The Hot Daddy Box Set

by Lexi Wilson

  I shook my head. “No, just spend time with her. I’ll tell her about the divorce later tonight.”

  “Evie...” he started, but I cut him off.

  “Goodbye, Brett,” I said with a sense of finality in my voice. I ran out of the room and up the stairs to our bedroom, and I shoved his things out into the hall before locking the door. I curled up on the bed in a ball as the tears came and my heart shattered one last time.

  Chapter 7

  Brett

  I hit the ground running as soon as my flight landed in Egypt, heading straight into war-torn areas of the country where protests against the new regime were the strongest. I spent hours on my feet photographing everything that was going on around me. There were refugees and families who had lost everything yet still held their heads up with hope and fought back. It was empowering just to watch but the fact that I was capturing this moment for history was even more incredible.

  My thoughts strayed to Evie after ‘dI first arrived. I had stewed on the plane ride over about the divorce, and once I was right in the middle of it, I became angry that she couldn't see how important this was and couldn't understand why I was out there doing this job that I love. I was gone from home, but there was always a good reason why I was gone. I had never been unfaithful to her; there was no secret family that I was hiding; I was just working. If only she could understand how passionate I am about my job. I missed her and Hannah like crazy when I was not at home, but when I was with them, I always felt like I gave them all of me.

  I knew she would be filing the papers that would make our divorce official and I threw myself into the assignment, spending more time in the field and less time taking care of myself. I was up for nearly twenty hours on the first day, right in the thick of the protests. There was so much hostility around me, but I was in a zone as I snapped picture after picture. I didn’t even notice the rapid gunfire nearby until I was caught up in the crowd as the people around me rushed for cover.

  When I finally went back to my hotel, I slept for only a few hours before I was back out as a fresh round of protests began. I was there to capture every second of it. I knew I was pushing myself to the limit but immersing myself in my work like that kept my mind off of things with Evie, and I needed to be able to focus on the task at hand if I wanted to keep myself safe.

  I followed a lead on the second day that took me out to a remote village where the leaders of the opposition were supposedly holed up. I was doubtful that I would be welcomed, but I decided to take my chances and set out. I wanted to show all sides of the conflict and how it affected everyone. I was able to capture images of the anti-regime protesters up against their government, of protesters being forcibly taken away, and innocent bystanders cowering and crying in corners, just trying to stay safe. There were pictures of the injured being carried to safety, of the dead being mourned over, of people in gas masks. It was some of the most compelling stuff I’ve ever photographed, and I was truly right in the thick of it all.

  On the third day in Egypt, I ventured back out to the village where the opposition had made their home base. I came across the bombed rubble of collapsed houses and began to shoot the destruction. The village was deserted, and I couldn't help but feel for the untold number of victims in what had clearly been a very dark night of fighting.

  I made my way around the village taking my pictures, the rubble of the homes juxtaposed with some of their anti-regime banners that had somehow survived the gunfight and fires that had otherwise ravaged the area. My heart hurt for those people who just wanted a good life for themselves and their families.

  As I walked, I noticed a small child sitting amongst the debris several hundred yards away from where I had stopped. I approached slowly and saw that it was a little girl. She couldn't have been more than about Hannah’s age; she was alone and crying, her face streaked with dirt. I snapped a few photos before stowing my equipment and crouched down in front of her.

  “Hello,” I said quietly to her. I wasn't sure she would be able to understand me, but I tried anyway. “Are you okay? Are you hurt? Do you know where your mom was? Mama?”

  She stared up at me with big brown doe eyes that held nothing but sadness. “Mama,” she repeated, pointing at the remains of what was once a house. “Want mama,” she pleaded, her lip quivering.

  I had no idea what to do as I looked around to see if there was anyone else around. I considered taking her back with me to the main part of the city to seek aid for her when I spotted two aid workers coming towards us.

  I met them before they could reach us. “I think her parents are in there,” I said, pointing at the rubble. They nodded grimly.

  “We’ve got it from here,” one of the aid workers told me.

  “What are you doing out here?” the other asked.

  I grabbed my camera. “Just taking pictures for CNN.”

  “Well, you can go,” the first one said, shooing me off.

  “Is she going to be okay? Will you be able to find her family?”

  “You shouldn’t be here; it isn’t safe.”

  “I'm used to being places that aren’t safe. I’m just worried about her.”

  “Well, we have it from here. You should go back to the city; the regime is still out here.” I nodded and took one last look at the little girl, imagining what she must feel before heading back. When I reached my hotel room, I uploaded my photos and sent the best ones on. As I was finishing up and thinking about heading back out again, my phone rang. Checking the display, I saw that it was Steven and I answered.

  “Steven, I just sent in some pictures.”

  “They’re downloading now, but listen, Brett, we need you to go to Syria.”

  “I’m in the middle of an assignment,” I said with confusion.

  “The pictures you sent yesterday were fantastic, and I’m sure these will be brilliant as well, but we got what we needed, and now we really need you to go to Syria. We have an elite US military team that has agreed to let you shadow them, and they will not take anyone else. It has to be you. This is huge, Capal.”

  “They requested me?”

  “When we were making the pitch, they said they'd only do it if you were the guy. I’m sending you details on your flight now.”

  “You’re serious?”

  “Dead serious. Pack your shit; you leave in an hour.”

  “There is still so much happening here though, Steven.”

  “We’ll send someone else in if we need to but what is going on in Syria is bigger, Brett. You’re the only one who is going to be able to do this any justice. This is your moment, I can feel it. You’re going to take in the awards with this assignment.”

  “If this is what you think is best, I’m on my way.”

  He gave me a few more details as I began to pack up my things in the hotel room and when we finished the call, I opened the Skype app on my laptop and saw that Evie was also connected. Before I got on a plane for Syria, I wanted to see my daughter, especially after seeing that little girl left with no family of her own. Although it was late afternoon in Egypt, it was still morning in Connecticut, so I pressed call and sat back to wait.

  “Daddy!” my sweet little girl's face filled the screen, and immediately I smiled.

  “Hey, baby, how are you?”

  “Daddy, when are you coming home?”

  “Soon,” I promised. “As soon as I’m done with this job I’ll be home.”

  “I wish you weren’t gone, Daddy.”

  The look of hurt on her face made my heart break. “I know, princess. I wish I wasn't gone too, but this is what Daddy does. I travel for work, but when I’m home, I’m all yours, I promise.”

  “You come home tomorrow?” she asked hopefully.

  “Not tomorrow, Hannah, but soon. I’ll be home to you soon. I have to go get on a plane soon, but I wanted to see your face and tell you that I love you.”

  “I love you too, Daddy.”

  “When I get home, we’ll spend the whole day at th
e park, okay? Just me and you?”

  “What about mommy?”

  Evie’s face flashed in my mind, and I felt a pang in my chest, but I pushed it down. She wanted to move on, and I had to accept it. “We’ll see what mommy wants to do, but even if she doesn't come, we’ll still have fun, right?”

  “Right. I see you soon, Daddy.”

  “You will see me so very soon, Hannah Banana. I love you.”

  Chapter 8

  Evie

  Brett was out of the house within ten minutes of the phone call he received Saturday morning, and when he brought Hannah home, he called out a goodbye to me and was gone. I had never felt so cheap and so used in my entire life. I put on a brave face for Hannah and tried to pick up the pieces and go on, but I knew I was moving through life in a fog.

  I sat Hannah down and did my best to explain to her that mommy and daddy wouldn't be living together anymore but she was six, and she cried her eyes out, and my heart broke a little bit more. I hated Brett for leaving me to do this on my own, and I hated him more for leaving again to begin with. If only he could have understood how alone in our partnership I felt, raising our daughter while he flitted in and out of our lives whenever he made the time for us. I knew what he did was important; I just wanted to feel equally important to him, and I wanted him to love us as much as he did his job.

  After I told Hannah, I called my parents and told them as well. They were surprised to hear my decision, and I could tell they were holding back from asking questions, but I appreciated that they supported me. I felt bad that Brett wasn't there to tell his parents and rather than them find out through the grapevine, I made the decision to tell them as well. They too were taken aback by my announcement, but I promised them that I still loved them and that they were welcome to keep Hannah whenever they wanted.

  On the Monday that followed Brett signing the papers, I contacted my lawyer, and we set up a time to meet at the courthouse so I could file them. On that Wednesday, I dropped Hannah off with my mom and met my lawyer at his office. We went over a few things and then headed over to the courthouse together. He helped me to the appropriate floor, so the papers could be submitted, and he stayed by my side, offering his silent moral support as my divorce was made official. I barely contained my tears as we left the building. There was a perfunctory handshake between us, and we parted ways, and I made the sad walk to my car where the dam burst, and I sobbed in the parking lot.

  After five minutes, I pulled myself together and grabbed my phone to call Matthew, inviting him over for margaritas. I needed a friend, and he was the best kind at a time like this. When I reached my house, I headed inside and changed into my swimsuit and then to the kitchen to start on a pitcher of beverages. I heard Matthew’s car pull into the driveway sometime later and he knocked at the door. I called for him to come in and I smiled at him when he reached the kitchen.

  He pushed his sunglasses to the top of his head and smiled back. “Hey, friend,” he said before hugging me. When he let go, he held me out in front of him and studied me. “What’s going on? You look like you’ve been crying.”

  “Let’s go sit by the pool, and I’ll tell you everything,” I replied. He nodded and grabbed the pitcher while I grabbed two glasses and quickly lined their rims with salt. We headed outdoors, and I set the glasses on the table so Matthew could pour. I was already barefoot, so I sat at the edge of the pool and let my feet dangle into the water. Matthew kicked off his sandals and took off his shirt before coming over with the two margaritas. He handed me mine, and I took a sip while he sat down. A beat of silence passed before either of us spoke.

  “He signed the papers, didn’t he?” Matthew asked quietly.

  I nodded and felt the tears well up in my eyes. “I filed them today.”

  “So, this is your divorce party?”

  I tried to laugh, but I started to cry instead. “He doesn't love me anymore.”

  “I don’t believe that, Evie. I think Brett loves you more than you give him credit for.”

  I shook my head. “He said he wanted to fight for us, but he couldn’t stop working long enough to do that. He checked out on me a long time ago, and I couldn't live like that anymore. What would you have done if it were you?”

  “Honestly? I don’t know if I would’ve done it any different than you. I’ve been in a loveless relationship, it’s not fun, and it’s not healthy for your soul, and if you feel like he doesn’t love you, then doing what was best for you and Hannah was the right decisions. There’s nothing wrong with that and anyone that gives you guff about it deserves to be punched in the gut.”

  “Then why do I feel so awful?”

  “There are a lot of years and a lot of history between you two. You can’t just turn it off. It takes time.”

  “We slept together.”

  “Who? You and Brett? When?”

  “Friday, after he signed the papers.”

  “What?” Matthew exclaimed.

  I took a long sip of my drink before I continued. I was going to need it to relay this story.

  “After he signed the papers, we went upstairs so he could pack. We started talking about the past, and we kissed and God, it was like going back in time, Matthew. It was so good. Then one thing led to another, and we shared something so incredible and so passionate. It felt like I had the old Brett back. I mean, it was just so amazing and felt so right. And then the next morning, poof. All gone again, replaced with reality.”

  “What happened on Saturday?”

  “His phone wouldn't stop ringing, and when he finally answered it, he took the call in his office. When I went looking for him to see if he wanted me to make breakfast, he was agreeing to a new assignment that he would be starting immediately and was gone within an hour.”

  “Wow... Did he even see Hannah?”

  “He went and picked her up and took her for breakfast before dropping her off at home and running off. We shared this truly incredible night together that I thought meant something but, yet he was gone, saying there was nothing here that needed his attention.”

  “Evie, I'm so sorry.”

  “It’s not your fault. It was my own stupidity for drinking several bottles of wine with him.”

  “How many bottles of wine?”

  “Three or four.”

  “Good gosh, girl! That’s a lot of wine. No wonder you fell into bed with him.”

  “Tell me about it.”

  “Well, did he at least get you off?”

  “Matthew!” I blushed furiously.

  “What? It’s just us girls here, you can tell me.”

  I glanced around even though I knew we were alone before I answered. “Three times,” I whispered.

  He whistled. “Impressive.”

  “Yes, he is,” I smirked.

  “Tell me more about that,” he prodded with a mischievous smile.

  I laughed. “I am not going to tell you about my ex-husband's junk,” I said as I held my hands out in front of me to approximate his length. Matthew’s eyes widened as I held them apart.

  “Oh honey; are you sure you want to divorce that? That is the dream right there.”

  “Can’t make up for the hole in my heart though.”

  He leaned in to hug me. “If only.”

  “I guess it does make up for a few of his other shortcomings though.”

  Matthews laughed. “Where’s Hannah?”

  “At my parents.”

  “Can they keep her overnight?”

  “I suppose so. I just need to call my mom. Why?”

  “Call her. I’m taking you out tonight. You need a night to let loose. I’m thinking a little dancing, a little drinking ought to do the trick. And I know exactly where we can go, and you don’t have to worry about getting hit on. I don’t think you’re quite ready for that.”

  “Definitely not. I’m still feeling cheap and used by Brett. I need to find my confidence again.”

  “How Evie got her groove back,” he said, lifting his mar
garita glass.

  “To me,” I smiled, clinking glasses with him.

  Matthew took me to a dance club downtown later that night that played nothing but eighties and nineties music and we danced and sang along, laughing and drinking the night away. It felt so nice to just let go of everything on my mind for a few hours and have fun. We took a cab home, and Matthew crashed on the couch while I went to bed. In the morning we both slept in, and when we woke up, it was almost eleven. We scrounged up a late breakfast from the things we could find in my kitchen.

  “Thank you for being my friend, Matty,” I told him sincerely as we were eating.

  “Are you kidding me? You accepted me for me without question, Ev. You didn’t have to go out of your way to welcome me, but you did. You didn’t have to bring me to church with you, but you did. I am so grateful for your open mind and your kindness.”

  “Just because you are gay doesn’t make you any less of a human being, Matthew.”

  “I’ll always be there for you, just like you’ve always been there for me. Just know that.”

  Soon after we finished eating, my mom dropped off Hannah, and the three of us played in the pool for a while before Hannah announced that she was bored. Matthew suggested a walk in the park so we all changed to head out. I made sure to grab some bread, so Hannah could feed the ducks while we were there.