The Do-Over(33)

“Can you let her know…” I cut him off.

“No. I cannot let her know. I don’t care if it’s the middle of the f*cking night there, you’d better pick up the phone and call her yourself. You should be ashamed of yourself. That child is too good for you.” And I clicked off the phone before he could respond.

Turning away from Wes, I breathed deeply, trying to calm myself. How the hell could a man do this to his daughter? And now, not once, but twice.

“Are you okay?”

I shook my head, no. I was trying my hardest to hold back tears. Without turning to face him, I alerted him to that. “If you ever see me cry, run for the hills because it means I’m angry. Very angry. I cry when I’m angry.” Dabbing the corners of my eyes with the back of my fingers, I pulled myself together enough to finally turn around.

“What a piece of shit.” I exhaled, letting a load of the tension out.

Wes picked up a picture on my desk, “She’s beautiful.”

“Thank you,” I smiled. “And she’s a good kid, too. Smart and sensitive and very funny.” I motioned for him to take a seat, as I did the same. He continued to look at the picture in his hand. “This is the second time in a row he’s done this to her. He did it at the holidays and now for the Father/Daughter Spring Dance.”

“When is it?”

“Saturday.”

“This Saturday?” Wes looked astonished. “Wow. And what was the excuse?”

“They flew to Paris for his wife’s parents 25th anniversary.”

“They live in Paris?”

“No. They live in The Bronx.”

“Didn’t you say she was twenty-five and a half?” He smiled at me, coyly.

Gasping, “I did. Well, there’s a little family secret.” Shaking my head, “Scarlett is going to be destroyed. Maybe my brother can come in.”

“Where is he?” Wes picked up Scarlett’s picture again.

“He’s in Boulder.”

“Colorado?”

I nodded.

“How about this,” Wes began. “I know Scarlett is going to be disappointed. But what if we set up a mystery date for her.” I could see the crinkles start to appear in the corners of his eyes and then that smile. That damn, heart-stopping smile. What was it about this man?

I laughed, “I’m envisioning this board game that my older cousins had. You’d open the door at the center of the board to find out which guy was your mystery date.”

“Exactly. What if Scarlett just knows that she has a blind date for the dance and that she’s going to have a fun time.”

“Okay. So, do we rent a non-* dad for the night?”

“Well, I promise not to charge rent.” And there was that smile again.

“You?” My mouth was hanging open. “You want to take my daughter to a dance?” I was floored by his offer. It was beyond generous in spirit.

“I would love to. Now, she’s a little young, even for me,” he joked. “But I’d love to be her surprise date and help make the night a little bit better for her.”

“Wes.” I was speechless. Reaching for his hand across the desk, I gave it a squeeze. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Tell me about her dress.” He smiled and gave my hand a squeeze back.

“It’s beautiful. It’s a pale sky blue with a full skirt. Very ‘50’s.”

He smiled at the description. “Okay and how is she wearing her hair.”

“We’re having an up do done on Saturday. She has that perfect heavy, wavy hair for an up do. And she’s doing a mani/pedi on Saturday, too.” This man, a virtual stranger to my daughter, had just asked more questions than her father ever had.

“They still do corsages, right?”

I nodded, “They do. It’s a big thing for a bunch of girls to put their hands together to form a circle and have someone take a picture from above of the circle of corsages. It’s really beautiful with all the colors.”

“Dinner?”

“They’re serving a buffet there.”

“What time?”

“7:30 to get there by 8.”

“Where is it being held?”

“At the school. North Shore Country Day.”

Wes looked impressed. “North Shore Country Day,” he repeated. “Very nice.”

One of Long Island’s prestigious prep schools, the campus of North Shore Country Day was built on a former Vanderbilt estate. The north shore was dotted with estates that had been summer homes to various members of the railroad tycoon’s family.

“Wes, I really don’t know what to say, there aren’t words to thank you here. I think she will be very hurt by what Frank has pulled, but in the end, I know she will be thrilled that she’s still able to go and will absolutely adore you.” I know I do, were the words I didn’t say.

“My mind is spinning with ideas. We’re going to have a great time.” He smiled and I felt relief.

“What are you going to tell Keiko? You’re going out on a Saturday night.”

Looking me directly in the eye and holding my stare. “I’m going to tell her that I’m turning her in for a younger model.”