Page 34 of Reluctant to Love
“All the more reason to hurry to New York.”
“Are you really sure about letting us invade your space?”
“I want it to be your space too.”
“And this doesn’t seem rushed to you? We’ve been apart four years.”
“It feels like the perfectly right time to me.”
She slides off my lap and brings her thumbnail to her lips. Nervously, she bites at it before looking at me. “I’m sorry to doubt everything, Roderick. If it were just me, I wouldn’t have any problems but Izzy changes everything. How am I supposed to explain all of this to her?”
“We don’t have to complicate things. The house is under renovation and I’ve offered to let you stay with me while you work out your publishing contact. Simple.”
She narrows her eyes in my direction. “You’ve got this all worked out, don’t you?”
“Generally, no I don’t. But for whatever reason, when it comes to you, I see my life clearly. I know exactly what I’m doing and I’m confident heading to New York, at least while your mom’s house is being remodeled, is the right decision.”
She kisses me firmly on the lips and when she pulls away, there’s a big grin on her face. “I really need to check on Izzy,” she says.
“I’ll start looking at flights.”
I watch her leave the room, enjoying the sight of her in a simple pair of black leggings and a long-sleeved t-shirt that falls from one shoulder. Her auburn hair loose and slightly wavy. Despite the multiple tattoos covering her body, she was never a wild child. She was always logical, questioning everything and never settling for answers based on feeling alone. That’s how I approach every “tough” conversation with her. Answers requiring her to have only trust and faith receive immediate pushback; there always needs to be some sort of logical explanation.
I hear her singing softly to Izzy, murmuring sweet, soothing words. I’m still amazed I have a daughter. Fatherhood is a new and wonderful experience and every moment I witness between Eleanor and Izzy makes me love them both even more.
I get started working on flights to New York and chuckle when I think about Eleanor asking to pick the cheapest flights. While I’m searching, my cell phone chirps, and I look at the screen. It’s a text message from Larry.
Larry: Famke isn’t budging. Can you get to NYC ASAP?
Me: Already working on it.
Larry: Good. The sooner the better.
Famke has always been tenacious; I was drawn to her fierceness but now I’m worried. Is it possible she knows about Eleanor and Izzy? Are they driving her newfound aggression toward me?
Doesn’t matter. I’m prepared to fight her and this time, I won’t lose.