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Archer dug up the old family camcorder from somewhere in the attic of our parents’ ranch. He said that modern technology can be unpredictable sometimes, so he showed up with a tried and true old school backup, just in case.
Meanwhile, Darius stands at the end of our row with his phone all set up on a tall-ass tripod. He’s ready to livestream the event for Stella’s proud grandparents. Mom, Dad, Grandma and Grandpa are all staying up past their bedtime to catch the recital in real time from Europe.
Felix and Ronan have prepared homemade posters to cheer Stella on. Daphne and Nicky made sure to add extra stickers and glitter and sparkles. Karli just strolled in clinging tightly to a box of tissues, dragging Mason along by her side. Genevieve is here too, and I’ve never seen the woman look more proud.
But you know who’s missing—without any explanation, might I add? Lilian. She’s being a deadbeat as usual.
Just as well. The last thing my baby girl needs is Lilian coming here and causing a scene during her special performance.
A part of me is hoping that Stella is too young to really understand the significance of her mother’s constant absence. But I recognize it. And I know that Stella deserves more.
She deserves everything.
That’s why I’ve made a difficult decision. I’m taking steps to deal with the Lilian situation. Legal steps.
After the little stunt she pulled, sneaking into my shower the other night, I’m so fucking disgusted with that woman. I won’t let my ex-wife keep doing this back and forth, in and out of our lives.
Giving Stella stability means drawing a line in the sand with Lilian, and now, I’m ready to battle it out in the courts and let a judge make our custody arrangement official.
My attention is pulled away from my miserable thoughts when my daughter adorably scampers onto the stage. She takes a seat at the piano bench. I aim my camera at the stage and try to focus on what matters. This night is so very special for my little girl, and all the most important people in Stella’s life are here.
Everyone except…Don’t go there, Nolan.
I remind myself that Inez would be here if she could. She’s just too busy right now. She doesn’t have the time. She’s all the way in New York, pursuing her own dream.
Except, when I glance around as Stella starts playing the first notes of The Itsy Bitsy Spider, a head of shiny caramel hair catches my eye. I have to do a double-take.
Inez.
She’s just arrived, sneaking quietly into the back, hunching down as she makes her stealthy entrance into the auditorium.
I blink half a dozen times because I can’t believe my eyes. Still in a complete haze, I raise my hand subtly and try waving her over. But she doesn’t see me. She doesn’t even look this way.
And why would she? Inez only has eyes for my daughter. The look of adoration on that woman’s face makes my heart swell so big, it doesn’t even feel like it fits inside my chest.
Her showing up here this evening is an absolute surprise. She’s been staying in New York, getting ready for her show to start filming. With everything she probably has going on in her own life, I didn’t expect her to even remember that Stella’s recital was scheduled for tonight.
Like a coward, I stopped texting her days ago when she confirmed to me that she got the role in her TV show. After a quick congratulations message, I decided that the pain of losing her was too much. So I cut off communication between us.
All that to say, I didn’t even ask her to come tonight.
Yet here she is.
Jesus—this woman is so loyal, so considerate, so perfect. I don’t fucking deserve her.
Inez traveled for hours to get here. By plane and by train, and I would bet anything that she’s catching the night train back, to be there for work tomorrow.But for now, Stella has her full attention. Inez remains at the back of the room, eyes glued to the tiny musician on stage.
When my daughter’s performance ends, the crowd goes up in applause. I’m clapping the loudest, cheering and whistling as Stella curtsies and beams with pride.
My neck snaps back, hoping to make eye contact with Inez, hoping to share this moment with her. But I only see the back of her head.
What the…? No. No. No!
I hurry out of my seat, stumbling over the feet of the people in my row, trying to get to Inez. But she doesn’t even seek me out to say ‘hello’. She slips out as quickly as she came in.
I stand in the aisle, staring at the empty doorway. If I hadn’t caught a flicker of her shadowy image on my camera, I would be doubting that she was ever here at all. I would have convinced myself that I’d imagined her completely.
It’s clear that she only showed up at the recital tonight to support my daughter. Not me.
