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“You’re welcome, Amanda.”
She gives me a hug and a soft kiss on the cheek. “That’th from Bug too.”
“Okay.”
“I lofe you, Nafan,” she whispers in my ear. “That'th from me. I don’t know if Bug doeth, but I know I do.” She gets off Laney just as fast as she jumped on and continues with opening her presents.
We watch as the remaining kids continue to play. Some of them left right after the cake was served, and their gifts bags were handed out. “It’s quite a production, son.” My father walks up to Laney and me.
“I wanted the girls to have a good birthday.”
“It amazes me how easy you can spend the Whitmore money, but yet you refuse to actually work for it.”
“It was their sixth birthday. It’s going to be something they will always remember. I remember each and every one of my parties. Don’t you? Oh yeah, that’s right. You weren’t there to celebrate with me.”
“I remember everything about your childhood, Nathan. But I’m starting to wonder, what exactly you remember from it.”
“I remember enough, more that I want.”
“What are you doing here, Joseph? Can you not give Nathan at least one day of rest? This is my daughters’ day.”
“And from what we all walked in on, your day as well. Such a dramatic announcement that you’re expecting. I give you credit; you do work fast. Like mother like daughter.”
I go to lift Laney off of my lap because I’m seconds away from throwing my father into the pool and hoping his drowns. “Don’t.” she tells me. “He isn’t worth it, Nathan. His words don’t bother me. He’s just a pathetic man who’s miserable and wants those around him to be just as miserable.”
“No need to pass judgment, dear. Especially when you don’t have the first clue as to what you’re talking about.”
“I don’t? I’m sorry, but I don’t agree with you. Why else would you be such a poor excuse of father? It has to be misery; I’m saddened to think that this is who you actually are.”
“I hear your girls are going to attend the academy.”
“Yes, they are.”
“Good, that’s good.” He walks away without another look in our direction. The bastard feels he has the right to intrude on my family’s day and doesn’t even bring the girls a present, typical.
