Page 38 of Hot Four Teacher (The Lawson’s #4)

Chapter thirty-seven

Remember, Prison isn't Fun

Michelle

I ’m pretty sure I broke about seventeen different laws getting here, but about half an hour later, I’m pulling up outside of Danny’s house. I’m about to text Eve to tell her I’m here, but I see her sitting at the end of the driveway.

I pull up and put the car in park. She stands up and walks toward me before sliding in the passenger’s seat. Her eyes look absolutely defeated.

She turns to look at me. “What are we waiting for?”

“I’m waiting to see if I need to go inside and knock the shit out of your dad.”

“Mom, can we please just go home? I don’t want to be here anymore.”

“Okay. Let’s go home.”

There’s no law saying I can’t come back later and knock the shit out of him.

I start to drive. For once, Eve isn’t staring at her phone or talking ninety miles a minute. She’s completely silent, which makes me wonder just how bad this whole situation is.

I am anxious to press her for details, but I figure maybe it’s best to wait until we get home.

I catch a glimpse of her wiping a single tear from her cheek. My blood boils, but I shove my feelings down. This isn’t about me. Rather than saying anything, I just reach over and set my hand on top of hers. I just want her to know I’m here.

As excited as I am to get home and get the full story, I don’t drive quite as crazy as I did on my way to get her. I have precious cargo in the car now.

Scenarios run through my mind about what could have possibly happened to have Eve’s visit end in this way. None of what I’m imagining is good.

We finally get back to the house, and I grab Eve’s bag out of the backseat before we head inside. Once we are through the door, I set it down. I barely get it out of my hands before my daughter is in my arms, crying on my shoulder.

“Oh, honey,” I say, taken by surprise. “I’m so sorry.”

I hold her, rubbing her back while she lets the tears flow freely.

“It’s okay,” I tell her. “I’ve got you.”

I have no idea how long we stay standing like this. Really, I don’t care. I’d stand here all night if she wanted me to.

When she finally calms down a little, I lead her over to the couch and then grab her some tissues and a bottle of water. After I hand them to her, I get comfortable beside her.

“Okay, kid. Time to tell me what happened.”

“When you dropped me off yesterday, everything was fine. Dad and I went and grabbed lunch, and then, he took me shopping.”

Of course, he did.

She keeps going. “We went back to his place and just hung out. His new house is big and beautiful. We talked and caught up, and I thought things were going great.”

“But then?”

“His girlfriend came home. I guess she’d been out of town for a few days.”

“Oh.”

“But I guess she’s not really his girlfriend. She’s his wife.”

“I’m sorry–what?”

“You heard me. Dad got married.”

“When? How? Why?” I can’t decide what question I want to start with. After taking a deep breath, I ask, “He got married without inviting you or telling you beforehand?”

“Yeah. Well, they decided to get married before the baby came.”

“Baby?”

Oh, this just keeps getting worse.

“Yep. She looks like she’s about ready to pop.”

“And he didn’t tell you any of this beforehand?”

“No. He didn’t even tell me they were married until about an hour before she got there. So, that was this morning.”

“Okay, wait. So, if that was this morning, what happened after that? You didn’t call me until way later.”

“Because that wasn’t what pushed me over the edge.”

There’s something worse?

I take another deep breath, trying to calm myself down. “Alright, so he tells you he got married?”

She nods. “He sits me down and tells me how he got married, and it was just a courthouse thing because she’s pregnant. He said he wanted to include me, but everything was so rushed.”

Bullshit.

She continues. “You know what? Whatever. I could’ve lived with all of that. I don’t want him to be a spinster. But then, she came home.”

“And she was awful?” I’m asking questions because sometimes, Eve takes approximately seven business days to get to her point.

“She was fine. Nice, even. She seemed genuinely interested in getting to know me…and then, I met her daughters.”

“She has kids, too?”

She nods. “Two girls who are younger than me. I think she said they were seven and eleven. They were all fine. Everyone was nice, but I spent the day watching how they all act together.” She pauses a moment.

“They call him Dad, and he actually acts like their dad.

He takes them to sporting events and plays with dolls.

They were in his wedding, and I wasn't even told about it–let alone invited. They are all one big happy fucking family.”

I usually don’t let her swing around the F word all willy-nilly, but I think this occasion warrants it.

Her tears start to flow again. “I asked him about the camping trip again, and he said he’d have to make sure no one else in the house had any plans. I just got so mad. I freaked out on him.”

“Well, I bet that was fun.”

“I asked him to go in the other room with me, so the kids wouldn’t hear, and I just started telling him how I thought all of this was bullshit.

Why can he be their dad, but he’s never been mine?

It’s not fair. I’ve always been understanding, but I’m sick of it.

Oh, and then, he tried blaming you in a roundabout way. ”

“Me?” I gasp. “How is any of this my fault?”

“He says that you and I have such a strong bond that he didn’t want to come in and do anything to mess with that. He’s just trying to do something–anything–to make himself feel better.”

My blood boils even hotter. I can’t believe he said those things to her.

“Then, he told me that I’ve never seemed all that interested in him and he thinks that the only time I come around is when I want something from him.”

“What?” My voice is a little louder than I intended.

“I never wanted anything from him except for him to act like a real father. That’s it. He’s the one who always wants to go shopping.”

“Sweetie, he always offered to take you shopping, so he wouldn’t have to do the real dad stuff–the hard dad stuff.”

I’ve never been one to badmouth her dad in front of her. In fact, I’ve always shielded her quite a bit from his bullshit. But he opened up a whole new can of worms when he tried blaming Eve. Blame me all you want; I don’t give a shit, but don’t you dare put any of this on Eve.

She turns to look at me, wiping a tear from her eyes. “I just don’t get why he’s never wanted to be my dad.”

The one single tear turns into many as she starts to sob. I grab a pillow and put it onto my lap, so she has a place to put her head.

Watching my daughter so heartbroken is enough to have tears welling up in my own eyes.

“You listen to me, beautiful girl,” I begin. “There is absolutely nothing wrong with you. You are so incredible and smart and just an amazing person. If he can’t see that, then he’s the one who is missing you.”

“You know what sucks the most, Mom?”

“What, sweetheart?” I ask as I stroke her hair.

“When I stormed out, he didn’t even follow me. He just let me go and didn’t even care.”

“I’m so sorry, Eve.”

There are very few things in my life that hurt me more than watching my daughter cry.

I’ve held her while she’s cried over boys before, but there’s something different about it being her father who is doing the hurting.

I used to have to comfort her in regards to Danny, but it was when she was little. Either way, it’s equally devastating.

***

An hour later, Eve calmed down and fell asleep. She’s now snoring softly on the other end of the couch. I told her I was going to run to the store to get stuff for a big breakfast in the morning.

So, I grab my keys and head out as quietly as possible. The moment I hit the road, though, I know I have to make another stop first.

On the way, I tell my Bluetooth speakers in the car to call Dane. It only takes a moment for him to answer.

“Hey, baby. You okay? Is Eve okay?”

“She’s okay except disappointed by her father…again.”

“What happened?”

I tell him the whole story, and the more I talk, the angrier I get. I can’t believe Danny would do this.

Dane listens to me vent and then says, “I’m sorry Eve has to deal with that. She’s a great kid who deserves a dad who will stand in her corner.”

“I’m just so angry, and I don’t understand how he could treat her like this. But I’m about to get some answers.”

“What does that mean?”

When I don’t answer, he asks, “Michelle, what are you doing?”

“I’m going to give that asshole a piece of my mind.”

“Do you think that’s going to help?”

“It’ll help me feel better,” I reply. When I can tell he’s about to try to talk me out of it, I go on. “I promise I won’t hit him. I’m just going to go give him a piece of my mind.”

“Michelle–”

“Dane, it’ll be fine. I’ll be okay. I promise.”

He is quiet for a moment before exhaling a deep sigh. “Okay, okay. But promise you’ll call me when you’re done?”

“Yes.”

“If you don’t, I’m sending out a search party–meaning I’m coming to find you.”

I can’t help but smile at his concern. “I’ll call when I’m done. I promise. But I’m pulling up now, so I have to go.”

“Okay, be careful. Remember, prison isn’t fun.”

We hang up, and I get out and head for the door. I look up at the large house and wonder what Danny and his new wife are doing for work to be able to afford this place.

I’ve always been okay with our little hamlet. It’s always been enough for us, but seeing this place does make me a little jealous.

I pound on the door, and moments later, Danny swings it open.

“I should’ve known I’d be seeing you sooner rather than later.”

“We need to talk.”

He steps out of the doorway, letting me come inside.

Walking up behind him is a petite woman with a pregnant pooch.

“Daniel, who is it?”

“This is Michelle, Eve’s mom.”

She gives me a warm smile while he makes introductions.

She asks, “Can I get you anything? Maybe something to drink?”

“No, thank you. I won’t be staying long.”

Danny turns to her. “Can you give us a moment, sweetie? We just need to have a quick talk.”

“Of course, Daniel. Just let me know if you change your mind and need something.”

When she leaves the room, I turn to him. “ Daniel?”

“Nobody calls me Danny anymore. I figured I grew up–it was time for an adult name.”

What a load of shit.

“I think I’ll stick with Danny since you still haven’t grown up in regards to your fatherhood.”

“Look, Mich, I don’t know what she told you–”

“She told me she came here to spend the week with her dad, and her dad basically told her that his new family is more important.”

He rolls his eyes. “I see where Eve gets her flair for the dramatic from.”

My anger wells even further. “You know what I think? I think you felt bad about leaving Eve out of the loop while you started a shiny new family. I think guilt was eating at you, so you invited her over, took her to lunch, and bought her stuff, hoping to butter her up so that when you told her, maybe she would assuage your guilt. You didn’t bet on her calling you on your bullshit. ”

He crosses his arms over his chest but doesn’t say a word.

“Danny, you are playing dad to your step-daughters.”

He cuts me off. “They don’t have a dad around. He ran out.”

My eyes about bulge out of my head. “Eve didn’t have a dad around! She needed you! I’m not saying don’t be there for them, but I’m saying be there for all of them!”

“Don’t you dare put this on me. If you had taken care of it back in the day, neither of us would have been teenage parents! Maybe you could have had a better life! Maybe you wouldn’t be living in a shitty little house living like a nun! You chose this!”

My lip quivers as I beg the tears to stay within my eyes. I don’t want him to have any satisfaction.

“When I got pregnant with Eve, I didn’t ask you for anything. I told you that you didn't need to stick around. I did pregnancy, labor, and the first few years of her life by myself. You’re the one who came back around.”

“Well, maybe I should have just stayed away. It probably would have been easier for everyone.”

I swallow down the lump in my throat. “Our daughter is incredible. No matter what else I do in my life, Eve will always be my number one accomplishment. She will go on to do amazing things, and I will be behind her every step of the way. She has a ton of people who will be. I won’t have you making her second-guess herself or feel like she is unworthy in any way. Are you really willing to let Eve go?”

He thinks for a moment, and I’m convinced he’s about to change his mind and come to his senses.

He says, “Michelle, I’ve got a really good thing going here. I’m not going to let anything ruin that. Maybe a clean slate is better for everyone.”

I can’t believe what I’m hearing. Danny’s been an ass but not like this.

“You know what, Danny? Go fuck yourself.”

He chuckles. “Real mature.”

“I’m raising the kid that I helped make, so yeah, I am mature.”

I walk out of the room and toward the door. I storm out and am almost to my car when I hear, “Michelle, wait!”

But it’s not Danny. It’s his new wife.

As she gets close, she says, “Sorry, I can only waddle so fast.” When she reaches me, she hands me a giant shopping bag.

“Here. This is what Eve got when she went shopping. She left it here. Daniel wanted to return it, but I thought she should have it.”

“Uh, thanks,” I say. “I’ll give it to her, but I’m not sure she’ll want it.”

She nods while instinctively rubbing her belly. “I wanted to have a relationship with her. I never meant to make her upset.”

“You’re not the one who made her upset,” I say.

“My girls’ dad ran out on them. It wasn’t until I found Daniel that I found a real father figure for them.”

“The problem is that he was not being a dad to his daughter. Look, you seem very nice. I have no ill-will toward you, and I hope your life works out. But I think a man who runs out on his responsibilities would be a huge red flag. Maybe he will be perfect for you and your girls. Or maybe he’ll leave when he finds something newer and shinier. ”

With that, I get in my car and leave.