“That’s not true! He’s not busy. He misses me, Mommy. I know he does.” She turned her head and glared at me. “You’re just angry he hurt you.”
“Nova, watch your tone.” Sometimes I forgot how much she actually noticed. She might only be turning seven next month, but she acted more like a seventeen year old.
“You can’t keep me from him forever!” She launched off the sofa, ran to her bedroom, and slammed her door shut.
Just wait until she’s a teenager and you take away her cell phone as punishment for sneaking out of the house.
I so didn’t want to go through all that alone.
I swiped the screen on my cell and called Tara to give her hell over this school assignment. It was drudging up things from my past I wanted to keep buried.
“Hey, Karma, what’s up?”
“A family tree? Is that an appropriate assignment for second graders?”
“Um, yeah. Why?”
“Because I’m the only person Nova will have on her tree. She’s probably crying in her bedroom right now because of it, thank you very much.”
“Oh shit, really? Poor sweetie. I’m sorry she’s upset, but this project has been done at the end of the school year for decades. The kids love it.”
“Not my kid.” Nova was the only child in her class who didn’t have a dad active in her life. Most of her classmates had siblings, aunts and uncles, cousins, and even great-grandparents. It totally sucked balls for my baby girl.
“What about your parents and grandparents?”
“We’re estranged, Tara.”
“But they’re still part of your family tree.”
“I don’t want anything to do with them.”
“What about Cobra’s family?” Tara just had to go there.
“Oh, Jesus. Calling was a mistake.”
“I’m sorry he’s a sore subject. Have you ever considered they might be good for each other? She could make him want to be a better man, and he could be the dad she’s dreaming of.”
“I’m her only parent.”
Tara sighed. “We’re more alike than I thought.”
“How so?”
“I’d never forgive a man who cheated on me either. It’s easier to say what we’d do when it’s someone else’s situation. I’ll talk to Nova in class tomorrow.”
Dammit, I didn’t know what to say.
“Thanks. I’m sure she’ll get over it, eventually.”
“She will. Kids are resilient with a limitless ability to forgive. I should know.” She was referring to her own horrible childhood. What Tara had endured as a child was heartbreaking. I had no place to complain.
“I better go check on her. Sorry to bother you after hours. It’s been a rough day.”
“Hey, don’t apologize. We’re friends, family. You can put Hero and me down as uncle and auntie Fuentes. I’m sure everyone in the club would love to be on Nova’s family tree.”
I smiled. “You’re probably right. I’ll see you tomorrow when I drop her off at school. Have a good night.”
“You too.”