Although I didn’t believe that to be true, I wasn’t going to press. I had plenty on my plate with a newborn and no employment. He never called to check on us or expressed any desire in getting back in touch with his daughter throughout the years.I thus went via our lawyers to get a divorce from him and didn’t even request child support. You can only imagine how startling it was to receive a call from his old number while I was just going about my business. It was his voice that I instantly recognized, almost thinking it was an error.“Emily? It’s me! See my daughter, please. I have alarming information.” He squinted into the receiver. “Wh-what?” I stammered, but I got up swiftly. “George! Twelve years have passed! Do you believe you can only see Jennie? “Hello, Emily! I’m out of time to argue this. I must see my girlfriend. I’m ill. He clarified, “It’s terminal,” even getting emotional in his speech.I had not anticipated this at all. My initial reaction was one of skepticism. “Are you lying to me?” I posed a serious, but not quite angry, question. “Nah! Em, how can you possibly think that of me? Offended, George enquired.“You abandoned me,” I shot back, my voice freezing. “Left me with no words, no way to get in touch with you. However, you also abandoned her! I’m not sure how to feel about you! Since you were obviously not the man I had assumed to be my husband!”He cried out, “Please!” and I noticed sniffles. I’m not asking for much, so please. All I want to do is meet her, make my peace, and move on.” I shut my eyes and forced myself to stop screaming. I had been harboring bitterness for so long, but would it really help to let it all out at that point? If I just let my kid see the father she’s always wanted to see, would that be better for her?I sighed and opened my eyes, staring up at the ceiling as though pleading with God for assistance. “Fine, I’ll let you meet her,” I replied. “I’ll be right outside if you need anything, okay?” I gave Jennie’s cheek a pat. We were in my car, right outside our neighborhood coffee shop. That was where we had agreed she would meet George. Though I knew it would be impossible to face him and not scream, cry, or hit him for leaving us, I still wanted to go inside. I would thus wait for Jennie here while allowing her to enter alone. Jennie said, “I’ll be fine, Mom,” but I could see she was unsure of herself. Though I knew she was also wondering why he left us and why he had never wanted to be her father, she was delighted to see her dad for the first time. Nevertheless, my daughter was far stronger than me at the age of twelve. I knew she could take care of herself because she was older and wiser than I was.She stepped out of the car, and I waited while waving. Sadly, my parking spot did not allow me to look into the shop, but I prayed that all would be well. I knew I would have to wait, that they would need time to discuss things, and that George would have to break the news of his illness, whatever it was. Might it be cancerous? Another thing? Perhaps I ought to have requested that be noted in Jennie’s medical file. It was only when Jennie opened the door that I realized I’d fallen asleep, and I rushed into my seat. However, it wasn’t the reason my eyes widened. Jennie was crying uncontrollably. She put her arms around me firmly, reaching across the car shift with her entire body. I felt my neck get moist right away.“Jennie!” I inhaled and embraced her. “What took place? What’s causing your tears? Was there anything he said?“Mum! He’s expiring!” She sobbed, and her suffering made my eyes water. But I scowled at what she said next. “But I can’t do what he’s asking!” “Honey, please wait,” I whispered as I gently brought her face back into my hands. I asked her, wiping away her tears, “What can’t you do? How did he question you?” After swallowing, Jennie moved away from me. She remained silent. Rather, she dried the remainder of her face while staring out the window.“Jennie, please tell me,” I gently urged her. “You’re worrying me.” “For his medical care, he needs money. I’m not sure exactly what he needs. However, he asked me to pilfer money from you,” she eventually admitted, very slowly. “He said it was the only way for him to live.” I noticed red. The theme music from “Kill Bill” was playing in my mind.“He –” Coming to a halt, I cleared my throat. “He asked you for money?” Jennie responded, “Yeah, Mom,” and at last her gaze returned to me. But how am I going to achieve that? For a long while, I witnessed how difficult it was. I observed you using your phone to tally every purchase you made and every dollar you spent.” God, oh God! I really didn’t want her to witness that! But Jennie went on.It’s not the same now. She paused and glanced at the fidgety fingers on her lap. “I know it’s because of your new job, but you don’t worry about every penny anymore.” “I can’t lie to you, even though I know that taking some money from you won’t harm us. Not for my own father, either.” My vision was still tinted crimson, but my mind cleared because I was so happy for my daughter! I have no idea how, yet I raised the most exquisite soul!I took hold of her and encircled her in my arms once more. “Jennie, don’t be concerned. I planted a kiss on her head and said, “I’m going to make some calls and see what your father needs.”“Really?” “It’s true,” I told her. “Everything will be okay.” In any case, for us…“Hello, Emily! It feels like a very long time. I still don’t know, listen.” “Save it, Frank!” I slapped my phone down. I had returned home. I was stuck in the bathroom, and Jennie was in her room. The greatest buddy of my ex-husband was Frank, and the one I knew had consistently told falsehoods to me concerning George’s location. “Tell me right now what disease George has!” I made a chilly demand. “What are you trying to say? Since then, I haven’t seen George.“I told Frank to stop telling lies! I said, “I know you’re still friends, but you need to find out for me right away if he’s sick or not. “I forbid you from lying to me. This pertains to the life of my daughter. For once, Frank, be a decent man.” Frank was silent for a moment before he said anything. With caution, he said, “Look, I don’t know anything about a disease.” “I know he’s around, but I –” For me, that was sufficient information. I put my hands on my waist and ended the conversation, moving around my restroom. Frank’s lack of knowledge of any illness was sufficient evidence that George was lying. He was merely wanting money, and he was a slime who used Jennie to get it! I therefore devised a scheme. “Your father needs these pills.” We were leaving the neighborhood CVS when I stated to Jennie, “They were pricey, but this should be enough for a while.” I was ashamed of myself for deceiving her, but how could I tell her that her father was even more of a jerk than I had thought? With a smile, she questioned, “Will this really cure him?”After saying, “I’m sure they will,” we climbed into the car. Jennie called her father later that evening to set up another meeting at the coffee shop. The following morning, I drove over to pick her up and parked there as well. I yelled, “Wait, Jennie,” as soon as she opened the car door. “Give this to your father along with the pills.” She nodded as I gave her the note. While my intelligent and happy daughter practically jumped inside the coffee shop, I remembered the letter I had written to her father: “Your disease is a lie, I know that. You scared our child. You can even take a pill in front of her if you don’t want me to suit you for not paying child support for all these years. Inform Jennie that those suffice. I’m sorry you scared her! You had better behave yourself and don’t get in touch with my daughter ever again.”I also laughed to myself since the medications I purchased… … were diuretics. powerful ones. An hour went by, and Jennie was back in the car with a beaming smile. And George vanished once more, exactly as I had predicted. I wished he was confined to a restroom for hours, if not forever! I lied to Jennie, so when I told some of my friends, they didn’t think I did the proper thing.However, I stand by what I did, and I’m aware that eventually I’ll have to give Jennie the whole truth. But just now, I just wanted to keep her safe. Was that really so incorrect?
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