Page 69 of The Snuggle is Real
“She’s doing great, no thanks to you.”
“I didn’t have a choice. I had to leave her. You know that.”
“I know you had a lot of choices, Lu.”
“No, the court said?—”
“Iknowyou couldn’t choose the consequences of your actions, but all those actions leading to this? You absolutely had a choice.”
“Addiction is an illness! It’s not that simple.”
I dragged a hand over my face. She was right, of course. Addictionwasan illness. But Charlie deserved a parent who could take proper care of her. I was no longer convinced that LuAnne could.
“Sorry. I know it’s a struggle. I just wish you’d told me. Maybe asked me to take Charlie sooner.”
“You’re not her father.”
My jaw tightened. “I’m the only father she’s ever had. I love her.”
“That’s why I let you keep her!”
Let me. LuAnne was so generous in getting sent to rehab and dropping Charlie in my lap with no warning.
I wasgladCharlie was with me. I’d have taken her weeks or months or—hell— even years sooner if only I’d known what was going on.
But a little warning would have been nice. A chance to prepare so that I had what Charlie needed, so that I wasn’t flailing, so that I wasn’t relying on the kindness of strangers.
Is he really a stranger once you’ve kissed him?
I brushed the thought away and tried to rein in my urge to yell at LuAnne for her failures. I was far from perfect. Who was I to judge? But this wasCharlie.
“How is the rehab going?” I asked, trying to regain my composure.
“Rough,” LuAnne said, sounding tired. “Emotionally draining. Someone always wants me to expose my ugly insides, to face all the mistakes in my life, and ugh, you know how much I like talking about hard things.”
I chuckled, because I sure did. LuAnne avoided; she didn’t confront. Maybe that was one reason drugs were appealing. They were the ultimate distraction.
“I—” Her voice cracked. “I just really need to hear Charlie’s voice.”
“Of course you do. I bet she’d really like to hear yours too. I’ll go get her.”
“Thanks. And Ford?”
“Hm?”
“Thank you for taking her.”
“Anytime,” I answered honestly.
“I’m sorry about saying you’re not her dad. Because you’re the only dad that matters to her. To either of us.”
“Thanks, Lu.” I strode into the dining room. Charlie was humming and eating her pancakes, oblivious to the tense conversation in the kitchen. “Hey, kiddo. Guess who’s on the phone?”
She looked up. “Who?”
“Your mom.”
She hopped up from her chair, smile spreading. “Really?”
