It’s like Natasha thought his life was unimportant and Bryan was tired of trying to explain himself. He sighed, looking down at a small body, meeting his gaze as if she were clueless. Shit, she probably was.
“I told your mother I couldn’t do this weekend,” Bryn said.
Colly shrugged, gripping the straps of a squishmallow backpack she had convinced him to buy.
“We can call momma.” Colly said. She leaned against the doorframe as if she were a tired old woman. Eight year olds were dramatic.
He had planned to call Natasha. They still argued, long after separation. They would continue to argue if she was determined to be inconsiderate. He had made plans with Laura, they barely got to see each other. And the projects, three of them. All due by Monday because he made his boss a promise. It would be kept. He hadn’t built a reputation of integrity and high performance only for it to be torn down by childish distraction.
“Last week you said I could come over.” Colly whined in that annoying voice children had.
“Don’t talk like that.” Bryan snipped. Colly looked down and he exhaled in regret. It wasn’t Colly’s fault her parents couldn’t get along. Or that he had forgotten he told Colly that.
Bryan let the door fall open, “Be quiet while I call your mom.”
Colly padded to the guest room while he grabbed his phone from an end table. The first call ring until he heard an automatic voice telling him to leave a message. He immediately called back so Natalie would know he was serious.
She answered with a scoff. They didn’t give civility a chance, they started with spitting venom.
Natalie was convinced going to see her sister, Cheryl, was a priority. They had started some sort of epoxy jewelry business venture. The kind of nonsensical artsy hustle that never worked but Natalie kept trying. She insisted her sister needed an outlet to vent her frustrations after a bad breakup.
Bryan yelled, “I don’t care about Cheryl.”
Colly had hoped dad would smile when he saw her. When the door revealed surprised eyes that turned into a scowl, she knew it wouldn’t be good.
Last month, dad had promised they would go to the zoo and last week he said they could go skating. Maybe he forgot. He always did. Colly wished he would write things down like Mom did.
She sat on the bed, taking off the backpack but not unpacking. Mom was out of town but Dad might drop her off at Grandma’s. He did that when he was too busy for Colly.
Colly folded her arms when she heard shouting. She hadn’t meant to cause a fight. Mom asked if she was sure Dad said she could stay this weekend. He had promised but Colly had spoken from her heart. She should have listened to history.
She stood, going to the door to close it. Just as it shut, she heard dad say, “I don’t care about her.”
Colly gasped, opening the door again, listening carefully.
“I don’t have time for this.” Dad said, “You need to come get her.”
She heard Mom’s muffled voice, even across the room. She yelled a bad word, saying she was two states away.
“Cheryl could have waited!” Dad yelled.
Colly blinked, breathing slowly as she closed the door. He has been talking about Aunt Cheryl. Right? Maybe. But what did Aunt Cheryl have to do with anything?
Colly sat on the bed again, crossing her legs. She waited until the shouting stopped. Silence lingered. She looked up at the door, not sure if she should go talk to Dad. He was hard to talk to when he was angry.
The door squeaked when it opened and Colly jolted from surprise.
“I’ve got plans with Laura.” Dad said, “So I need you to be good and not get yourself in any trouble.”
Colly blinked, crossing her arms, “Are we going skating when you get back?”
“What?” Dad said, brow pinched in annoyance.
“That’s what you said last week.”
Dad sighed, “We’ll have to go another time.”
There was no apology or even reassurance. He closed the door and she heard his footsteps as he walked away.
‘I don’t care about her.’ That’s what he said. Or maybe he said Cheryl. Colly wasn’t sure.
She heard the front door open and the slam when it closed.
Hello! I am a Graphic Designer by trade but I have loved reading and writing since I was a child. I hope you enjoy my works!