I hated calling him “Daddy”. I always hated it but it was the only thing he allowed.
At my word, the room electrified.
Shirleen’s arm shot toward Daisy and I saw her fingers snap repeatedly but Daisy was already digging through her purse. I watched as she pulled out her cell.
“There’s talk,” my father said in my ear.
“Talk?” I repeated.
“Talk. We’ll get to that in a minute. Where have you been and why have you refused my calls?”
I blinked.
Was he nuts? Did I play my role that well that for twenty-nine years he actually thought I was the dutiful daughter? I’d always thought my father was smart (he even told me he was smart, he told me this loads) but it seemed apparent he was pretty f**king dumb.
Daisy jumped off the counter, phone to her ear and as she stepped away Ralphie and Roxie got close.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Visiting days, Sadie. Christ, I have things to go over with you. I’ve been here for months, there’s business to attend to, where the f**k have you been?”
“Working,” I replied, wheels had begun to turn in my head as I heard Daisy talking quietly on her cell.
“Working,” his voice was terse, angry and disbelieving. “Your father is in prison and you don’t…”
My back started to go straight and, as my eyes focused on Ralphie’s concerned face, my father’s voice kept on in my ear but I didn’t hear a word he said.
Something strange was happening in my chest. Something hard and hot was forming there and I realized it was anger.
In a flash, my mind reactivated, I lifted my chin and a New Ice Princess, one I’d never met before, one that had a whole different way of dealing with things, slid with a decisive snap into place.
“Excuse me,” I cut into my father talking, my voice dripping icicles.
“What?” he asked.
“I said excuse me. You were talking but I didn’t have any interest in what you were saying so I wanted you to stop speaking so I could ask you why you’re phoning. I have an opening in a few days and work to do.”
My father was silent.
“Hello?” I called.
“Sadie, now’s not the time to be funny,” he warned.
“I’m not being funny. I’m being perfectly serious. Now tell me, is there something you need or is this a social call?”
“Have you lost your mind?” my father exploded.
“No,” I replied shortly.
A brief pause then with soft menace, “It’s true. You’re f**king him.”
I blinked in confusion. “Pardon me?” I asked.
“Chavez. You’re f**king Hector Chavez.”
I wasn’t “fucking” Hector but it was close enough for my body to start shaking.
How could he know?