Page 92 of Through the Storms
“Duh, he’s going, too.”
“Oh, so the three of you are going?”
“Yes.”
Teenagers.It amazed Chloe how one word could come out so sullen. Another topic to avoid during this crisis. “Where do her parents live?”
“Dallas. They want to take me to some stupid stockyards and to some book deposit place.”
“You mean the book depository?”
“That’s what I said. I doubt if they’ll even have any books I like.”
What did they teach kids in history nowadays? Chloe did the math in her head.Shit.Kennedy’s assassination was over sixty years ago, maybe they didn’t cover it as much as they had when she was in school.
“Mom? Are you listening?”
“Of course, have you told your dad how you feel?”
“For the last three hours, but he’s mean.”
Why would he drag Mia to Dallas on her birthday? That was easy. Dennis always put himself first. Her anger at him rose, but it would do no good to show it to Mia. “Maybe you could work out a compromise with him. Possibly wait until Saturday to go.”
“Do you think I’m stupid?” Mia huffed. “I already told him that, and he said no. Would you talk to him? Please.”
Chloe ran her hand through her hair and took a deep breath. The last thing she wanted to do was talk to Dennis. She doubted he’d listen to her, and just hearing his voice normally made her stomach queasy. “Sure, why don’t you put him on the phone?”
“You’re the best.” For the first time since the call began, Mia’s voice had hope in it. Unfortunately, Chloe suspected it would be short lived.
As she waited, Chloe watched as the others entered the hotel office with their bags. All except Oakley and Riley, who’d moved around toward the back of the van and seemed to be engaged in a lively conversation. Slowly, Chloe breathed in and out, preparing herself to talk to Dennis.
“You wanted to speak to me,” Dennis said. His tone was cold and impatient.
“Hi, Dennis.” Maybe starting out with niceties might loosen him up. When he didn’t respond in kind, she said, “Mia’s upset about her birthday plans.”
“I’m aware.”
“Do you think there might be a way to compromise?” Chloe tried for an accommodating tone.
“No.” He cleared his throat. “Is there anything else?”
“Come on, Dennis,” Chloe pleaded. “She’s just a kid. Her birthday is important to her.”
“Apparently, that’s where we’re different.” His tone was biting. “I don’t let a twelve-year-old kid run the household.”
“Thirteen,” Chloe snapped before she thought better of it.
“Whatever.” His voice rose in volume. “Shewillbe going with Candace and I tomorrow morning whether she likes it or not. And whetheryoulike it or not. This ismytime withmydaughter.”
His emphasis onmywasn’t lost on Chloe, but she bit back an angry rebuttal. Her hand not holding the phone was clenched into a fist. She couldn’t let him get under her skin or all would surely be lost. “Couldn’t you let her have a few friends over? Be the cool dad?” Chloe hoped her last comment might appeal to his ego.
“I am the cool dad. One that instills discipline, not like the doormat mother she lives with.”
Fuck him.There were so many things she wanted to say, but this wasn’t about her. It was about Mia and Mia’s birthday. “Don’t you remember being thirteen?” She tried again, hoping to find something to break through his armor.
“Yes. I respected my parents.”
So much for that working. “Is there anything that would convince you to reconsider?”
