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“I’m always on your side.” My voice trembles with how much I mean that. “Always. That’s why,” I take a deep breath, “for the next two weeks, I’m taking your tablet.”
“WHAT?” She springs to her feet. “You can’t do that!”
“Yes, I can.”
“I’m not a little kid anymore. You can’t force me to do anything!”
Talia’s right. She’s not a little kid anymore. I should stop treating her like she doesn’t know what she’s doing.
Firmly, I tell her, “You’re living under my roof, so you’re going to follow my rules.”
“Uncle Dare!”
I lift a hand. “In the evenings, you’ll be going to Mr. Sazuki’s foundation to help the janitorial crew.”
“Janitors—as in, you want me to clean? Like touch garbage?” Her jaw drops. She looks absolutely mortified.
“Yes.” It’s mostly light work. Cleaning instruments, tidying up after their free music classes for the deaf. Maybe learning some sign language by sheer proximity. “I’ve already arranged it with Mosely. He’ll take you straight there after school.”
I mentioned it to Sazuki last night and he assured me he’d bring it up with his wife. Talia will be under Dejonae’s close watch while she’s volunteering at their music foundation.
Tears shine in Talia’s eyes and it feels like someone’s scraping my heart on a grater. “Why are you being like this? Is it because of Miss Abbot? Or is ither?”
“No. This is all me, Tals.” I take her hand and gently pull her toward me.
She looks away, her bottom lip trembling hard. I don’t force her to look into my eyes, but I keep my solid grip on her.
“You’re so important to me. So, so important. That means I can’t only worry about your present but about your future too. I want you to be someone who cares about people and about the world. You have so much to offer, but if you keep pushing people away and being mean, you’ll be so lonely.”
“I don’t care if I’m lonely.”
“Well, I do.” I swipe my thumb under her eyes to comfort her. “I care so much that I’m willing to do anything to help you. Even if it hurts me. I’d rather you hurt me than you hurt other people.”
She sniffs and hangs her head. “You think I’m evil. Just like mom.”
“What? No.” Pain gushes through my chest. “No, I think you’re the most incredible little girl. I want everyone to see what I see too. That’s all.”
I try to hug her, but Talia pushes me away and runs crying out of the room.
* * *
The car ride to school is particularly frigid. Talia doesn’t look at me the entire time and jumps out of the car before I’ve fully parked.
We normally have a whole thing where she kisses my cheek and we bump princess watches.
Today, her matching pink watch is noticeably absent.
I’m exhausted by the time I drag myself into the office.
Kids are complicated.
Parenting ishard.
Why are so many people eager to have those little adorable molds of human flesh and responsibility?
I’ve just shrugged out of my jacket when there’s a knock on the door. Mosely approaches with a foreboding expression. Lips in a thin line. Eyes stern. Fingers clutching his tablet like he’s about to hurl it through the window.
I lift a staying hand. “Just give me a second. Let me breathe before my day gets worse.”