by J. P. Comeau
Addison sat on my lap the whole way home, telling me about how she wanted her bedroom decorated. She also told me about her favorite restaurants in New York City, what kind of pizza she liked, and that she loved mermaids. After a while, she grew quiet, which I assumed was because she was tired, and due for a nap.
“It’s okay that Mommy never loved me,” she said to break the silence.
It pained me to hear her say those words, but I was also proud of her for being so intuitive. Once again, I didn’t know what to say, and just when I wondered how my dad would have replied, she continued talking.
“I’m not too young to understand that, Daddy. Plus, now I have you and Annie, so I don’t need her.”
I was surprised that she remembered Annie since they had only met once at the lake. Remembering that day caused me to pull out my phone and look at that picture of us. As she sat on my lap, looking out the windows, I glanced down at Annie, smiling at the camera. I would have given anything to have her in the car at that moment.
That last thing I wanted was to break her heart over yet another woman letting her down, though. That was the real reason I’d broken up with Annie. Addison deserved more than to have another mother figure in her life who would abandon her. Part of me felt that Annie would have been a wonderful mother, but it was too big of a risk for Addison.
Instead of replying to her, I just kissed her forehead to reassure her that we’d be okay.
As soon as we got back to the penthouse, I showed Addison to her room.
“This is so much bigger than my room at Michael’s,” she said while jumping on the bed.
I gave her the biggest guest bedroom in the penthouse that even had its own bathroom.
“Are these toys all for me?”
I nodded and smiled as she hugged her stuffed animals. “I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I ordered a bunch of different ones online. Why don’t you unpack, sweetie? I’m going to call someone to help decorate your room.”
“Thank you, Daddy!”
I went into my office and sat down, scrolling through a list of interior designers that my father used there in New York City. Most of them specialized in modern decor, and I assumed Addison would want something a bit more whimsical.
After deciding on one with nothing but five-stars and tailored for children, I set up an appointment and then decided to check on Addison. By the time I got back to her room, she had already unpacked her suitcases and was in her pajamas. I smiled and let her play with her toys some more, then sat down to watch television and have some whiskey.
I turned it on, and it automatically went to an exercise channel, which I’d been working out to earlier. On the screen was a woman who looked just like Annie, teaching yoga, and talking about the importance of holistic health. Once again, I pulled out my phone and stared at the picture of us at the lake.
“Daddy?” I turned the television off and put my phone away. “Are we going back to River Valley?”
“Not anytime soon,” I said. “New York City is a nice change of pace, so we’re going to be here for a while.”
She nodded and smiled.
“I hope it’s not too long. I can’t wait to see Annie!”
23
_____
ANNIE
TWO WEEKS LATER
I sat in the investor’s office, watching him run through some numbers on his computer. We had spent the past hour going over all of my products, launch dates, and marketing ideas. I'd even brought a few new items that I created. Marcus just had to determine how much he wanted to invest and what percentage he would receive back. It was hard suppressing my excitement, but I kept it professional. I’d save all of that energy for a mini-party with Crystal once everything went live.
“I have to say,” Marcus said while printing off some papers, “I’m pleased with your business ideas. I’m more than happy to fund this venture. Here’s my proposed investment and other numbers for you to approve.”
I read the paperwork that he put in front of me. All of it seemed terrific, and I wanted to give him the go-ahead instead of reading every word, but I remembered what Richard had taught me about business. No matter how excited you are about closing a deal, never approve it until you’ve read everything over twice. Look for the fine print, too. So that’s what I did.
If Richard had been in that office, reading the paperwork with me, I knew he'd give his approval.
“Perfect,” I replied after reading it over twice.
Joshua hadn’t rushed me through it either, which made me feel better about doing business with him. He was giving me a significant amount of money and expecting a reasonable percentage back, so my business plan looked as though it'd work out.
“I’d like you to stay around in New York City for a few days while I get some contracts written up,” he said.
I nodded while getting my purse. There was so much to do in the city, and I liked the idea of having a mini-vacation. All I had been doing was teaching yoga and working on my lifestyle line.
While they had both kept my mind off of Richard, I was exhausted.
"I’ll be in touch with you in a few days. On a side note, I know that you’re a health-conscious individual, but make sure you try at least one slice of New York pizza.”
I laughed as we shook hands. “I’ll be sure to do that.”
When I walked outside, I immediately thought about calling Richard. Not just because I missed him, but because he had encouraged me to pursue my business. Even though we had broken up, I knew he’d be excited for me. I wanted to tell him that he helped get me there and that I took his advice.
The more I thought about it, the better it sounded in my head.
Richard and I were friends long before we dated, and friends told each other about good things in their life. I decided that one phone call wouldn’t be so bad, and I'd refrain from flirting with him. I’d simply tell him that my lifestyle line was approved and that I’d be signing contracts in just a few days.
As soon as I opened my phone, however, I decided not to call him.
Richard was busy working on contracts for his company, and I didn't know the latest on the Heather drama. He made it clear that he didn’t have time for a relationship, which was the main reason for breaking up with me.
At least that’s what he said.
I put my phone away and found a set of steps to sit on, right in front of a building. I watched people walking up and down, listened to cars honking at each other, and wondered if Richard was nearby. Maybe he’d drive past, see me, and we’d talk like old times.
New York City was too crowded for that to happen, though.
My phone started ringing, and I quickly snatched it out of my purse. I was a bit disappointed to see that it was Julianna, even though I knew better than to expect a call from Richard.
“Hey, long time no talk.”
“I’m so sorry for not calling you back sooner,” Julianna said. “Jake and I are heading home.”
“That’s okay,” I said, thinking about how long their honeymoon had been. “You guys were gone for a long time. Did you have fun?”
Julianna told me about all of the countries they had been to, and about all the different hotels and museums they had visited. But most of all, how happy they were to be on their last flight, heading back to River Valley. “Jake and I both agree, maybe we’ve been gone a little too long. We can hardly wait to see the kids.”
“I’m sure Caley and Jude will be happy to see you guys, too. Caley’s been having fun with Mom and Dad, though. Just a heads up, Mom’s been feeding her a lot of sweets.”
I burst out laughing as soon as I heard Julianna let out a sigh.
“Caley’s in for a rude awakening when she gets home,” she said through gritted teeth. “How many times do I have to tell Mom not to feed her so much cake and cookies?”
I thought about our childhood for a moment. We were rarely allowed junk food either, so I understood Julianna’s point of view. Plus, it wasn’t tha
t healthy to be eating so many sweets.
“She is a good baker, though. And Mom enjoys spoiling her.”
“That’s true. I suppose Caley deserved some junk food every now and then.”
As I listened to her tell me more about her trip, I made my way over to Central Park. My stomach was growling, and I could smell the hotdogs from across the street. It reminded me of the barbecue at the lake with Richard. He had brought one-hundred percent beef hotdogs, which were so juicy and delicious. For a second, I thought about making a hotdog-flavored protein bar, but realized it didn't sound too appealing.
“Speaking of junk food,” I said, “I’m about to buy a hotdog. Screw protein bars today.”
Julianna laughed into the phone, then commented about gaining a few pounds herself. “So, what’s new with you?”
I ran my hands through my hair, preparing myself to tell her everything. It was hard bringing up Richard again, but she was my sister and married to his brother. She would find out about it no matter what, so I gathered my thoughts and told her everything.
“He ended things because he doesn’t have time for a relationship anymore. At least that’s what he told me. After seeing the way Heather lunged at me at the lake, I understand his apprehension. I wouldn’t want to encourage that kind of drama, either. I just hope it’s not because he doesn’t think that I’d be a good mom, Julianna.”
“Annie, you would make a wonderful mother to Addison. I knew a bit about it, but only because Jake just spoke with Richard. You need to know that he cares about you a lot.”
I ate my hot dog while sitting on a park bench, watched families play with their children, and wondered if what she said was true.
“If he cares about me,” I said, “then he wouldn't have broken up with me."
There was a long pause on her end. “Richard has his daughter full-time now, Annie. He was probably focused on that whole situation when he broke up with you, but Richard just reassured Jake that he still has feelings for you. He said that he thinks about you all of the time.”
“Did you say full-time, Julianna? That’s interesting. When we were together, Heather was trying to get him to give her full custody and only wanted money out of him.”
“He paid her a large sum in exchange for full custody.”
I started to feel hopeful about Richard again. With Heather out of the picture, maybe there was still a chance for us.
“That’s good,” I said. “Heather was such an awful mother, Julianna. She treated Addison like one big annoyance, and the girl is nothing but a sweetheart. I know that Richard’s going to be an amazing father."
"I'm sure he will too, and that's an even bigger reason for you to reach out to him. He cares about you, Annie. I think you should give it another shot.”
If I told Richard that I wanted to be with him, I was terrified of what his answer would be, especially since he had become a full-time father.
As Julianna continued talking, I watched as a father pushed his daughter on the swing. She looked to be about Addison’s age, too. He was just pushing her, back and forth, as she kicked her legs in the air. I pictured myself standing in front of her, telling her to kick higher while Daddy pushed her from behind.
“What’s Richard’s address?”
Julianna paused for a moment before whispering something to Jake. As soon as she gave it to me, I tossed the hotdog wrapper in the trash and ran from the park. "I'll call you back. I love you."
Julianna giggled. "GOOD LUCK!!"
I hailed a cab, got inside, and told the driver where to go. I could feel my heart drop into my stomach along the way. Soon I would see Richard. Whatever he said, that would be the final decision. We could end up a happy family, or I would get closure and move on with my life.
The cab pulled up to his building, and I took a deep breath. I could feel sweat forming on the palms of my hands as I hit the elevator button, but there was no turning back.
I rode the elevator to his floor, walked to his door, and waited for a few moments. I could hear Richard and Addison laughing together, probably playing with a toy or watching cartoons. It instantly warmed my heart, and I realized that regardless of what he said, I had made the right decision about going to his home.
I knocked on the door and waited. Richard finally opened, and our eyes met.
He looked sexier than ever, his grey streaks running through his hair and ripped chest showing in a tight t-shirt. His eyes lit up when he saw me, and I wanted nothing more than to hug him. To tell him that I couldn’t go through life without Addison and him.
When neither of us spoke for a few minutes, he smiled and said, "Annie? What, I mean, what are you doing here in New York City?”
24
_____
RICHARD
I never expected to see Annie standing at my door, but there she was, looking more beautiful than I’d ever seen. She was wearing a pale pink tweed business skirt and jacket, with pearl earrings and a matching necklace. Her delicate feet were inside of pearl-white heels, and her lengthy, black hair was pulled back in a bun. Seeing her again was like bringing the pictures on my phone to life. Between her surprise visit and having full custody of Addison, I couldn't have been happier.
It was impossible to ignore the awkward tension between us, though. I had no idea what Annie had been up to, or if she had even been thinking about me. I had a million things that I wanted to say to her at that moment, but I couldn’t find the words.
As though she were answering my unanswered questions, Annie took it upon herself to speak first.
“I had a meeting with an investor,” she said.
“Julianna gave me your address, and I hope that’s alright. Anyway, I couldn’t leave without seeing you first.”
I wanted to tell her that it was more than alright and that she could never upset me.
“Annie?”
I stepped to the side upon hearing Addison say her name, and that gave her plenty of room to run to the door with her arms stretched out. Annie bent down and scooped her up, hugging her as I watched both of them with a big smile on my face. The best part was that it wasn’t just Addison who was excited to see Annie, either.
Annie’s face lit up when their eyes met.
“I’ve missed you so much,” Annie said.
“Where have you been, Annie?”
Annie eyed me but kept on smiling, careful not to reveal too much to Addison. “Well, I’ve been working like crazy, but I’m here now.”
Addison gave her another big hug before Annie put her down. “I live with Daddy now. Mommy didn't want me anymore, but that's alright because I have a big room with lots of toys to play with!"
"That sounds like a lot of fun," Annie said, careful not to say anything negative about Heather.
"Daddy, can Annie stay for dinner?”Annie didn’t look me in the eyes when Addison asked that question. Instead, she pretended to search for something in her purse. “Please, Daddy? Please?”
I laughed a little bit and nodded. “Of course, Annie can.”
Addison screamed 'yay' and then ran to her bedroom to get some toys.
“Are you sure, Richard?”
I put my hands up and nodded at Annie. “Please don’t apologize. I’m glad you’re here, too. How did you know I was in New York City, though?”
“Well, Crystal told me that you flew out here for work. I’m not sure how she found out, although people in River Valley do like to gossip.”
That was an understatement. Despite my best attempts at sneaking away without too many people finding out, Heather knew before Danielle had told her lawyer.
“To say the least,” I replied, admiring every inch of her.
“Annie, do you like to paint?”
Both of us turned to look at Addison, who was standing there holding her art supplies. I watched as the two of them sat on the floor and started painting. Even though she was wearing what appeared to be an expensive outfit, Annie didn’t hesitate to get her fingers dirty. Unlike He
ather, who didn't want Addison to eat sauce anywhere near her designer outfits. I watched Annie as she taught her how to paint different shapes and the importance of using different brushes. I hadn’t painted a day in my life, so it was nice having an adult figure around to give Addison some tips.
I went into the kitchen to make dinner, confident that I could trust Annie to take care of Addison. Since she loved pizza so much, I was making that along with a simple tossed salad. Ever since I had gained full custody of Addison, we had spent a lot of time getting to know each other. It wasn’t a big surprise that she loved pizza since most kids her age did, and I was sure that Annie wanted a break from all of her protein bars.
Something felt right about making dinner while they were in the other room. It felt like we were an actual family, and I could hear the excitement in Addison’s voice at having a mother figure in the house. Annie brought out the best in her, whereas she was miserable with Heather. It seemed as though she was born to be a mother.
I peeked into the living room on a few occasions, just to check on them and couldn't help but smile each time. Addison and Annie, with their arms around each other, made each other laugh and were just overall having a great time.
My only concern was of things not working out between Annie and I. There was no denying that Annie was a good fit for Addison, but romantic relationships were complicated. Hell, I hadn’t been in a serious one in years because of how nasty the break-up was with Heather. As much as I loved and cared about Annie, statistically speaking, there was a good chance that we wouldn’t make it.
I knew that I’d bounce back, but no way could I put Addison through that again. She had been through so much with Heather and Michael. Even though I’d never met him, I suspected that he wasn’t a good role model either.
Any man who would marry Heather had some serious mental health issues.
When dinner was ready, we all sat down at the dining room table. Addison talked non-stop about how good the pizza was, and Annie agreed. She told her about all of her new toys and how much she loved her new home.
