Chapter 6 - The Father Who Finally Had to Answer
I came downstairs after school and found Andre sitting on our sofa.
Mom was beside him.
Chris stood near the kitchen doorway.
Nobody looked happy.
I stopped on the stairs.
"What is he doing here?"
Andre stood.
"Maya, sweetheart."
I didn't move.
"Why are you here?"
He looked at Mom.
She smiled nervously.
"We thought it was time for everyone to talk."
Chris crossed his arms.
"Natasha invited him without discussing it with me."
Mom snapped, "Andre has a right to speak to his daughter."
I felt my stomach tighten.
Again.
The same argument.
The same words.
Only this time, I was tired of listening.
I walked into the living room.
"Then let him speak."
Andre cleared his throat.
He wore a dark jacket and expensive sneakers.
I recognized the sneakers.
He had posted them online two weeks earlier.
They cost more than my prom dress.
"Maya," he began, "I know you've been upset."
I stared at him.
"That's one way to describe it."
He sighed.
"Your mother was trying to help me rebuild my business."
I looked at Chris.
He remained silent.
Andre continued.
"Sometimes family has to support each other."
I took a breath.
"Then why didn't you support me?"
He blinked.
"What?"
I stepped closer.
"Why didn't you come to my school events?"
He looked uncomfortable.
"Work."
"Why did you forget my birthday last year?"
"Maya..."
"Why did you tell Mom to ask Chris for money instead of helping with prom?"
His face tightened.
"That's not fair."
I shook my head.
"No. What's not fair is acting like being my biological father means you never have to earn my trust."
Mom stood.
"Maya, stop attacking him."
I turned toward her.
"I'm asking questions."
She pointed at Chris.
"This is exactly what I was afraid of. He's turned you against Andre."
Something inside me snapped.
"No, Mom!"
My voice echoed through the room.
"Chris didn't do anything!"
Mom froze.
I continued.
"Chris has spent nine years showing up for me. Andre has spent nine years making excuses."
Andre looked away.
I felt tears rising.
"And you keep telling me which one I'm supposed to love."
The room went silent.
Chris stepped closer.
"Maya, take a breath."
I shook my head.
"No. I need to finish."
I looked at Mom.
"I love you. But you don't get to decide what Chris means to me."
Her eyes filled.
Then I turned toward Andre.
"And you don't get to use my relationship with him as an excuse for not being there."
Andre sat down slowly.
For the first time, he looked ashamed.
I waited.
I wanted him to say something honest.
Something real.
Finally, he whispered, "You're right."
I stared at him.
He continued.
"I haven't been the father you deserved."
My throat tightened.
"I know."
He rubbed his face.
"I kept telling myself there would be time."
I looked down.
"But time kept passing."
He nodded.
"I know."
For a moment, I felt sorry for him.
Then I remembered the money.
"Did you know Mom used money Chris saved for my college?"
Andre hesitated.
Chris looked directly at him.
"Answer her."
Andre swallowed.
"Natasha told me the funds were available."
Mom immediately spoke.
"Andre!"
He turned toward her.
"What? I'm not going to keep lying."
My stomach dropped.
I looked at Mom.
"You told him?"
She began crying.
"I thought I could replace it before you needed it."
I stared at her.
"With what?"
Silence.
I continued.
"Mom, where was the repayment supposed to come from?"
Andre looked down.
He said nothing.
Mom wiped her cheeks.
"We were going to make the business successful."
Chris shook his head.
"Natasha, the business has no documented operating revenue."
She looked away.
Andre rubbed his forehead.
"I was trying."
Chris finally spoke directly to him.
"Andre, you've received substantial financial help while contributing almost nothing toward Maya's actual needs."
Andre looked up angrily.
"Don't lecture me about my daughter."
Chris remained calm.
"Then stop using that title as a shield."
The silence was unbearable.
Andre stood.
For a moment, I thought he might argue.
Instead, he looked at me.
"Maya, I'm sorry."
I stared at him.
"I've heard that before."
He nodded.
"I know."
I wiped my eyes.
"If you want a relationship with me, show me."
He looked confused.
"How?"
"Call when you say you'll call. Come when you promise. Be honest. Stop asking Mom for money."
He swallowed.
"And understand that Chris is part of my life."
Andre looked toward him.
Then back at me.
Finally, he nodded.
"Okay."
I didn't know whether he meant it.
But I had said what I needed to say.
Mom began crying again.
"I just wanted us to be a family."
I looked at her.
"We already were one."
Her face crumpled.
I continued.
"But you kept making us compete."
Chris lowered his head.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then he said quietly, "Natasha, we need to discuss our marriage privately."
Mom looked frightened.
"Chris..."
He shook his head.
"Not now. Not in front of Maya."
Andre left shortly afterward.
Mom went upstairs.
I stood alone in the living room, exhausted.
Chris approached me.
"How are you feeling?"
I laughed bitterly.
"Like I just aged ten years."
He smiled sadly.
Then he opened his arms.
I hugged him.
"I'm proud of you," he whispered.
I started crying again.
"Why?"
"Because you told the truth without trying to hurt anyone."
I held him tighter.
That evening, Mom packed another suitcase.
She and Chris had agreed to remain separated while deciding whether their marriage could continue.
She kissed my forehead before leaving.
"I love you, Maya."
I looked at her.
"I love you too."
Then I added something I had never said before.
"But loving you doesn't mean pretending everything is okay."
She nodded through tears.
"I understand."
I hoped she did.
After she left, Chris and I sat in the kitchen.
The marble island looked exactly as it had on the morning of the credit card argument.
But everything else felt different.
Chris opened his wallet.
He placed the same credit card on the counter.
I stared at it.
He smiled.
"Remember this?"
I laughed softly.
"How could I forget?"
He picked it up.
"That card wasn't the problem."
I nodded.
"It was everything around it."
He smiled.
"Exactly."
Then he looked at me.
"And I'm glad we finally talked."
For the first time, I believed the worst might be over.
But the next morning, Chris received a letter from an attorney.
Mom had filed for divorce.
May you like
And the petition included a claim that stunned us both.
She wanted Chris to stop contacting me unless she gave permission.
