Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 102834 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102834 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
As Deirdre told it, she and Gigi were in the same geography class when she noticed Gigi had a Purple Beatrice badge pinned to her bag. They were an all-girl pop band from Korea that my daughter was fanatical over. I’d brought her to see them in concert twice when they came to London and had to admit their songs were incredibly catchy.
Deirdre struck up a conversation with Gigi about the band, and that was that; they were fast friends. I’d been so relieved because, after nearly a week, she hadn’t made any inroads with her other classmates. Then I’d turned up to collect her from Gigi’s place only to discover who her father was. The look of pure irritation he’d levelled at me had my hackles rising, and when he’d commented on me still being college age when I’d had Deirdre, I was ready to commit murder.
Thankfully, I was able to rein in my temper for my daughter’s sake. If Derek wanted to act like I was a piece of gum that kept sticking to his shoe, fine, but I wasn’t going to stop Deirdre and Gigi from hanging out. My daughter’s happiness would always come first.
The food was just about ready when I climbed the stairs to get the girls. They were sitting in Deirdre’s room listening to a Purple Beatrice album and doing their homework. The music must’ve prevented them from hearing my approach, and the door was open, allowing me to pick up some of their conversation.
“I just never thought she’d do something like this to me,” Gigi said, a hitch in her voice.
“Hey, I get it. I don’t know what I’d do without my mum,” Deirdre replied soothingly. “But at least you have your dad.”
“Yeah,” Gigi allowed. “My dad would never do what she did. He’s always there for me and Pablo.”
My heart clenched a little hearing that because, despite his attitude towards me, I could definitely see Derek being a present and reliable father. Always there for his kids. It was just how he was. When we were teenagers, I could rely on him to show up whenever I needed him, no matter what. A faint pain pinched at me. Our friendship had been short-lived in the grand scheme of things, but I still mourned the loss of it in certain ways. I’d been in a handful of relationships, but I’d never felt that sort of soul deep connection with any of my past boyfriends. Perhaps it was a teenage thing, and we all just felt like everything was so much more vital and intense at that age.
“You shouldn’t take it personally,” Deirdre said to Gigi, pulling me back to their exchange. “My dad works a lot, and even when we lived in London, I didn’t see him all the time because he was constantly on call. He’s very committed to his career, but I know he still loves me more than anything. The same probably goes for your mum. Just because she needs to focus on her music right now doesn’t mean she doesn’t love you.”
God, Deirdre’s maturity continued to amaze me. I didn’t know where she got her wisdom from sometimes. I mean, I was smart at her age, too, but not nearly as emotionally mature.
“I guess so,” Gigi agreed, though she didn’t sound entirely convinced.
Not wanting to eavesdrop any longer, I knocked on the door before stepping inside. “Hey girls, dinner’s ready if you want to come down.”
“Yes, I’m starving,” Deirdre declared. “It smells amazing.” She glanced at Gigi. “You haven’t lived until you’ve tried Mum’s chicken parmesan. It’s sooo good!”
Gigi giggled shyly, but there was a certain sadness that lingered in her expression. I motioned them from the room, and as we descended the stairs, I studied Derek’s daughter, worried about how down she’d sounded when they were talking before I came in.
Was it something I should mention to Derek? Then again, he told me yesterday she’d been going through a hard time recently, so he was clearly already aware.
We sat at the table to eat, and after spending only a few minutes with Gigi, I decided she was just lovely. Shy and sensitive but clearly very clever. She looked a lot like Derek, but there was also something of her mother there, too. Or at least what I imagined to be her mother since I’d never met the woman.
I served the girls store-bought apple crumble with vanilla ice cream for dessert, and not long after we finished eating, there was a honk from outside. Something about the sound sent me right back into the past, the memory of a handsome boy garnering my attention with the beeping of a car horn.
Approaching the living room window, I took a discreet glance outside and saw Derek sitting in the driver’s seat waiting. It bothered me that he didn’t even have the manners to come and knock on the front door. Then again, maybe this was for the best. Keeping our distance. The next time I had to collect Deirdre from his place, I’d simply text her to let her know I was outside instead of going in. I certainly wasn’t about to let him shut his door in my face again instead of inviting me in like a normal human being.