“You haven’t even known me that long, and you’d stand beside me with this? I don’t understand what I did to deserve that much care.”
“Does time matter when your heart can’t decipher between a day and forever? I feel like my parents died yesterday, yet it was ten years ago. All that matters is what we feel in the moment because no amount of time can define that.”
Denver releases my hand and runs his fingers through his hair. “I don’t want Aya to know anything. I have to be inconspicuous, or she’ll know something is going on. I’m going to need to call Isla and try to handle this on my own before things go further. I don’t want her showing up out of the blue and ripping the rug out from below Aya’s feet.”
Part of me considers it wrong to stand between a mother and her child, but she ran away. She left. That doesn’t make her a mother. It makes her a coward. Aya doesn’t deserve to feel that type of loss again.
“I agree. I think that’s the best way to go about this. That way you’ll know what you’re dealing with before you talk to a lawyer.”
“Do you know how stupid I felt after she left? The thought never crossed my mind that she’d leave. It should have, though. She didn’t want kids. She was so detached from Aya and never motherly toward her. I did everything, even with the little time I had in between shifts at the recruitment center.”
“Why do you think she’d suddenly change her mind?” I ask.
“Money. She’s money hungry. She convinced me to marry her, so she could utilize the military benefits when I was deployed. Unfortunately, it’s common for women to pick up military men just to collect the benefits.”
“But you’re out now. What could Isla be expecting?”
“Child support, I guess. She’d take what she could and would take care of herself instead of Aya.”
Personally, I’d like to handle this woman. She doesn’t deserve to get anywhere near Aya. “Do you know where she was living?”
“Her family is in Oahu. She lived there her whole life. I never ran into her, and I didn’t hear from anyone except her stepsister who she had no relationship with. She could have left the islands for all I know.”
“Denver, you’re going to be okay, and so will Aya. It won’t be hard for anyone to see the facts and act accordingly. Trust me, okay?” I wrap my hand around his stubbly cheek, forcing him to look at me. “You have fought through worse and survived. You will make it through this and win.”
He wraps his arms around me and pulls me into his chest. “Aya has been my world, Kai. I have to protect her.”
“You have a plan to do that, and I will help however you need.”
Denver stands up and brushes the sand from his shorts and reaches his hand out for me. “Thank you,” he says, wrapping his arm around me as we head back toward the pool bar.
“Don’t thank me. No one was there for me when I needed a shoulder to lean on, and I promised myself if I ever knew someone who needed support, I’d be there so they wouldn’t have to go through shit alone. Plus, it’s a bonus that you’re hot and I kind of like you a lot.”
“It is a bonus that I’m hot. Maybe that’ll help with the judge too,” he says.
I nudge him with my shoulder. “Your jokes get worse when you’re in a bad mood.”
“Are you saying my jokes are good when I’m not mad?”
“Eh. We’re getting there,” I tell him.
We walk up to the bar, spotting Aya dangling her legs from a barstool, sipping on a smoothie. “I hope there’s no alcohol in that drink she’s sipping on,” Denver says.
“There’s no alcohol in there,” Noa shouts over to Denver. I take it Noa knows Denver pretty well. Either that, or Noa has a track record of doing dumb things.
“I’m glad to hear that,” Denver says.
Lea is making a flower out of a napkin, and Noa has his three cups and a ball trick out. I see they’ve kept her well entertained.
“Is everything okay, Dad?” Aya asks.
“Yeah, what’s going on?” Lea asks.
I try to give her a look, but Lea is as subtle as a bull in a China shop. “What’s with the faces, Kai?”
“I think we’re going to head home,” Denver says. “Ladies, the show was amazing. We loved it. Thank you for inviting us.” Denver was excited to experience a luau, and Aya was even more excited. I’m sad the night has to end like this.
“I’ll walk you guys to your truck,” I tell them.
“Goodnight,” Denver says, waving at Lea and Noa.
“Goodnight, Bro. Good night, Princess Aya!” Noa says.
“They think I’m a princess,” Aya whispers as we walk off. “I didn’t want to break it to them that I’m not, so I let it slide.”
“You’re my princess,” Denver tells her.
“Yeah, that’s what Kai told me last night too. She said little girls are always princesses to their dads and the most important person in their lives.” I did say that. Dad used to tell Lea and me that every night before we went to bed.
Denver places his hand on my back as Aya continues in front of us. His fingers scratch up and down against my skin, a subtle gesture that says a lot.
“I wish Kai could tell me another bedtime story tonight. No offense, Dad, but her stories are way better than yours.”
Denver laughs. “Thanks a lot. It took me a long time to get good at my storytelling skills.” He scruffs up Aya’s hair, and she lets out a high-pitched scream. “Don’t touch my hair, Dad!”
“If you want me to follow you home with my car, I can tell her a quick story and head home. You’re on my way,” I tell Denver quietly, hoping Aya doesn’t hear me. In case he doesn’t want me to come over, I don’t want to get her involved or excited.
“Are you sure you don’t mind?” he responds just as quietly.
“I’d love to,” I tell him.
“Okay, Aya, Kai will come in quickly and tell you a bedtime story, but that means you have to go right to sleep after that. It’s late.”
“Deal,” she says, shooting her thumb up above her head.
Maybe I’m pushing too hard, or I’m letting my guard down too fast. It’s unlike me to be hasty or jump into situations partially blindfolded, but I feel like my mind is working on its own accord, and I can’t seem to think straight when I’m talking to Denver or interacting with him. I feel like my brain has been taken over by my emotions.
This is probably why people date and test the waters out before they’re in their late twenties. I have no idea how this all works. This relationship stuff is all new to me. I have no clue if I’m doing things right, and now he’s not even thinking straight, either, with all this crap sitting on his shoulders.
I’m feel like I’m following in Lea’s footsteps by rushing into something, but my heart beats harder when he’s around, and a smile naturally finds my face. Denver makes me feel like I’m something more than I’ve ever seen myself as. That’s what Lea told me Noa made her feel like, and I said she was crazy for falling for him so quickly. I’m questioning myself now. Maybe I’ve been wrong all along.
When we arrive at Denver’s new house, all three of us step out of the vehicles at the same time. “I can unlock the door,” Aya says as she runs toward the front of the house with Denver’s keys in her hand.
“I hope I didn’t put you on the spot back at the hotel. I don’t know how this dating thing works, and I don’t want to be too much or overbearing … too forward … you know?”
“Wow, so I guess me asking you to spend the night would be a bad idea, huh?” he asks.
“Well,” I say, unsure how to respond. I left last night, worried Aya would find me staying over and expect it after that. “I don’t know.”
“I fully believe if something feels right, we shouldn’t fight it. Plus, don’t tell anyone I said this, but I don’t want to be alone tonight. I have a sick feeling in my stomach, and I’ve had enough lonely days in my life over the last eight years. I’m kind of over it right now.”
“What about Aya
?”
“I have to wake her up every morning. She’s not an early bird. We’ll be safe.”
We walk up behind Aya as she’s still struggling with the key, so we put our conversation on pause. “What’s wrong with this stupid lock?” she asks.
Denver takes the key from her hand and slips it into the lock. “You were locking it,” he says. “There we go.”
“No, I wasn’t,” Aya argues.
“It doesn’t matter. It’s okay. Go on in,” he says.
Aya jumps in through the doorway and flips the light on.
The room illuminates with an unfamiliar woman sitting on the couch, and while I don’t know for sure who she is, it appears his ex-wife figured out where he lives faster than I probably would have. This move of breaking into Denver’s house really suggests she’s batshit crazy. She looks crazy. Her hair is all over the place, and she’s wearing sweatpants that are too small, slippers over socks, and an oversized t-shirt with a poop emoji. She doesn’t strike me as Denver’s type, nor does she look anything like Aya, so I’m really confused. Of course, it feels like twenty minutes have gone by since we spotted her on the couch, and no one has said a word until now.
“Who’s she, Dad?” Aya seems confused as she looks the woman up and down with a snarl on her face.
If Aya doesn’t know her, this might be a larger cause for concern than I thought.
23
Denver
“How sweet. Look at this happy little family,” Isla says. I haven’t spoken to her in so long, I forgot about the trashy way she sounds when she talks. It’s as if she tries to sound tough, but she just sounds stupid.
“What are you doing here?” I ask. It’s going to be hard to remain calm, but for Aya’s sake, Kai, and me, it’s what I have to do.
“I want my daughter back,” she asserts.
I glance over my shoulder at Kai, giving her a look I hope she understands. I’m very thankful that she comprehends immediately. She takes Aya by the hand and leaves the house, closing the door behind her. I can only imagine the questions Aya is going to have for Kai and me, but I have a hunch Kai will be good redirecting her for the time being.
“How do I say this in a way that makes you understand?” I begin, leaning against the wall separating the foyer and open kitchen. “No.”
“You don’t get to just keep her, Denver. I’m her mother.”
I take my phone out of my back pocket and open my web browser. “Let’s see here. I’m just searching for the definition of the word ‘mother.’ Ah, yup, just as I thought. ‘A woman in relation to a child; one who brings up a child with care and affection.’ Which part of that definition do you fit into?”
“Don’t be an asshole, Denver. She’s not even yours, fucker.” I’d love to give her the reaction she’s dying to see right now, but since one of us had to be responsible and intelligent, I had a paternity test done early on. I needed the facts regardless of my devotion to love and raise Aya, especially in case a day like this ever came. I am her father, and there wasn’t a doubt about it on the test.
“Would you like to see the paternity test records? I have them if you’d like.” Aww. It looks like I might have burst her stupid little bubble of hope.
“I want her back.”
“Why?” I ask.
“She’s my daughter, Denver. Don’t ask me why.”
“Why did you leave?” I remember now, Isla always hated that I was able to remain calm in arguments, whereas she can’t.
“I wasn’t ready to be a mother then. Now, I am.”
“No, you’re not,” I argue, simply.
“Who the fuck are you to tell me that?”
“Aya’s father.”
“I’ll take you to court,” she spits out. I was expecting this argument to carry on a little longer before she pulled that card because I assume the only reason she’s hear is for money.
“You must have come into some serious cash if you’re able to afford that, but sure, let’s go. I’ve already secured my attorney, in fact.” I haven’t yet, but I will be tomorrow. Thanks to Brielle’s call and the text I received from Molli a half hour ago warning me that Isla found my location through means I’m still unsure of, I’ve had time to gather my thoughts.
“Those twats ratted me out to you?” she says through a gravelly laugh.
“Nice language. Make sure you refer to your ex-sister-in-law and stepsister that way in court too. That’ll surely win you your case.” She’s at a loss for words, and I take the second to scan her appearance, wondering how she was able to let herself go so badly. I hardly recognize her, though no other psychopath would be sitting in my kitchen waiting for me to get home. “Are you taking drugs, Isla?”
“Fuck you,” she says.
She was never the classiest woman, but she wasn’t like this. She’s clearly gotten into some trouble.
I haven’t had much time to consider my thoughts on this matter, but the one thing I have lingering in my head is the pain I consoled Aya through after Isla left us. There’s nothing in this world that would convince me to chance putting her through that again.
“How much money do you need?” I ask her.
“What are you talking about?”
“Answer me, Isla. It will take over a year to save up just a few grand through poaching child support if you were to win custody by some miracle. So, if it is money you’re after, tell me. I’ll literally pay you to go away.”
Isla thinks for a minute, biting her bottom lip and bouncing her knees. I can see that’s what she wants. It’s all about money. Always has been.
A tapping sound on the window beside me causes me to jump since I was deep in thought. I turn around, finding Aya with her nose pressed up against the glass, blowing her cheeks out like a walrus. Then I see Kai, lifting her up and pulling her away from the window. I can hear Aya laughing hysterically from in here, which tells me she doesn’t know this is her mother sitting in here. She didn’t recognize her, and Kai has obviously distracted her well enough to avoid her curiosity and questions. Thank God.
“Four thousand,” Isla says.
I saved up my deployment checks over the years, making a nice nest egg of almost two-hundred grand. I was saving it for college and other expenses for Aya, and this is one expense I’ll gladly pay to protect her.
“I’ll give you the money, but it’s going to be attached to a signed agreement.”
“Fine, whatever,” she says without asking about the terms I’ll have on this agreement.
“For your knowledge, the agreement will state that you are never to show up again. You are never to look for us or trespass again. Aya will not know who you are today or anytime between now and when she turns eighteen. Then, at eighteen, if she wants to know who you are, I will tell her, with a warning.”
“I can’t believe you,” she mumbles.
Please. Her words are merely air going in one ear and out the other. “If you break the agreement, I will supply the police department with the video footage I have of you breaking and entering my home. I will show them the records that reveal you ran out and abandoned your daughter with no financial support. I have records of the therapy bills I paid to help our daughter move past the trauma of her mother leaving her without a goodbye. I will provide all of this information to the authorities. I will also put a restraining order against you for attempting to cause harm inside of my property. Do I make myself clear?”
“Can I see her for a minute at least?” Isla asks.
I know my decision on this matter is right, though it feels so wrong. “No. You can’t. You gave up those rights.”
“Fine, whatever. Give me the money.”
“Meet me tomorrow morning at Cafe Lona downtown, and I will have the agreement printed out and a bank check for my records.”
“Jesus Christ, are you kidding me?”
Stay calm. I have to stay calm. “Does it look like this is my kidding face?”
“Fuck you,” she says, snarling.
She stands up from her seat, and I notice the extra weight she put on, the odor, and her filth. All I can wonder is how I ever felt attracted to this woman. I was in a dark place when I met her after my first deployment. Now I know how dark it really was.
She scuffles through the living room, following my pointed finger to the back, sliding-glass door. “Don’t trip on your way out,” I tell her. Cunt.
As soon as the backdoor closes, I open the front door, pulling Kai and Aya inside, locking the deadbolt behind them. “What was that woman selling? Dirty laundry?” Aya asks.
I laugh hard because even though I’m pretty sure she has no clue who that was, that is exactly what she was selling. “Actually yes,” I tell her through my fit of laughter.
“What a quack,” Aya says. “I would have left on my own even if Kai didn’t make me. It smelled like your gym socks.”
“Thank you,” I tell her, shushing her to be quiet.
Kai looks like she’s trying not to laugh and cry, both at the same time.
“I couldn’t hear what was happening, but it sounded like a Jerry Springer show,” she says.
I smile coyly. “Yeah, that’s one one way of putting it. Certain people should know not to mess with me. That’s all,” I spit out, along with a quick wink.
“Are you okay?” Kai mouths to me so Aya doesn’t hear.
“I’m fine,” I respond in the same manner.
I feel relieved in a small sense. I’ve been anticipating the day something like that happened, knowing I wouldn’t have much notice to protect Aya. I’m not sure I’ll ever be in the clear with her, but I bought some time at least, hopefully, and this is the perfect time to put my worries about Isla behind me.
“I’m going to go put myself to bed,” Aya says. “You two should probably kiss and live happily ever after or something like that.”
“Aya!” I snap.
“Oh please, I’m almost eight. I’m not stupid, Dad.”
The Man Cave Collection: Manservant, Man Flu, Man Handler, and Man Buns Page 106