We were almost to Mom and Darren’s house when I finally asked her.
“What’s up?” I asked. “Something’s been bothering you all day.”
“My dad,” she said with a sigh. “I saw him yesterday, and well, let’s just say it didn’t go well.”
“What did he say?” I felt my stomach tighten.
“The same stuff he’s always says.” Tara shook her head. “He doesn’t want us together. He doesn’t approve. He thinks you’re bad for me. He’s trying to protect me. All that shit.”
“Did you tell him about your cancer?” I asked.
“No.” Tara laughed. “How could I? He can’t even accept that fact that I love you… I don’t want to tell him I’m sick when there’s this huge rift between us.”
“I’m sorry,” I said. “He’s not being fair to you.”
“I’m used to it.” She shrugged. “Besides, it’s you who should be upset. He hates you for no reason. It doesn’t make any sense.”
“He has reasons,” I said. “They’re just ten years old.”
“It’s insane,” Tara said. “I don’t know what more I can do to change his mind. It breaks my heart because I just want him to be proud of me. I love him so much, you know? I hate how much distance there is between us, especially now that I’m sick.”
“You need him,” I said. “And he’s being a dick.”
Tara laughed. “He really is.”
“I’m sorry,” I said again.
Tara turned into the driveway and stopped the car. She turned to face me with a sad smile on her face. I wanted to say something that would make her feel better, but I knew only her dad could do that.
“I’ll see you later?” she asked.
I nodded and kissed her quickly. She watched me walk up the driveway and through the front door. I turned around in time to see her pulling away.
With a sigh, I hurried into the living room where I could hear my mother waiting for me. She was sitting on the couch with a magazine in her hand.
“Hey,” I said. “Good news.”
“You’re cleared?” she asked, her eyes widening with excitement.
“I can go back to work!” I grinned.
“Oh, thank God!” She squealed and ran over to hug me.
My joy couldn’t last, though. After talking to Tara, I knew there was another conversation I needed to have.
“Mom,” I said. “Is Darren here? I need to talk to him.”
“Honey, I don’t know if that’s the best idea,” Mom said. “He spoke with Tara yesterday and it didn’t end well.”
“Is he here?” I asked again.
She searched my face and quickly realized I wasn’t going to give up. I couldn’t. Not when Tara’s health was on the line.
“I’ll get him,” she said, smiling sadly.
I sat on the couch and took a few deep breaths. Even after ten years of hatred, I wasn’t afraid of Darren. He did the worst thing possible when he sent me away. Now he was no longer a threat. He was just an angry man who couldn’t see past his own issues. I wasn’t afraid of what he would say, but I was concerned how it might affect Tara.
She needed her father more