He’s been such a fixture of my life, of my day-to-day, of my thoughts, that the thought of him just… gone?
I can’t really comprehend it.
And now after this news segment? Graham’s not going to want to touch me with a ten-foot pole.
“Look at this, Beans!” Dad shows me. “They let me have the leftovers from that brisket segment. And look at this bread I got from Costco.”
“Hank.”
“A brisket sandwich does sound good.” My stomach grumbles.
“You’ve got leaves in your hair, Dani.”
“Have you been outside?” Dad smiles at me. “Do I sense a new hiking buddy?”
“No—I mean yes, but not intentionally.”
Mom grabs a trash can and starts picking the leaves out of my hair with a comb.
“Someone turn that off,” she orders us.
“Don’t you dare. I’m on TV! I’m famous! I got the number of one of the cameramen,” Gran boasts, “and he’s taking me out tomorrow.”
The TV is still blaring as Dad sets my sandwich in front of me. One of the FBI directors is being interviewed on the morning news show.
“How did you not realize that this was a fake kidnapping?” the anchor asks. “Did the cat in the video not give it away?”
“We are investigating the woman with the cat video to see if she was in on this hoax.” The FBI agent looks pissed.
“This is embarrassing.”
“What a waste of taxpayer dollars.”
The hosts comment at the end of the segment.
“I’ve had to turn off my phone, Dani. I’m getting so many calls and messages. This is a scandal,” Mom complains. “We’re going to have to all move to the Catskills for the next six months until this all blows over.”
“Ow!” I yelp when she pulls a twig out of my hair.
“Dani can’t move to the Catskills. Graham won’t like that,” Dad says. “Dani, do you want to try this grapefruit soda? New item!”
“I can’t.”
“You like grapefruit.”
“No.” I sniffle. “Graham dumped me. I can’t go to the Catskills. I need to move far, far away. He doesn’t want me.” I sob.
“Well, of course he dumped you, Dani,” Mom says matter-of-factly. “Look at you.”
“Don’t listen to her. Go after him.” Gran rushes into the kitchen. “Colette is after him, just you watch. She was trying to break you two up.”
“And of course she’s going to be successful, because I’m fat and ugly and don’t look like Colette. You’re embarrassed that I’m your daughter.” I let out a sob.
“You’re not ugly, Beans. Any man would be lucky to have you, and I love having you as my daughter.” Dad hugs me.
“Oh, Dani.” My mom kisses my dirty hair. “Of course I’m not embarrassed that you’re my daughter—I’m so proud of you and everything you’ve accomplished! But Graham was never going to love you.”
“I know.” I blow my nose. “Because he’s a billionaire, and he has standards.”
