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“How will she react to having a nanny? Sometimes teenagers at that age, particularly girls, struggle with having what they deem as just ababysitter.” I use my fingers as air quotes.
“She’ll deal with it. I think part of her is happy to have some of her freedom back. She has to come home from practice most days and I know she’d rather go to her school’s sporting events or do things with her friends after school. She’s currently grounded, but when that’s over, I know she’ll be happy to not have to rush right home after her cheer practice.”
“Grounded from…sneaking a boy into the house, correct?”
He winces before he leans back in his chair. “My brother told you?”
I nod. “Are you concerned about that?”
“Name a father who isn’t concerned about his sixteen-year-old daughter and her boyfriend and I’ll show you a liar.”
I clear my throat as I attempt to broach a topic that no father wants to have. “Is she…have you talked to her about being safe?”
“God no. I’m not concerned about that per se, and I don’t even want to put that thought in her head. She’d better not be having sex.”
I frown not knowing if he’s being naive or blatantly ignorant on purpose.
“But what if she is? She’s sixteen and more than likely had the thought already.” While I lost my virginity somewhat later in life because I was forced into being ‘the responsible one,’ sixteen was the age when a lot of my friendsand my younger sisterlost theirs.
His eyes snap to mine like I just uttered the most ridiculous sentence. “Can we not talk about this?”
“That’s notreallyhow it works.”
His brows pinch together and I see the agitation forming on his face by the second. “Excuse me?”
“Not talking about it isn’t going to magically make it not a problem. I know a lot of fathers defer to the mother about this but she doesn’t have one and from what I’m gathering there is no strong adult female presence, which means this falls on you unless you want to be a grandfather in nine months.”
He scoffs like I’ve insulted him. “My daughter isn’t like that.”
“It’s not about being like anything.” I shrug thinking about my younger sister who was the model straight-A student with all the extracurricular activities in the world and still had the time to get pregnant. “All kinds of girls get into trouble with the boys they think they’re in love with. All I’m saying is having the conversation now can save you from having a very different conversation later.”
“I don’t need a lecture.” His voice is even but still with a hint of defensiveness.
“You’re right.Shedoes,” I tell him and he crosses his arms over his chest. “Tell me about your son. Why do you have him outside washing cars? I’m going to guess it was not his idea.”
“He’s suspended from school. He goes back on Monday,” he says without offering more information.
I raise an eyebrow at him as if to say,‘You’re going to have to give me more than that.’“For…?”
“Starting a fire in a trashcan,” he says without meeting my gaze.
What in God’s name has been happening here?
“How did he get a lighter?”
“He’s ten. He knows how to open cabinets.” His eyes snap to mine, confused with a hint of annoyance.
“Was anyone hurt?”
“No.”
“Did he say why he did it?”
“I’m guessing for attention?”
“Did you ask?”
A flash of annoyance crosses his handsome face. “Yes, Elianna, I asked.” The way he says my name sends a tiny tremor skating through me. Almost like he’s scoldingme.