Page 56 of Big Island Summer
He looked confused. “I’ll go back to paying half the rent – I’ll even pay for the weeks that I was gone.”
“I don’t want you here.”
The line of confusion between his eyebrows etched itself deeper. “How long are the people upstairs here for?”
“Indefinitely.”
“Oh, Fernanda,” he sighed in exasperation. “Don’t tell me you let long-term renters in. Vacation rentals make five times as much!”
“I don’t want people coming and going.” She crossed her arms and stomped her foot in frustration – a silent and futile gesture given that she had no shoes on. “And I don’t have to explain myself to you!”
“Never mind. I’ll get them out. Did you sign a lease?”
“You’re not hearing me. I don’t want you here. Not downstairs, not upstairs. I don’t want you in my home or my life.”
Chad’s jaw dropped in shock. A moment later, he covered it up with a forced smile.
“You’re still angry at me for letting that Jezebel lure me away. That’s understandable. But–”
“You’re blaming Tiffany?” Now Fern was shocked. “You’re old enough to be herfather.”
His expression turned cold. “Let’s not stoop to insults.”
“That’s not an insult. It’s just a fact.”
He closed his eyes and took a long breath, acting like she was the unreasonable one. “Okay. I’ll make it up to you. You wanted to go to counseling? We’ll try counseling. I’ll do whatever you want.”
“I. Don’t. Want. You.”
“You don’t mean that.”
“What about Tiffany?” Her stomach dropped as she thought of the sweet, innocent girl who was now tied to Chad for life. “She’s carrying yourchild.”
“So she says,” he scoffed.
“Excuseme?”
“How do I even know it’s mine?”
“You’re unbelievable.”
“Look, I’ll pay whatever child support I’m ordered to –ifshe gets bloodwork done to prove it’s actually mine. But Fern, she doesn’tgetme like you do.”
“Get out.”
“What?”
“Get off my lanai. Get off my property. I never want to see you again.”
“You don’t mean that. You’re just hurt.”
“I’m really not. Honestly, I’m relieved. My life is better without you.”
“Is it?” he sneered. “You’re living in a shoebox and working as ababysitter. You’ll be forty in a few months, and you have nothing. No partner, no savings. Is this really better?”
A fierce certainty rose in her chest, and she looked him dead in the eye.
“Yes.”
