Читать книгу Handy - Jessa James - Страница 6

Derek

“Karen, you can’t be serious?”

“I thought you’d be pleased? Why are you acting like this is a bad thing?”

“Because you’re giving me no notice!”

“Fine. If you don’t want to look after your own daughter then I’ll just ask my mom.”

I kneaded my temple and quickly found a spot to pullover. Talking to my ex while operating a vehicle was a recipe for disaster. I’d actually be more inclined to run myself into oncoming traffic just so I didn’t have to listen to her voice anymore.

“That’s not fair, Karen. You know how much I’ve wanted Kadee to come here. It’s always next summer or something came up. It’s been years since she’s been here but that’s not for lack of trying on my part. I wanted to take her up to the lodge but of course you put your foot down, I wanted her to spend time with my parents. But now you want me to drop everything just so you can go on a honeymoon you didn’t even have the courtesy of telling me about?”

“Derek, I’ve just been so busy. I meant to tell you, I really did. You know how hard and time-consuming planning a wedding can be. God, you didn’t even say congratulations.”

“Congratulations,” I said through gritted teeth.

“So? Can you take her? I can put her on a plane tomorrow.”

“Wait, what? Alone? You’re going to put my baby girl on a plane all by herself?”

“Well, yes. It’s perfectly safe! The airline will take care of her. All you have to do is meet her at the gate. Besides do you think Brian or I have time to travel across the country and get back in time for our own flights?”

I could feel every muscle in my body clench, becoming rigid with each word she uttered. I muted the call on my truck’s console and let loose a shout of frustration. I was way past boiling point, but this was how it always was with Karen.

“Derek, are you still there?”

My nostrils flared as I took several deep breaths before tapping the screen. “Yes, I’m still here.”

“So? I need an answer now. Otherwise I’ll have to make alternative arrangements.”

The thought of my baby girl spending more time with her ageing grandmother who could barely get around and look after herself or worse still letting Brian’s parents take her was not a something I could allow.

“I already said yes, Karen.”

“No you didn’t.”

“Yes I did, you just don’t listen.”

“Well maybe if you hadn’t started shouting at me and practically calling me a terrible mother—”

I wanted to tell her right there and then that she was exactly that but knew the chance of seeing Kadee would most likely go down the drain if I did. Karen loved to use our daughter to punish me.

Instead I managed to rein in the impulse and calmly said, “Text me the flight details and I’ll be there at the gate.”

“It’s tomorrow—”

“Tomorrow? Jesus, Karen,” I shouted. “Fine, I’ll make it work.”

I was about to ask if Kadee was there to talk to and tell her I would be seeing her tomorrow when Karen, with a curt thank you, hung up.

“Bitch!” I shouted at the console.

Taking a deep breath I let the news sink in. Kadee would be here tomorrow. Regardless of the shitty reasons I would have my daughter for longer than I’d ever had before. There was nothing for it but to embrace the opportunity. This could be an amazing two weeks, though I had only the rest of the day to prepare. I would have to rush.

I pulled the truck away again looking to swing around and head back into town. I had to brake abruptly as a speeding SUV hurtled past horn blaring.

“Damn you Karen, why do you always mess things up!”