EXONERATION (INTERFERENCE) Read Free Page B

Shane,” she said and ran back to her friends.
    “What are you doing here?”
    “I came to see my daughter. You know, the daughter you’ve kept hidden from me for six years.”
    I walked away, heading back to my car.
    “Don’t you think we have some things to say to each other?”
    “No, I don’t.”
    “Well, too bad, because now that I know that I have a daughter, I want to be a part of her life…whether you want me around, or not.”
    “No!”
    “You can’t just say no. She’s my daughter!”
    “NO! She’s my daughter! Where the hell were you when I was pregnant, and in labor?”
    “You know where I was!”
    I got in my car, trying to ignore him. He refused to let me close the door. “We have to talk. Follow me to a coffee shop.”
    “No, I have to go.”  I needed to get away from him.
    “Fine, then I’ll follow you.”
    “I’m going home! I over-slept and I haven’t showered and I have work to do.”
    “Then meet me at that old diner we used to go to, in an hour.”
    “I have to go. Goodbye, Shane,” I started my car and moved forward far enough to be able to close the door. I left him standing there, staring after me. I knew it wasn’t the end, but I couldn’t deal with it. I couldn’t let him work his way into my daughter’s life or back into mine.
    I went home and showered and changed. I was so behind in my work. The last week had left me constantly remembering things I had tried so hard to forget, that it was getting in the way of my job. I had start ed working part time for my dad’s company when Shannon was a year old. I got to work from home and email my reports to him as I finished them. It was a far cry from my becoming a marine biologist, but it did offer me income of my own and I was able to work when I wanted, so I didn’t miss being with Shannon.
    My father called, wanting to know why I hadn’t finished the work on two of his client’s accounts.
    “Sorry, Dad. I um, I’m not feeling well.”
    “What’s wrong?”
    “I’ve been sick to my stomach,” I said, which wasn’t a lie, my stomach had been in turmoil since I took the cat to the vet that first night. He was a vet…at least he got his dream.
    “Hmm, maybe another grandchild on the way?”
    “No, Dad. It’s not that.”
    “Oh, well, when can I expect the reports?”
    “I’m working on them now. I’ll see you at the play tomorrow night. I’ll email the files to you this afternoon.”
    “Okay, but um, your mom and I are going to have to go to the dress rehearsal in the afternoon, remember? We’re heading to Bermuda with Parker’s parents.”
    “I forgot about your trip. Okay, well, I’ll see you there.”
    “Okay, Pumpkin. I hope you feel better. And, I’d sure love it if you and Parker gave us another grandchild. Shannon could use a brother!”
    “Did Parker put you up to that?”
    “Well, he did say you were trying.”
    “He may be trying, but I’m not!”
    “What does that mean?”
    “It means, I don’t want any more children, so you’re going to have to be happy with Shannon, or wait for Sam…”
    “She’s not married!”
    “Neither was I when I had Shannon!” I knew that would end our conversation once and for all.
    “I’m sorry I brought it up! I’ll see you at the play.”
    “Fine.”

 
    Daddy’s Little Girl
     
    I walked into the auditorium early Friday night and sat down in an empty row of seats up near the front. I stared off into space, thinking of Shane. Before he came back into my life, I had been able to shut him out, at least during the day. He had always invaded my mind at night. I dreamt of him nightly, that, I was used to, but now I couldn’t force him out of my head during the day.
    One of the other moms, Annette, sat down next to me, talking excitedly about the play. Shannon and Annette’s daughter were both playing snowflakes in the Christmas play. I remembered Shannon bounding through the house earlier, taking bows and practicing her one line while wearing