Page 101 of The Maxwell Brothers
She sighed. “I spoke to Mom.” She sighed, and her voice was uneven. "She said she couldn't come to my birthday."
Anger shot through me. I curled my hand into a fist, forcing myself to draw in a breath. What the fuck? She barely remembered to call her daughter, canceled on their vacation, and now this?
"Baby, when did you talk to your mom?"
"She texted me right before break, and I called her back."
She knew I never wanted her to give Paisley bad news if I wasn't around.
"You'll have a great party anyway. All your friends will be there."
“I know, Daddy."
"I'm sorry, baby, but how about this? I promise this will be the best birthday you ever have."
“You promise?" she asked, and I could feel that smile in her voice.
"Yes. And remember, Lexi will be there," I added, hoping that would make her smile as much as it made me.
“I love her. She makes me feel special, Daddy.”
“I know, baby. She does that for me too.”
"Can I have as much ice cream as I want?"
I laughed. Of course she’d use this moment to ask me for something she wasn't allowed. When I wanted to comfort her, my girl knew how to use her weapons. I should have been proud of her; she'd make a great lawyer or negotiator if she wanted to.
"We’ll talk about this when I pick you up," I said.
"Okay. I have to go. Ms. McDonald says we aren’t allowed to use the phone after break ends."
"Bye, Paisley. I love you."
After hanging up, I rose to my feet again. Anger crawled through my veins. What was Nora thinking? I called her immediately. She had the good sense to answer after one ring.
"Before you get annoyed—” she began.
I cut her off. "I'm not annoyed. I’m fucking mad! What do you mean you're not going to come here for your daughter’s tenth birthday? And why the hell would you talk to her before talking to me?"
"Well, I knew you were going to get into a state."
"It doesn't matter if I get into a state, Nora. The point of me being next to her when you give her bad news is so I can pick up the pieces. But you wouldn’t know that because you’re never here!"
"Look, she's not a child anymore.”
“She’ll be ten," I said through gritted teeth.
"Yes, exactly. She can handle news like this."
"Really? Where did you read that? Because kids don’t react according to books, Nora. Paisley is sensitive. She cares, she hurts, she loves, understand? She has emotions and she needs parents that care about her and her wellbeing. And you can’t seem to be able to do that, can you? "
She snorted. "Why do you always think the worst of me. I’m doing my best?—”
“Come to her birthday," I said, completely ignoring her rant.
"Look, it's impossible. I have a photoshoot withVoguethat day."
“I don't care. Reschedule."
