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Those two together are dangerous. On more than one occasion, Bug had enlisted Mel’s help in getting rid of the woman I’d been dating.
“Bug, is she trying to get back at her parents for moving?”
“Of course she is. Why wouldn’t she? They’re ruining her life.And mine.”
“That’s not really fair, sweetie. Her father got transferred. It’s his job.”
“He could have found a new job.”
“It’s not that easy.”
“When you have kids, you have to do what’s in their best interest. By choosing to become a parent, you have to put their needs first. That’s what you always tell me.”
My eyes close briefly. It’s true. I do say that.
Why do I feel like this is going to go badly? I’m about to drop a lot of bombs on her. Her world is going to change. That’s not something I should tell her in a public place.
“Maybe we should just go home.”
“Home? No way. You promised me The Rainbow Room.”
“I just didn’t realize how tired I’d be after the flight. It’s been a long week.”
“Da-ad,” she says in that whiney but endearing way.
“Fine. We’ll go.”
I’ll just wait until we’re home to tell her.
~ ~ ~
“Dad, will you just say it?”
I push mashed potatoes around my plate. “Say what?”
“Whatever you came here to say. One: you never bring me here on a random Thursday. Two: you’ve never been this quiet at a meal.Ever. Three: you’re starting to freak me out. Are you sick or something?”
“Sick, no. I just may have misjudged the situation. I do have something to discuss with you, but I think it’s best we do it at home.”
Her eyes narrow to slits. “At home? As in you don’t want to tell me here because you think I’ll get mad?”
“Something like that.”
“Dad, I’m thirteen. I’m not a baby. Just tell me.”
I look around the crowded restaurant. It’s loud enough in here that any reaction she’ll have shouldn’t ruin anyone’s dinner. I’m just not sure what to start with. Moving or babies.
“Bug, sweetie, we can’t move to Oregon. It’s just too far away from most of the clients I work with. We need to stay on the East Coast.”
“That’swhat you brought me here to say?” She shrugs nonchalantly. “Not a problem. Mel and I came up with a plan. I’m going to do homeschool high school. That way I can go visit her all the time, like one week a month. She swears it will be okay with her parents. The house they’re buying even has an extra bedroom. And you can afford the airfare, right? You get so many points or whatever because you travel all the time. It’s the perfect solution, don’t you think?”
“You’re not going to homeschool.”
“What if it’s in my best interest? Think about it, I wouldn’t have to worry about going into high school without a friend. And we wouldn’t have to move. I’m happy. You’re happy. Mel’s happy. Everyone’s happy.”
“Bug, I said it’s not an option.”
“You have to at least consider it. You never say no without giving things consideration.”