Cry Me a River PG-13 Edition Read Online Free Page A

tellin g me to grab Lucy and run.  “I understand, Darla.  I was the one who called you trying to get help for her.  You act as if it’s my fault.  I loved her too!  She was the mother of my daughter; I’m not a complete…” I want to say dick but I don’t, “jerk.  I planned on her being my wife one day!”  I shout and Lucy puckers up in tears.  My arms go around her and pull her in tighter; she sets her head on my shoulder.  “It’s okay Goosey Lucy, I didn’t mean to shout. You okay?”  I whisper in her ear.  Lucy shakes her head yes and snuggles in tighter.  All of this is happening in the doorway of their cookie cutter house, in their cookie cutter neighborhood. 
    Darla turns away from Alan, to look at me.  “Come in before the neighbors start to gossip.”
    I reluctantly follow them into the kitchen.  The last time I was here was to pick up Heather and Lucy for a night out.  Nothing’s changed, same coffee cup boarder around the room and fake flower arrangement on the round breakfast table.  I pull out a wooden chair, trying to tuck the plastic tablecloth edge so Lucy won’t pull on it.   The no-name nanny puts a plastic cup full of Animal Crackers in front of Lucy.  She squeals in delight and fills her hand full of the tasteless cookies.
    “You have a lot of nerve showing up here Caide,” Alan snarls.
    “Don’t you think this is a discussion better held when I don’t have my daughter in my lap?”  I kiss Lucy on the neck to reassure her everything’s fine.
    “Erin, please take Lucy to her room and play with her.  Caide will come back there when we’re finished talking,” Alan orders the now-named nanny , Erin.
    Instead of fighting him over where Lucy should be, I hand her to Erin.  Darla stands and pours three glasses of sweet tea.  She knows I love her tea, so I don’t say anything.  She’s still the Southern Belle, even when she dislikes her guest.  As she sits down, she puts a platter of cookies on the table and slides the centerpiece over to the side.
    I remind myself they are grieving, hell, I am too.  “Look, I’m not here to cause trouble.  I’m here to see my daughter, this is a big change for her too.”
    “It wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for you.  You’re the reason Heather started doing drugs in the first place, now she’s dead!”  Darla wipes a tear from her eye.
    Breathe, I remind myself.  “I’m the reason she became a junkie?  You’re kidding me.  You know I called you to help her.  I loved her, don’t you get that?  I thought she would do better living with you guys.  How can you sit here and look me in the eyes and say it’s my fault?”  My stomach clenches at the memory of bringing her here.  She begged me not to make her live with them.  She hated the way they controlled her.  I fight to keep control of my anger, or I’d have a field day with them.  “I cut her off, how is that enabling her?  I heard you bailed her out of jail for a possession charge.  Didn’t think I’d hear about it; did you?  I have eyes and ears too.  Maybe, if she spent a little time in jail, she would have cleaned up a little bit.  No, mommy and daddy insisted their little princess couldn’t be in a dirty cell.  I’m not here for finger pointing.  I’m here because I have a daughter who will be coming home to live with me,” I blurt out.
    They both gasp as if I just told them I was a serial killer.  “You can’t take her!”   Darla jumps up, catching the table with her thighs making it lift a little.  Alan reaches for her hand and tells her to sit down.
    “Why would she live with you?  You’d take her from her home, the only familiar place she’s had as a constant in her life?”  Alan asks.
    Remember, they lost their daughter, they’re grasping for straws , I remind myself.  “I’m her father, that’s why.  She is legally my daughter and I want her to live with me.  You see how she reacts to me when