Page 16 of Great Pretender
“Hey, sweetie,” he greets me, and I walk over to hug him. “How are you this morning?”
“I’m not bad.” Best to head in with a half-truth and somewhat lie, then ease him in gently.
It’s a shame I have to tell him anything about Heath, but it’s the right thing to do. Like Chad, Dad doesn’t know Heath and I are no longer together. I’d avoided telling him because he worries about me a lot, and while we had a rough two-year spree of him falling off the wagon, I know he feels guilty for the sacrifices I’ve had to make.
He’s also going to blame himself for me having to rely so much on Heath because I had to spend everything I had on him.
“Looking good, Doctor.”
“Thanks, Dad, so do you.”
“There’s something in your eyes, though. Is everything okay at home?”
I lower into the chair opposite him and sit forward, resting my hands on my knees.
“No, things aren’t okay at home.” I draw in a staggered breath and meet his concerned stare. “Heath and I broke up a few weeks back.”
Dad’s mouth falls open, and he looks as shocked as I imagined he would. The look on his face is something I’d expect on someone who’s just been told their shares have plummeted to nothing.
The thing about it is, contrary to the majority opinion on Heath, Dad had other things in mind for us. He had high hopes. I’m pretty sure he saw marriage in the cards and children. That’s my fault for staying in a doomed relationship for too long. I gave my father false hope.
He shuffles, and the leather of the couch squeaks.
“Piper, what happened?” His voice comes out with a rasp, and his gray eyes cloud with worry and regret I’ve seen too many times.
Now, how do I tell him the truth?
“He was seeing someone else.” There, that’s softer than what really happened.
“Seeing somebody else? What, he was cheating on you? Piper, I really don’t think Heath would do that to you.” He shakes his head in disbelief.
“I caught them,” I cut in before he can continue singing Heath’s praises. “Things were weird between us for a while, and I figured it was because I was always working so hard. He was too, but being an established attorney, he’s able to be flexible with his schedule. I didn’t have such a luxury. I thought he understood. I went to meet him for a surprise dinner. I worked extra shifts to make up the time and everything, and I walked in on him and his secretary.”
Dad’s face pales. “Oh my God, sweetie. I’m so very sorry. I can’t believe what I’m hearing. I thought he loved you. I was almost certain he was it for you.”
“No,” I answer, short and succinct. I won’t bother telling him anything else. He doesn’t need to know about yesterday’s events. That would make him feel worse for me.
“Are you still at the house?”
“No, I moved out yesterday. I’m gonna get the rest of my things later.”
“Where are you staying?” He sounds panicked.
“Chad’s. I’m gonna stay with him for a while.”
Now, Dad’s nostrils flare. “Oh my God, girl, why would you want to stay with Chad? Come and stay here. I’ll make room.”
From the dawn of time, Dad has had this chip on his shoulder over me being friends with Chad.
Put simply, he doesn’t like the idea. Nothing has changed much over the years, even though he’s nice to Chad’s face. Our mothers were the glue that held us together. When Mom died, the friendship between our families loosened.
“Dad, it’s fine. Chad has a massive place. You need your space.”
And I need mine. I love him to no end, and I want to do everything to support him. That’s why I’m practically here every day. There was, however, one thing the therapists told me that I wholeheartedly agree with now. I didn’t back then because I was Dad’s lifeline. They told me I needed my own space; My own space to have downtime and a meltdown if I wished. I wanted Dad to move in with Heath and me. Heath was actually in agreement with it, but that would have added to the disaster.
Now more than ever, I feel like I need that space. Too much has happened, and even living with Chad for a while will still feel like I have some privacy and the space I need to think.
“I don’t like this, Piper.”
