Father's Keeper by Parker Ford (classic fiction .TXT) 📗

my daughter,” my mother hissed, her thin hands balled into fists.

Gil shook his head, clenched his jaw.He looked away and I could see him trying to think and be calm. He was too gooda man to toss around threats and nasty words. But I wasn’t that good.

“No you will not,” I said. “Because ifyou do, I will go right behind you. I will tell everyone how you ran around onGil for years. How you were never enough. How you were frigid physically andemotionally and he hung in there to be around for me and because he’d made acommitment.” I took a step toward her and made my voice louder. “I’ll tell themhow I wanted him for years and years but he wouldn’t cave. How I kept at himand at him and finally, finally he let me in. Finally he let me seduce him.Finally, he realized that you were not enough woman for him and that he neededsomeone who would love him and respect him and be there for him. I will tell. Me.Everyone,” I finished.

My mother had gone pale under herhoney-colored highlights. “Gilbert!” she said.

“Don’t cry to him,” I said, smiling.“He can’t make me and he can’t stop me. No one can make me do anything. Andthat’s what you don’t get. I’m not a child. I’m all grown up now, mom. And Iwant your husband. And I want you gone. You were gone when I got here, be goneagain,” I said and stomped up to my room for clothing. So I cried a bit. Sowhat.

She didn’t see me.

Chapter15

When I heard feet on the steps, Iimmediately thought it would be Gil. Come to do damage control for Marian.Something he’d been doing for as long as I could remember. But then Irecognized the lighter step and I noticed it was a hesitant step. Gil would notbe hesitant with me--not ever and especially not now.

The knock was light but somehowentitled, or maybe that was me being sensitive and putting my spin on it. I ranmy thumb nail along the small hole in the right leg of my jean. “Yes?”

“May I come in?” My mother rested hercheek on the door jamb and stared at me. Probably waiting for me to throw ashoe at her or something. I had done that when I was fifteen. Tossed a high topsneaker at her. I realized now that all I really wanted was her attention. Goodor bad, I simply craved it. Now I knew that even if I craved it, I might notget it. And if I did get it, it might not be what I expected it to be.

I shrugged, shoved my fingertip in thesmall hole and forced it wider. I wouldn’t look directly at her, I thought itmight make me start spewing hate at her and be unable to stop. “It’s yourhouse,” I said.

“True,” she sighed. It was meant to bean oh whoa is me sigh, I thought. Instead the lead in her statementstood out. It was her house and no one would forget it. Not if she had any sayin the matter.

“What do you need, mother?”

“I’m leaving. Gil has decided to moveout. I told him he could pay me rent. I won't be here. But he feels it’s bestto start fresh.

I nodded, waiting. I refused to speak.She finally cleared her throat and blinked. “Anyway, you can stay here if youlike.”

“No thanks,” I said. I really hadnowhere to go and no idea where I could go, but I’d never stay here. Notwithout Gil.

“Oh. Okay, then. Are you sure? Martyis insisting on a cruise around the world, he says. He’s going to pilot thatboat…or is it captain?” She shrugged hertrim shoulders and waved a hand at me. “Either way, he wants to sail and I saidI’m up for it. There’s nothing for me here. Hasn’t been for a long time.”

Inside, I winced at that. I hadn’tbeen gone all that long. Gil had always tried to love her and had taken damnedgood care of her. He worked long hours to churn out exceptional one of a kindpieces to keep my mother in her fancy workout clothes, expensive wine and a newcar every year. He’d busted hump and then she’d left. Him, me, her life.

“Try not to fall overboard and drown,”I trilled and then couldn’t help myself, I laughed.

“Jennifer!”

I thought of saying I was sorry,realized it would have been nothing more than nicety and upbringing. I shook myhead looked away.

“Yes, well. Will you send me a newaddress when you have it? Will you let me know where you end up?”

I nodded, knowing I wouldn’t, or evenif I did, nothing would come of it. It’s as if when I left my mother washed herhands of me. Not because I was a disappointment, but because she was done. Notall families belong on holiday TV specials. She had done her job and now shewas going forward, without me.

When she left, I sat there, staring atthe hole in my jeans, swinging my feet across the fuzzy white rug on my floor.

“You okay?” Gil asked from thedoorway.

I nodded, not trusting my voice. Hehad never said he was surely leaving. He hadn’t said a word. He loved me, hesaid, but that had been the heat of the moment. Men said all kind of stupidstuff when they were fucking. And what a heated moment it had been for sure. Icouldn’t quite meet his dark gray eyes and I was afraid if I opened my mouth tospeak, I’d cry.

“Jen?”

“You’re leaving then,” I said.

“Yep.”

“Oh,” I said. I put my head down, downas far as it would go. Part of me wanted to beg him to take me with him. Partof me was too fucking proud and refused to beg for love any more.

The bed dipped and he was running histhumb over my other jean clad leg. “I was hoping you might come with me.”

I looked up, my heart jumping in mychest, the blood thumping in my veins. “Where are you going?” I asked, as ifthat mattered a lick.

“Wherever I end up,” he said.

“Sound perfect,” I said.

“Almost,”