Loving Her (Mitchell Family #9)(62)
“I just wish there was an easier way.”
“So do I,” I agreed. It wasn’t like I hadn’t thought about it. I’d stayed up half the night reconsidering the idea.
I held my wife as she cried and thought about our daughter, who was probably in her room doing the same thing. It would have been cool to be able to tell her that we changed our mind and that she could stay, but I needed to be sure that her reaction wasn’t just out of desperation. I needed to be certain that her feelings were genuine. I may have been pushing it, but this was a serious matter that needed to be handled. I refused to raise a defiant girl, who would only end up getting herself into trouble as she got older and looked down on authority.
Izzy went to school that Monday morning. I stayed at the house with Miranda while she made some calls to her school. The good news was that they were willing to allow her to be homeschooled until her “medical procedure” was dealt with and she’d recovered.
So it was a lie. It still reassured us that her education wouldn’t be affected. She’d already been privately tutored when she was in the hospital before.
I decided that I was going to pick her up from school and try to test the waters of how our long drive to Kentucky was going to be. I could see her disappointment when she walked over to the truck and saw that it was me sitting there waiting. She usually got excited when she didn’t have to ride the bus, but I could tell she wasn’t that happy this time.
She climbed in and tossed her bag in the backseat. I turned on her favorite station, but kept the volume low. “Hey. How was your day?”
She shrugged and looked out the window.
I started to say something, but decided to leave her alone. We had a really long drive, and I wanted her to be as calm as possible for our talk then. I began to sing a song I recognized from her playing it in her room. I changed the words, saying crazy lyrics instead of the real ones that I didn’t even know.
She used to shove me and tell me how annoying I was while laughing. Instead she stared out the window, as if I wasn’t even in the truck with her.
Sure, it hurt my feelings, but it wasn’t like it was anything new. She’d been acting like that since the day she found out the truth. I couldn’t expect a big change out of her, even if she was afraid of moving away. I did, however, think it was funny that she could plead and make promises to her mother, but talk about none of it with me, like it never even happened.
I guess in some way Izzy thought I was responsible for everything. I guess in a way I was. I mean, had it not been for the whole domino effect of the damn lie, we wouldn’t be in this situation, but that decision wasn’t just mine. Miranda was more than willing to protect that secret for the rest of her life. We’d both promised to take it to the grave if it was possible.
When we arrived back at home, she hopped out of the truck and ran inside.
I missed my little girl and the talks that we used to have. I missed her confiding in me, and our special talks about boys and her brothers. I missed it all.
Maybe other people could live with getting the silent treatment, but I wasn’t one of them. I needed to be able to communicate with the people that I loved.
Conner came up the field on a Gator and stopped right before he made contact with my legs. “What’s up, dick? You don’t know how to return phone calls today?”
“Suck it. I’ve been busy, man. What did you want?”
“Randa told us what’s goin’ on. I gotta say, I didn’t think I’d ever see the day when you two would want Bells to move to Kentucky.”
I scrunched up my face. “Screw you. It’s temporary. They’re keeping her for a few weeks to see if we can get her to come around.”
“What if she likes it better there? What if she wants them to raise her?” He shook his head after chuckling at his own joke. “I’m kiddin’, bro. Bella ain’t goin’ to like Colt’s rules. He’s too strict for her. Besides, everyone knows that she’s just actin’ out. There ain’t no way she could hate you or my sister.”
“I appreciate that.” Conner and I were close. He knew when he could play around and when he needed to be serious. He loved his sister and his niece, and wanted what was best for them. “I hope this shit works. I know I’m dreading this f*cking drive. She wouldn’t even talk to me on the way home from school. Can you imagine how much torture it’s going to be for both of us for four to five hours?”
Conner laughed as he took off his hat and put it back on. “I’d like to be a fly in that vehicle. Damn, it’s goin’ to suck to be you. Although I give her about an hour before she breaks. By the time you get to Kentucky, you’re goin’ to want to turn around and take her home.”
“Yeah, I don’t think it’s going to be that easy. Saying one thing is different than doing it. We need her to appreciate our life, not just want to be home and pretend to be happy.”
“I wish you luck, bro. I’m guessin’ you’re goin’ sometime this week?”
“We’re going to let her finish out this week of school and I’ll take her on Thursday, since Friday is a teacher workshop.”
“Shit, I forgot the kids are off on Friday. Amy asked me to watch the kids in the mornin’ so she could take care of a couple clients. I reckon I’ll be busy babysittin’ while you’re drivin’.”