Page 230 of The Baby Twist
“What’s been going on with you? Is there a special man you’re keeping a secret in your life?”
“Nope. No special man.” I smiled as our waitress walked over and set our food down.
“Maybe a special woman?” He picked up his tuna melt.
“DAD!” I cocked my head.
“What? How am I supposed to know when you don’t tell me anything about your life? All I want is for my baby girl to find someone special, get married, and have children. I’m ready to be a grandpa, you know.”
I breathed out a laugh. “Well, you can forget about that. You and Mom both showed me how destructive love can be, and I’m not signing up for any of that shit. No way.” I bit into my sandwich.
“Marley, I know it was rough for you growing up and being shuffled back and forth every other week between houses. What did you want me to do? Stay with your mother and pretend she wasn’t fucking, Peter?”
“No. Of course not.”
“I did the best I could with you under the circumstances. You need to let what happened between your mother and me go. It wasn’t entirely your mother’s fault, Marley. I let my workconsume me to provide a better life for both of you than I had growing up. I wasn’t around as much as I should have been.”
“That’s no excuse to run into the arms of our next-door neighbor, Dad. Besides, you hate her too for what she did.”
“I’ve come to realize that your mother and I were meant to be together for a season in order for you to be born. The world is much better with you in it, sweetheart.” He smiled.
“I see Miranda’s been in your ear.”
“My wife and I are very much in love. Everything happens for a reason. One day, you’ll understand that.”
After we finished lunch, I kissed my dad goodbye and headed to Love At First Sip.
“Look what the cat dragged in.” Olivia grinned. “Shouldn’t you be out shopping for décor?” She hooked her arm around me as I stepped behind the counter.
“What’s wrong? You have that look,” Penelope said.
“I ran into Charlie.”
“What was his piss poor excuse for not calling you in over a month?” Olivia’s brow arched.
“Same old, same old. He’s been super busy with work.” I rolled my eyes.
“No excuse.” Olivia’s grip around me tightened.
“It’s not like I care.”
“Yeah, you do.” A smirk crossed Penelope’s lips.
“No. I don’t.” I grabbed a cup and handed it to her. “Make me a latte with almond milk.”
“I hate to break this party up, but I have to run to the store,” Olivia said, grabbing her purse.
“For?” I asked.
“Tampons. I started my period and only had one tampon in my purse.”
My phone rang, and when I pulled it from my purse, I saw my gynecological office was calling.
“Hello.”
“Is this Marley?”
“Yes. This is she.”
