.
“It’s not that I’m not mad at him. Or that I wasn’t, I should say. It’s just that I see him as a victim as much as I am.”
“Yeah, but he was an adult. You didn’t know any better. He did.”
I down the rest of my pop, taking a pause in this conversation. Before we continue, she gets up to get herself more beer and a shot of whiskey.
Thanks to my friendship with Rowan, I can shoot the liquor like a pro. Farrah, on the other hand, makes a face every time she takes one. I wish I could be joining her, but doctor’s orders say I can’t drink.
“What do you want me to say?” I throw my hands up.
“I don’t want you to say anything. I just thought you should know I agree with him. But it’s not black and white. These are your parents you’re talking about.”
She is able to play all of her cards, ending the round. I tally up our scores on a napkin and redeal.
“I didn’t tell him the end part about what happened after she left.”
“Why not?”
“I thought it was enough for me to say my mother made me hate myself. I didn’t know how to put into words that she also made me feel like I can’t rely on anyone ever again.”
A group of guys approaches our table, looking ready to devour us. We wave them off before they can even open their mouths. Farrah holds up her hand like her wedding ring should say enough.
“That’s information you can tell him in time. If there is time. Are you seeing him now?”
“Yes. While my concerns are valid, I don’t think they are enough to put this off any longer. I’m jumping the gun anyway. I can’t have kids, and if we did use my eggs, those babies would be damn near albino.”
“Facts,” she says.
We play the next round silently, just laying down cards and drinking. By the time we start talking again, it’s too loud for us to hear each other.
With her early call time, and my urge to explore, we go our separate ways after. It’s still light enough that the streets are busy with people, but the stars are out above us.
All the buildings are older and more reflective of what I expected of Europe. Somehow untouched by the times, and reminiscent of a different era. I feel like I’m in a period drama. It’s gorgeous, and this is just a small piece of the entire country.
