Chapter 9

I find the words hard to take. “Why didn’t she tell me?”

His eyes look deep into mine. “She said she couldn’t bring herself to do it. Your mother was always a little selfish, but I never thought she’d ever do something like this.”

An odd feeling creeps into my body and I don’t know what it is. There’s disappointment and relief, anger and joy, sorrow and happiness. It’s all of those things and more, which leaves me really confused.

I scowl at the thought of her betrayal. “How long?”

He tries to force a smile. “I told you, Nora. She’s not coming back.”

I shake my head as I clarify my words. “No, daddy. How long has she been fucking her boss?”

He shakes his head a little. “I don’t know. A while I guess. She didn’t say. I’m so sorry she left you. She should have talked to you about this.”

I release my lips, which I had completely forgotten I was still spreading them apart, and hold his head in my hands. “This isn’t on you, daddy. It’s on her and good riddance to the cheating bitch.”

His voice sounds a little wounded. “She’s still your mother.”

I know there’s more he wants to say, but I won’t give him time. “I know this is hard on you, daddy, but we’re better off without her. She abandoned us a long time ago. She chose to work outside the family business. She chose to screw her boss. She chose to violate her prenup. She abandoned this family and it has nothing to do with you.”

His voice weakens as my words sink in. “I know, Nora, but she still should have told you.”

My voice becomes a little more firm. “And that’s on her. I’ll never forgive her for what she did to you and I’ll never see her again. Call your lawyer and tell him. Then call your accountant and freeze her out of everything. Just as long as she doesn’t find out about us, which she won’t, she won’t have shit on you.”

He nods as his voice starts to darken. “You’re right, Nora. You are wise beyond your years and I’m lucky to have you as my daughter.”

I smile broadly at his words. “I know, daddy, and I’m every bit as lucky. Now go make the calls and I’ll wait in our bed.”

Daddy grins as he hears the last two words role off of my tongue. “Our bed. I like it, Baby Doll. Do you want to do anything first?”

I come very close to giving him an answer that will prolonge the calls, but hold back. “That can wait, daddy. We have the rest of our lives to have fun.”

He leaves the room and my eyes watch his perfect cheeks bounce a little with each step he takes. Everything I said to him was something I meant and I should feel bad about the situation. The truth is there’s nothing I can find within me to show even a hint of negativity. Mommy left us and I get daddy all to myself.