“Is she okay?”
He blows out a breath. “She will be.”
“I’m so sorry if I’ve caused a problem.”
“Come, sit.”
I move closer and sit beside him and Bella. I run a hand over her hair. She stirs and burrows closer to her father. She’s a lucky little girl. It’s so clear to see how much Dante loves her.
“When I was about eight, my mother abandoned us. She just left. Not a word. I spent years feeling like it was something I did.”
He takes a pause and sighs. “I didn’t want that for my children. When I found out Bethany was pregnant with Bella, I was so happy. I had all these plans. I was going to be the best father and husband. We would have a boy next after a year or two.
“Then Bella was born. Bethany became someone totally different. She started to treat the staff like shit and her spending got out of control. I hated her treatment of the staff, but I was willing to overlook the spending.”
“You don’t have to tell me all this,” I say as he stops talking to stare down at Bella.
“No, I need to get this off my chest before I explode. She wouldn’t even feed our daughter. I thought maybe it was postpartum depression or something. I wanted to give her time, I tried to get her help.
“Then, it dawned on me. She was full of shit. She doesn’t love me, she loves what I can do for her. She can’t love anyone other than herself. Bethany doesn’t have a single motherly bone in her body. It had nothing to do with depression, she gave me a baby because she thought it would appease me, keep me feeding her lifestyle and vanity.
“I don’t even recognize the woman I married. She should be given an Oscar for the act she has put on over the years. That woman played to all my weaknesses. My need for a family, my need to protect and please. My hate for who I had become.”
He chokes up. “My father can be stern. I can’t help thinking my mother left because she needed to be safe. The older I got. I couldn’t make sense of her leaving us otherwise.”
“She never tried to reach out, not even after you got older?”
“No,” he says tightly.
I wipe at a tear. “I was only three when I lost my parents. They were killed. Nyla was older, so she remembered more about them. I never got to know the love of a mother. Elijah has been a great stand-in, but I’ve always felt like a part of me is missing. A part he could never stand in for,” I blurt out, not knowing why.
I’ve never told anyone about my parents. I always simply say, they passed away. The pain seems to sear deeper as I try to understand a parent not wanting their child. I may not remember my parents, but I know I was loved. They didn’t up and leave, they were taken away without a choice.
“And that’s why I’ve warred with divorcing my wife. She’s toxic, but she’s Bella’s mother. I can’t replace that. It feels like whatever move I make, I’m hurting my daughter. I won’t even talk about the secrets Bethany has that I never should’ve allowed her next to.”
“I can’t tell you what to do, but this isn’t okay either. The look on Bella’s face. Bethany’s behavior toward her and in front of her. Sometimes, we have to take the lesser of our evils.
“I get where you’re coming from. You don’t want your daughter to hurt the way you did. But she’s smart, Dante. She sees what’s going on and now she’s experiencing her own type of hurt.” I pause and purse my lips.
“I think I’ve said too much. I don’t know all the details, so I’m going to mind my business.”
“You have been more of a help than you know. This is above and beyond your job description.” He chuckles. “Do you need a ride home?”
“No, I’m going to order a car.”
“Don’t be silly. We’ll drop you off.”
“Oh, okay. Thank you.”
Dante
Yes, Bella has been my main reason for my indecisiveness with Bethany. However, in truth. My wife knows too much. Given her father’s ties and connections, I never saw her as a threat.
However, even now, her words ring in my ear. Bethany’s vengeful spirit is a problem. I can’t have her take me away from my daughter and I can’t lose my brothers. They’re all I have.
My mind weighs heavy with all of this as I ride in the back of my SUV. Despite my loathing for my wife, I would never cheat on her. No matter how hard it is to sit here with Lizzy beside me, smelling like sin.
“I saw Jacob. Did you guys have another date?” I ask to distract myself from my thoughts.