Page 56 of Guarding Over You
Arden let out a breath. “This crosses the line. You know how it looks, don’t you?”
“She wants to meet Gracie, I told you that.”
“I know. But it’s pressure. And it’s wrong. You didn’t even know she did it. What do you know about this woman? And how did she find out where I lived unless you told her?”
“I don’t think I did. I had it written down though, so I’m sure she saw it. I told you she wants to move in. She’s here all the time.”
“And you don’t find any of this odd? You didn’t answer me—what do you know about her? Where did you meet?”
“Oh, now you want to know those things,” Billy said sarcastically.
“Don’t push my buttons,” she snarled. “This is serious. This is our daughter we are talking about. If you profess to care so much and want to rebuild that relationship.”
“Don’t you dare tell me I don’t love and care for my daughter!” Billy shouted. “Do you think I’d be going through all this shit if I didn’t?”
“Yelling at me,” she said through clenched teeth, “isn’t proving that you’ve changed all that much.”
“Come on, Arden. Give me a break. Like you don’t do it to me. Like you haven’t lost your shit and yelled at me. You’re not as perfect as you think you are.”
“I never said I was perfect.”
“Could have fooled me. It seems like no matter what I do it’s not good enough for you. I get clean. I’m following the rules.”
“That you broke weeks ago when you showed up here. Andwhydid you do that? Because this woman who just sent a gift to our daughter that you didn’t evenknowabout is now pushing up the agenda. Have you thought ofanyof that?”
“I’ll deal with my relationship the way I want.”
“You do that, but just know that it’s not helping matters with your relationship with Gracie. You have to get me to sign off on things and this stunt isn’t working. I had to lie and tell her the dolls are from you.” She was pacing now. “I was considering meeting Tina. Just to show that I was trying too and now this. No.” She was shaking her head. “This was out of line. There was no place for this. Not right now. Unless you’re not telling her the truth. Is that what is going on?”
“I’m not hiding shit from her or anyone else. There is nothing to tell Tina other than facts. She knows she can’t meet Gracie yet, but I told her we talked about it again. I told her you wanted to meet her first. Maybe I said it was more of a likelihood than it was.”
“You think?” she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm that only Billy could bring out of her. She turned her head when the glass door pushed open. “Mommy’s on the phone, Gracie.”
“Is that Dad? Can I thank him for the dolls?”
“Did you hear that?” she asked Billy.
“Yes. Put her on.”
“Keep it short and simple,” she said, handing the phone over but squatting down so that she could hear the conversation on both ends.
“Thank you, Dad. I love them. I asked Mom if I could thank you and she said she’d call.”
“You’re welcome, Gracie. I hope you enjoy them.”
“I will.”
“Say bye to your father.”
“Bye, Dad,” Gracie said and handed the phone back to her.
She stepped back onto the patio and shut the door behind her, sealing the quiet between them. “You know I have to report this.”
“Come on, Arden. It was a simple gift. Should Tina have done it? No. I’m not happy about it either. When she gets here, I’ll find out what she was thinking. I’m sure we’ll end up fighting. Which you’ll just love.”
“No,” she said sharply. “I won’t love it. And that you think I would is exactly why our marriage never stood a chance.” She sat in the patio chair so she stopped pacing. “You figure out your life, Billy. But when it comes to Gracie, I can’t step back. I downplayed you showing up here. I even let it go on Saturday when you came early and wanted to talk. You never give me credit for that.”
Silence. The kind he always hid behind when he knew she was right.
