Page 62 of Grump Daddy

“Hello?”

“Jack,” the familiar voice rings into my ear. “How are you?”

Anger boils inside my gut. “How am I? An interesting question coming from you,” I say coldly. “Wouldn’t you rather know about your son?”

“Of course,” she says. She sounds different somehow. Almost…pleasant. “How is Martin?” she asks.

I’m surprised she remembers his name. Thank God Sarah and the kids aren’t around me right now.

“He’s fine,” I say. “He great. Just turned six.”

“Six? Wow. Time really flies.”

How can she sound so goddamned cavalier?“What do you want?” Get the bottom of it already.

“I...I’m in town visiting my mother. I was wondering if you wanted to meet. I’ve missed you. We can catch up and have a few drinks, like old times.”

I’m seeing red now. The nerve! “No, Camilla, I don’t want to meet up with you. I don’t think my wife would approve.”

“Oh,” she says, “I didn’t know.”

“Of course not. How could you?”

She pauses. I hope I’m hurting her. I really hope I’m hurting her. “Are you happy?”

“I’m very happy,” I say. “In fact, we have another child. A little girl. My life is about as complete as it can get, no thanks to you.”

She pauses again, then says, “Jack…I know that we haven’t spoken since…” She sighs into the phone. “Listen, this last bit of trouble I got into…well, it landed me in rehab. And in rehab, they tell you that one of the first things that you’re supposed to do is make amends for the wrongs that you’ve done to people. You…you’re at the top of my list. I really did you wrong, Jack…and I’m sorry.”

The wind was taken out of my sails. I don’t want to stop being angry, though. “You expecting me to accept your apology?”

“No,” she says. “If you do…if you ever do, that’s on you. I just need you to know that…well, just that I’m sorry. That’s all.”

I don’t know what to say. I’m standing in the middle of my den with my mouth agape.

“Have a good night, Jack.” And with that, she hangs up the phone. I’m still standing there staring at my phone, not knowing what to do now. I’ve been angry at her for so long…can’t I keep being angry? Is that allowed?

“Jack?”

I look over and see Sarah peeking her head in at me. She steps into the den and asks, “Are you all right?”

I put the phone in my pocket. I’m visibly upset, but I’d like it if she didn’t see it right now. “I’m fine, honey,” I say.

“That wasn’t work, was it?”

I take in a breath and I’m finding that it shudders. I’m shaking with anger. “It was Camilla.”

Her face changes. Her skin goes a little pale for a second. “Camilla…Martin’s mother?”

“Yeah.”

“Well…what did she want?”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Jack—”

“I don’t want to talk about it,” I say a little louder, then I catch myself. It isn’t Sarah’s fault. I can’t take this out on her.

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