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He didn’t look back at me. “You have your answer, Ada.”
I gently touched his shoulder. “It would mean a lot to Kendall if you showed up.”
Before he could rip my hand off I fled the room and got the kids together. We entered the theater room all together and my heart soared at seeing Jud and Collin sitting down, waiting. Joe wasn’t there, yet, but I crossed my fingers and hoped he’d show up.
The kids settled with their dads and I patted the seat next to me for Kendall. I’d move as soon as Joe came. The movie started, thanks to Collin knowing how to work the system, and minutes ticked by. I kept one eye on the doorway, hoping and praying Joe didn’t blow us off completely. The more time that passed, the more agitated I grew. How could he blow off his daughter like that?
Kendall leaned over and whispered to me. “He’s not coming, Ada. I don’t know why you’re still looking.”
25
***Joe***
IhadafeelingAda would come and find me. When my bedroom door flew open and hit the door stop behind it, I didn’t flinch. If anything, I’d been waiting for her and was disappointed she’d taken so long to find me. I was sitting in the leather wingback chair in the corner of my room, holding my phone. I’d finished up a few things that could’ve waited.
Ada slammed my door shut and just stood across the room from me, her hands on her hips and her eyes blazing mad. “What is wrong with you?”
That was a very good question. I’d found myself heading towards the theater room and then I’d stopped. I felt an overwhelming sense of not belonging and I couldn’t face it. It was my fault, I knew, but I didn’t know what to do about it. It didn’t help that some perky nanny had come along and pointed out my flaws.
“You chose not to come. You could’ve come in late, but no. You chose not to come at all. I want to know why. Why did you make the choice to hurt your daughter?” She took a step closer and I could see her hands were shaking when she waved them at me.
“Why are you in my room, Ada? You have to be the least professional nanny I’ve ever seen.” I couldn’t help poking back.
“Are you okay with not knowing your daughter, at all?” She raised her voice, her anger getting the best of her. “She’s fifteen! In a few years she’s going to walk out and you’ll never get the chance to know her again. You’re choosing to hurt her, Joe. Make me understand why you’re okay with that.”
“I’m not choosing to hurt her! I’m busy making sure this family continues to grow and survive. How do you think all this shit got here? It’s because I work, Ada! Would you rather I quit and we lose everything?”
She laughed, calling my bullshit immediately. “I’m not sure who you’re lying to, yourself or me. You could quit working and probably live comfortably for a hundred lifetimes. Why can’t you spend time with your daughter?”
It occurred to me that I didn’t have to talk to the nanny about my personal life. I stood up and walked past her towards my closet. “I don’t need to explain myself to the help.”
I saw Ada rear back like I’d slapped her. Forcing myself to ignore her, I stood in the middle of my closet and yanked my shirt off. Anger coursed through my veins. It was mostly at myself but there was a hefty amount towards Ada, too. She was fucking with things, shaking up a life I’d worked hard to have. I’d taken care of my family since I was sixteen. I’d supported us before Collin or Jud made any money. I’d broken a marriage and lost everything else other than my family. Ada didn’t know anything. She was in her mid-twenties and a pain in the ass.
I felt something hit me in the back of the head and turned around to see Ada standing in my closet doorway with one of my pillows in her hands. “Did you just hit me?”
Her chest heaved up and down and somehow her hair looked even bigger than normal, like she was attracting energy into it. “You deserve to be hit with a lot more than a pillow, you jerk.”
I took a step towards her. “Is this because I called you the help or because you can’t snap your fingers and make me come to whatever you’ve planned?”
“I’m glad to see you know both were wrong.” She bared her teeth at me as I moved closer. “You’re a fool. I hoped you’d be more than a cold asshole who didn’t care for his family, but I can see I was wrong. At least there’s hope for your brothers.”
I grabbed the pillow from her and threw it down. “If you think I’m just that, a cold asshole who doesn’t care, why are you still here? Why don’t you go back to my brothers?”
Something flashed in her eyes and she closed the small gap between us. We were toe to toe but she was over half a foot shorter than me. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
I ground my jaw and shook my head. “Nothing. Just get out of here, Ada.”
“No. Tell me what you meant.” Her eyes flicked back and forth between mine. “Say it.”
“I guess I’m just curious as to why you’re in my room, bothering the shit out of me, when you seem to prefer the company of Collin.” I watched her eyes flare and told myself to shut the fuck up and back off but she pushed all of my buttons. “Cameras, Ada.”
“Did you watch it?”
I scowled. “No. I had no desire to see you with my brother. I deleted the footage.”
“I’m not going to thank you right now. Not when you’ve been so pig-headed and rude.” She licked her lips. “I’m not… What you saw… It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t change anything. You still need to do better for your daughter.”
I sighed and watched her curls move under the force of my breath. “Why are you still here, Ada?”
