I came out a few minutes later and saw both of them swimming in the lake, splashing the water around. It warmed my heart to see Richard interact with his daughter so much, especially since her mother had no desire to be a parental figure.
“Annie, come on!” Addison waved her arms wildly, small giggles echoing across the water.
I smiled and jumped into the lake, creating a huge splash. All three of us swam around for about an hour, taking turns as we helped Addison learn to swim better. It was reasonably shallow, though, so she didn’t need too much help. Richard got out a few times to check on the hamburgers and hot dogs, which gave Addison and me plenty of time to get to know each other.
“Are you having fun?”
Addison smiled at me and nodded enthusiastically.
“I heard you liked Barbie, so I brought a doll for you.” She jumped toward me and gave me a big hug in the water, and I could already feel us bonding.
We all sat down to lunch at the picnic table next to his parent's cottage. The food was delicious, and Addison seemed to be having a good time. She played at the table with the Barbie that I brought her, pretending as though the doll was eating too.
“I wish Mommy were more like Annie,” Addison said to Richard.
He looked at me and smiled, then hugged Addison. I could tell that he was at a loss for words. Richard didn’t want to acknowledge that Heather was a poor mother, but he knew that he couldn’t deny it either.
Shortly after eating, while the three of us were playing a game of Uno, Richard's eyes shot up. I turned around to see a black SUV pulling up to his house. When the driver's side door opened, Heather walked out and stormed over to us.
“You are so typical, Richard.” She stood less than two feet away from us, with her hands on her hips and her face turning beet red. “The one time I allow you to see Addison without me, and you bring this slut!”
I turned toward Addison, who instinctively pressed her head into Richard’s body.
“Don’t make a scene, Heather. Especially in front of our daughter.” Richard’s voice was firm as he spoke, careful not to make Addison even more upset.
“This time was for you and Addison, not her!” Heather practically hissed as she pointed her finger at me. “I know all about you, Annie. You and your little yoga studio. Do you think you can change this man? Or are you just after his money, bending over in those tight yoga pants all of the time?”
I stood up, but Richard put his hand on top of mine, signaling me to lay low.
“I knew you were following me,” Richard said through gritted teeth.
He got up and walked over to Heather, while I went over to console Addison by putting my arms around her.
“It’s okay, sweetie,” I said, but she started to cry.
“You just love the whores, don’t you? Maybe that’s why you’re still working for your dad. It’s easy money that gives you plenty of time for all of those strippers!”
Richard was about to talk to her, but Heather quickly went around him and snatched Addison from my arms. “Sign the papers and hand over the cash, because I’m done with this nonsense!”
Richard and I watched Annie drive away, and her tires left a cloud of dust from the dirt on the road. When it cleared, I looked down at the Barbie I’d gotten her.
It was covered in dirt.
“Richard, look-“ He held up his hand, then started packing up everything he had brought.
“Your front left tire is low,” he said in a low voice. “Let me take you home, and I’ll have someone fix it and drop it off to you.”
The car ride back to my place was extremely uncomfortable. I didn’t know what to say, so I stayed quiet. As we got closer to my loft, his body seemed to be a bit less tense and at ease.
We got outside and walked to my door, but he stopped me from finding my keys.
“We need to talk,” he said.
He took my hand and walked me over to a bench, where we both sat down.
“About Addison?”
Richard let out a sigh, then put his hand on the back of my head. “Annie, as much as I care for you, this just isn’t the time for a relationship. I can’t be worried about you becoming a mother when I haven’t even fully become a father. You have no idea how sorry I am.”
