“No. I think I need people here for this phone call.”
Kingston looks as confused as I do, but then the ringing stops, and a voice picks up.
“Willa?” a man with a shaky voice asks hesitantly.
“Yes.” Willa’s voice cracks on the single word.
She reaches up to adjust the glasses that have slid down her nose. Her eyes look a little red and misty.
“Oh, sweetie.” And then the man on the other end starts sobbing. Big, convulsing sobs.
Kingston and I stare at each other. Then Kingston seems to recall who it could be and nods once, scooting his chair closer to Willa and grasping her hand. She clutches it for dear life.
“Dad,” she says haltingly.
The man on the other end of the line gasps. “Oh, honey, it’s so good to hear your voice.”
“Why haven’t you called?” Willa asks, her voice brittle.
The man clears his throat several times, like he’s trying to get the words to come out right. “I’ve wanted to because I’ve missed you so much. It’s just that I didn’t know if you wanted to talk to me.”
“I needed you.”
“But I didn’t want to pressure you.”
“You’re my dad!” she shouts. “Where have you been?”
I didn’t know I was signing up for a front seat to a reality drama series, but I’m not sure if I should pull out a bowl of popcorn or pass her some tissues for an inevitable breakdown.
“You want me there?” He actually sounds shocked.
So, either he’s a great actor or he genuinely didn’t know she wanted anything to do with him.
“Of course I do. I’ve needed you. I haven’t called because I thought you couldn’t stand to be around me when you knew the truth.”
There’s a loud scraping and then a shuffling noise in the background. “I’m buying a plane ticket right now.”
“You don’t even know where I live,” she mutters.
I glance at the door, wishing Lucy hadn’t left. It would be better if she were here for her sister.
“You live in Green Valley, Oregon. You’re working for Kappa Holdings, and you started a cat café as a charity.”
Willa freezes. “You’ve been following me?”
“You’re my daughter. Of course I’ve been keeping up with your life. I love you.”
Willa squeezes her eyes shut, but I can see the tears roll down her cheeks behind her glasses. “Did you know that Lucy paid for my college?”
“What?” His voice rises.
“Yes,” Willa whispers. “She’s been filling your place all these years. You and Mom abandoned us. And she’s the one who held us together. Do you know how awful I was to her?”
Kingston motions for me to follow him out of the office.
“Her dad?” I ask.
“That’s Willa and Lucy’s dad. Well, Lucy’s anyway. They found out when they were still in high school and Lucy’s dad moved out. Willa makes it sound like there hasn’t been much contact since. He sends her birthday and Christmas cards with cash but hasn’t made an effort to visit her.”
