with my racing heart. I knew Vera wasn’t my mother, no one could ever take that place, but I honestly felt like a part of my heart was being healed. “I hope that this means you and I will be able to reconnect.”
“Yes!” The word flew from my mouth in a rush and she laughed. I felt like a little girl all over again. “I would love that!” She seemed pleased. “I’ve missed having you in my life.”
“I’ve missed you too, sweetheart.”
The letters and the birthday cards were nice, but they weren’t enough. This, having her here, this was right. This was a huge piece of what I had been missing for so long. Someone to talk to, someone to lean on, someone who would be on my side, no matter what.
“Here’s my number.” Vera held out a card. “You call me, we’ll have lunch, I can show you my new place. Are you still interested in medical research?”
I was, so much, but getting into the fact that my father thought I’d be better suited to follow his path was something I didn’t have time for. So for now I simply nodded my head and found the pleased look on her face a huge boost for my confidence.
We shared another hug, then she walked off in one direction and Darcy and I in another. A newfound spirit returned, one I thought I’d never feel again.
“So what’s next?”
I reached out and snatched the list from Darcy. “Let me have a look.” Suddenly the items didn’t feel so intimidating. I was a young woman, one who had been trapped and forced to be someone she wasn’t. It was time to free my self and start living my own life, for me.
7. Pick out my favorite nail polish and forget it landed in my handbag while tossing it in the cart. (Shh, it’s not stealing if it’s an accident.)
Chapter Seven
Jay
“Are you still coming?”
“Only because you’re forcing me to.” If it weren’t for my sister I would avoid any true contact with my father. A ding on my phone notified me that I’d just gotten activity on my account was good enough. His attempt at Father of the Year deposits were what he felt it took to be a great dad.
Jade still held hope that one day he’d wake up and be there for the both of us. That alone pissed me off because my sister deserved more. I think the absence of our parents was the number one reason why she continued to chase the wrong kind of men. She was searching for something she was never gonna find.
“Do you really think he’s gonna show?” I hated to lay doubt in her mind, but the truth was it was almost a given that he would stand us up. We’d arrive at the restaurant, wait for about ten minutes before deciding to go on and order an appetizer. More time would pass, I’d grow agitated, Jade would try to calm me with some nonsense conversation. Stories that I’d most likely heard before. Whatever she could offer as a distraction. Then he’d message her, not me. Never me. He’d assure her that he’d been caught up in an unavoidable task and that he’s sorry he would have to reschedule. Then we would both have a little extra money appear in our accounts to keep us satisfied, so to speak. It was getting harder and harder not to seek him out and show him just how dissatisfied I truly was. But I held my cool for Jade.
“He said he’s already on the way here.” I found that hard to believe and something I had also heard before.
“I’ll be there in fifteen to pick you up.”
I spent a few extra minutes sitting in my truck, trying my best not to dial his number and leave a message about how it would be in his best interest to show tonight and not to fuck over his daughter like he had her entire life. I gave up caring a long time ago. I didn’t need my father, I didn’t want him in my life. Forgiveness for all the bullshit he’d fed us over the years was long gone. The ship had sailed and it had sunk to the deepest fucking depths of the sea.
On the drive over, I did my best to put on a happy smile. Jade was waiting outside, her phone in hand, and by the look on her face I knew it had already happened. He’d