“Nina –” my father began, his hand to his cheek, his face filled with shock.
“If Claire wasn’t such a good woman, I’d wonder if Charlie was switched at birth and Charlie would have wondered too,” I declared.
I watched my father’s eyes narrow. “He was my son.”
“You forgot that when his legs were blown off!” I shouted.
“Get out,” Max ordered. “Now, before I put you out.”
Dad ignored Max and glared at me. “Charlie would –”
But I interrupted him. “You have no idea what Charlie would or wouldn’t. Charlie was good to the core. You have no idea what it means to be that way. Don’t you dare tell me what Charlie would do.”
Dad opened his mouth to speak but Max got there before him. “I’m not gonna say it again.”
At this threat, Dad looked over my shoulder then back at me and he declared, “I’m staying at the hotel in town, Nina. This isn’t done. We need to talk, calmly, if you can manage that.”
Max let me go but pulled me back and stepped around me, moving toward Dad. Dad’s glance shot toward him briefly then he walked swiftly to the door.
He opened it, stopped in it and looked at me. “I’ll be at the hotel.”
“Enjoy your stay,” I snapped nastily.
Dad’s gaze rested on me a moment, then he walked out the door.
I didn’t watch him go, I stomped to the kitchen. When I made it there I snatched up my phone from the counter and hit the button to turn it on.
“Nina,” Max said from close and I knew he was close because I felt his hand sliding along the small of my back.
I didn’t look up, just lifted a hand, one finger pointed skyward and with the other hand went to my contacts, found Niles and hit the button to connect.
“Honey, don’t you think you should calm down first?” Max suggested and I could feel the reassuring heat of his body but I was focused on the fireplace across the room, staring at it like I could ignite a fire in its grate with my eyes.
I didn’t answer Max. I didn’t want to calm down. I wanted this to be done and to do it I wanted what I had to say to be said.
I heard the phone ring once then twice and on the third ring Niles answered.
“Hello.”
“Dad was just here.”
“Nina?”
Nina? Was he mad?
“Yes, Nina!” I shouted into the phone. “What other American would call, informing you with barely controlled, therefore unmistakable fury that her father just paid her a visit?”
“Listen, I can hear you’re perturbed but –”
“Yes, I’m perturbed, Niles, I’m very perturbed and if you tell me you have to go into a meeting, I swear –”
“Not a meeting but I have a client waiting –”
“Whatever!” I yelled. “A client is not more important than you listening to me, and Niles I want you, for once in your life, to listen to me. We’re over. Do you understand? Over!”
His astonishing reply: “We’ll talk when you get home.”
I saw lights flashing in front of my eyes but I still managed to snap, “Oh no we won’t. We’re never talking again. Anything I left in your house you can give to a charity shop.”