Page 149 of The Forever Play

I laugh. “Hey, Dad.”

“We just wanted to call and check in,” Mom explains. “We know you had a rough weekend. How are you doing today?”

“I’m great, actually.” I smile at the screen and just decide to say it. “Zander and I have worked it out. For good this time. We’re back together, and… I know you guys probably don’t love that idea, but he is Zoey’s father, and I love him. Ireallylove him.”

They take a second to absorb that, blinking and opening their mouths like goldfish, until Mom manages to sputter, “B-but what about?—”

“He’s told me everything, and he wasn’t in the wrong the way I thought he was. He was being way too hard on himself. Anyway, I’ve forgiven him. He screwed up big-time that year, but I can’t hold that against him forever. He’s a good man… and I love him.”

“Yeah, so you’ve said.” Dad’s tone is dry, his concern obvious as he squishes next to Mom so I can see his face.

Mom worries her lip just the way I do, then lets out a sigh. “How’s Russell taking this?”

“Not well,” I admit. “I bumped into him on campus when I was looking for Zander, and he was…pissed.”

“Aw, sweetie.”

“Look, I’m sorry.” My expression buckles. “I know you wanted me to fall in love with him. You had this perfectplan for me, but… I’ve never felt that way about him, and he was trying so hard to force the issue.”

“What do you mean?” Dad frowns.

“He just…” I rub my forehead. “I didn’t mention it to you guys, but he’s been trying to get Zoey to call him Dada, and this morning when he left for work, he… he kissed me right on the mouth.” I frown. “It made me so uncomfortable.”

Dad’s frown is morphing from concern to anger. “He shouldn’t have done that.”

“I know, right?” I nod, relieved that my parents are agreeing with me on this.

Mom winces. “That must have been awkward.”

“Yeah, when it first happened, I didn’t even know what to say, but then when I found my head a little later, I told him that I wasn’t comfortable with it.” My lips turn into a soft pout. “I think I really hurt his feelings.”

“Well, he’s obviously not taking yours into consideration.” Mom shakes her head. “And I’m sad that he has feelings for you that you can’t reciprocate, but he still needs to respect you and your boundaries.”

I nod, but still feel kind of bad. Not guilty, just… sad that things aren’t easier.

“I don’t want to hurt him, but…” I shrug. “I’m in love with someone else.”

“Are you sure?” Dad asks. “You really want Zander?”

“Yes.” I say it so emphatically that I start to laugh… and then emotion gets the better of me, and I perch on the end of my bed and tell them everything. My feelings, my misunderstanding, his truth, our forgiveness. It all spills out in a torrent, and finally they understand it all.

“Wow.” Mom’s in shock.

Dad’s nodding and tipping his head. “Well, he sure screwed up pretty badly, but at the end of the day… he did the right thing.”

“He’s a good man, Dad. I never should have cut him out the way I did.”

His smile is glum. “Maybe we all made the wrong call there. But at the time, it felt right.”

“It did.” I nod. “But it was still wrong of us. We shouldn’t have kept him in the dark like that. He’s actually a really good father. You should see him with Zoey. It’s seriously adorable.”

Mom starts to smile. “Is she still calling him Foobawl?”

“Yeah.” I laugh, slashing the last of my tears away. “I’m not sure she’ll ever call him Daddy. Well, she did one time, but… I’m not sure when it will happen again.”

“It’ll happen,” Dad assures me, his eyes starting to glisten as he stares through the phone at me. “I know this has been a tough ride, but I’m proud of you, Blue. You’re a good mom. You’re a good daughter.”

“Aw, thanks, Dad.”

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