AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I dragged my guilt-ridden limbs out of the room and toward the elevator. The doors opened on my floor, and I walked out.
When I entered my office, I made a beeline for my cabinet. There was a problem, and alcohol seemed like the best solution.
Ditching a glass, I grabbed a bottle of my strongest whiskey before taking my seat. The scorching burn of the liquid collapsed my throat. Yet it wasn’t enough.
When my brain started to conjure images of possible consequences, I downed more whiskey.
“El que la hace, la paga.”
I fisted the bottle tighter. I didn’t hate myself because of what I’d done. I hated myself, that despite all this, I wanted to do it again.
I should have left it at a cordial relationship. Let things simply be professional. Just her, Sophie, and the office.
She should never have accompanied me to the party. But maybe then Sophie wouldn’t have talked. The guilt in my chest dulled when I recalled the last time my daughter spoke.
***
I had woken up to the sound of little feet pitter-pattering into my room, accompanied by giggles. My heart warmed at the sound.
Today was the day I had been looking forward to all week. Saturday and a playdate with my daughter.
I pretended to be asleep.
"Good morning, Daddy!" Sophie exclaimed as she jumped on the bed.
I didn’t move. She giggled and started to tickle me. In no time, I burst into laughter.
“I knew you were pretending, Daddy!” She squealed when I tickled her.
"Good morning, sweetheart!" I placed a kiss on her cheek when I stopped.
“You know what day it is today, right?”
I pretended to think. “Hmmm. Saturday?”
“It’s our play date, silly!”
My hands moved to ruffle her hair. “Go get dressed then so we can go.”
The echoing sound of her footsteps as she headed toward her mother’s room was all I was left with.
Immediately, I stood up, and entered the bathroom for my morning routine. When I got out, I wore our shirts— our matching Superman T-shirts.
As opposed to how I looked, I didn’t feel ridiculous. The shirt was better than a Barbie one. I exited my room to find Sophie and Olivia in the living room.
Olivia was styling her hair into two pigtails while Sophie was having breakfast. She seemed to have finished. Olivia wasn’t going with us because, one, it was a father daughter date. And two, she didn’t want to.
We were in one of our avoidance phases.
“Have fun with Daddy, okay?” She placed a kiss on her head. I was glad that she didn’t make the strain in our relationship obvious. Except, of course, when we were arguing.
“Okay, Mommy.”
When she straightened herself, our eyes met. Our stare barely lasted ten seconds. That was longer than she’d looked at me this week.
“Don’t keep her out late,” she said in a curt manner. Then brushed past me up the stairs.
Shaking off the negative vibes, I faced my daughter. “Ready?” I picked her up and spun her in my arms lightly.
