Read Online Dog Eat Dog by Laurien Berenson - Free Book Online

don’t know,” I said, swallowing a breath. “Davey’s fine.”
    â€œHe must be getting big.”
    â€œHe is.”
    â€œLike he can walk, and talk. . .”
    He’d been doing those things for years. But then how would Bob know? The last time he’d seen his son, Davey had been wrapped in a swaddling blanket.
    â€œHe can do all of that,” I said curtly. “He goes to school, too.”
    â€œJeez, Mel. You’re not making this easy, you know?”
    â€œEasy? Why on earth would I want to make things easy for you? Do you think they’ve been easy for me?”
    â€œYou’re angry,” he said softly. “I guess I can see that.”
    â€œI guess you’d damn well better.” I almost hung up on him. My finger was poised over the “off” button when I thought better of it. I put the receiver back to my ear.
    â€œLook,” Bob was saying. “I don’t want to fight with you. And certainly not over the phone. I’ll admit I haven’t been the best father.”
    You haven’t been any father. That’s what I wanted to say. But he was right. What was the point of arguing now?
    â€œThat’s about to change. I’m coming to Connecticut. I want to see you and I want to see Davey. I want to get to know my son.”
    â€œWhen?” I asked quietly.
    â€œI’ll have things wrapped up here by mid-week. I’ve got some vacation time saved up. I figured I’d pack up the car and drive.”
    Pack up the car and drive. Well that brought back memories.
    â€œI’ll probably get there sometime next weekend. Will you be around?”
    â€œI guess.”
    â€œGood. I’ll call you when I get in. And Mel?”
    â€œHmmm?” All right, so I was distracted. Could I help it if the possibility of taking Davey and Faith and making a run for it had crossed my mind?
    â€œPut Davey on for a minute, would you?”
    â€œOn? On the phone?”
    â€œYeah, sure.”
    â€œNo,” I said firmly. “Not a chance.”
    â€œMel—”
    â€œDon’t even think it. He doesn’t know you, Bob. He barely even knows that you exist.”
    It was a lie, plain and simple. Not only that, but it was hitting below the belt. But all at once I was just so afraid. I was hurting, and I wasn’t even sure why. On some level——small and mean, somewhere deep inside—I wanted Bob to hurt, too.
    â€œBob, I’m sorry—”
    â€œNo, you’re right. Maybe I deserved that. I’ll see you next weekend, okay?”
    â€œDavey does know who you are,” I said, hurrying to get the words out before it was too late. “Really he does. And I know he’s going to be pleased to have a chance to get to know his father.”
    â€œGood.” Bob cleared his throat. “I guess that gives us something to build on. Tell him I love him, okay? And I’ll see you next week.”
    Slowly I hung up the phone. Faith nudged her nose against my leg and steered me toward the counter. She likes her food crunchy; the kibble had soaked too long and gotten mushy. I threw it in the garbage and started another batch.
    â€œMom!” Davey called from upstairs in the bathtub. “Will you bring me my pajamas?”
    â€œBe right up,” I called back.
    I had to tell him. And now I had a deadline. One short week. No matter how much I tried to downplay Bob’s visit, I knew Davey would be excited. Hell, he’d be thrilled.
    But what would happen when Bob left again? How do you explain to a five-year-old that just because your father says he loves you, it doesn’t mean he wants to be a part of your life?

Eight
    Every day that week I seemed to find a different excuse for not telling Davey about his father’s visit. Sam was back, and I’d talked it over with him. He was inclined not to see what all the fuss was about. Then again, he’d never been a parent.
    My