Page 7 of I Won't Be In On Monday

“No, I don’t think you understand. I need you to have temporary custody right now.” She has a no-nonsense tone, which is opposite to the happy squeals I remember from the night we met and fucked in the alleyway behind the bar we’d met in. “You’re an attorney, draw some papers up so that you become her guardian.”

“But she’s never met me before. She can’t just live with me. I can’t just become her guardian.” This is becoming too real, way too fast.

“That is true, she hasn’t met you before. However, as her father, she can live with you and get to know you. I’ve had a detective do some research on you.” She pauses. “He says you’re a good guy. A workaholic and a bit of a ladies man, but no red flags. You're her father, and she's been asking about you, and, well, an opportunity has come up, and I'd like to take it."

"What opportunity has come up that would make you abandon your daughter?"

"You don't get to talk to me in that judgmental tone, Remington. I'm not abandoning her. It's a work opportunity."

"And what is this work opportunity?"

"I'm going to be a magician's assistant."

"What?" This has got to be a joke. "Did you just say a magician's assistant?" Disbelief drips from my tone. I had to be hallucinating. There was just no way I heard her correctly.

"Yes. His name is The Great Budini."

"Houdini, you mean?" If she’s working with a descendant of the great Houdini, I suppose I can respect that. I’d take off a few weeks of work to study under an illusionist related to the greatest that ever lived.

"No, obviously he's not Houdini. His name is Budini, but I think he's going to have to change it to Budino because people keep comparing him to?—"

"Budini, hmm.” I cut her off, my tone impatient. No longer impressed. “And you’re his assistant?"

"Yes, I am. He just got some gigs in Southeast Asia, and he asked me to go with him. This could be a really great career opportunity for me. You do remember how much I said I wanted to get into the magic world." She pauses. "Who am I kidding? You obviously don't remember anything about me."

"How does Canyon feel about this?" I ask because I don’t like lying. I can’t remember much about the night we were together, and I certainly don’t remember her career goals. "I'm sure she doesn't just want her mother gallivanting around Asia without her. I would think that?—"

"She's excited. She's been wanting to meet her dad for a really long time, and I think she would love to spend the next couple of months with you. She knows I'll be back soon and we'll FaceTime, and who knows, maybe you can fly her out a couple of times."

"Maybe I could fly her out or fly with her?" I certainly hope that she doesn’t think that there is a chance we’re going to get together. My heart thuds as I realize what a shitty thought that is. I know my mom would say I should have thought about that before I slept with her.

"You are her father, Remington. You haven't been in her life for seven years, and she’s a remarkable girl. She wants to get to know her father. She wants to spend this time with you.”

“This is a lot for me to think about. When can I give you an answer?”

“By tomorrow evening.” Her tone is curt, and I know that was not the answer she’d wanted to hear.

"Tomorrow evening? That is not enough time, I?—"

"I am leaving this weekend," she says. "The flights are booked, and the Great Budini is already curating my lines for the shows. I’ve already started buying outfits."

"Your lines? But you're a magician's assistant. Don’t you just stand there and look pretty?"

Silence greets me. Obviously, she didn’t take that well.

“Or rather you look pretty while saying your lines.”

"Yes, I'mjusta magician's assistant, but there are going to be certain things I have to say as we're doing the tricks. I’m more than just a pretty face, Remington. Maybe you need to step up to the plate and look after our child. Put in some hard work. Take some days or weeks off and?—”

“You do know I work as an attorney, right, Karen? I am a partner in a top law firm. I cannot just quit my job to look after..."

"Canyon's in school and will be gone most of the day. You don't need to quit your job unless you want to homeschool," she says sarcastically. "Like you said, you're an attorney, Remington. You can afford to hire someone to help you if you have to work while she is meant to be at home. Though I would hope that you’d spend more time with Canyon, seeing as you haven't been around her, and use this time to bond with her and not pawn her off on someone else. I hope that you are actually going to get to know her because?—”

“I rather take offense to that,” I say stiffly. “I didn’t know she existed. I’m not some deadbeat dad here.”

“I know. That’s why I’m trying to make up for that.” She pauses. “Actually, there's someone here who'd like to speak to you."

"No,” I say quickly, my heart racing as I realize who is waiting to talk to me. “Not right now. Not..." I groan, as I can hear the phone being passed over.

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