“I know the side of the story I need to know,” I said, keeping my voice low. “I don’t want to know your side because I believe you would lie to me. You did it so well before and I believed you. It’s too late for your side now. You lied for years and got away with it. Nothing you say now will make me a believer.”
“I wasn’t lying when I said I loved you.” His tone was earnest now, almost pleading. “And I still love my daughter. Let me prove myself. Don’t you think I deserve that?”
“No,” I said firmly. “You’ll have to go through the proper channels if you want to see her.”
I wouldn’t give in to his appeal. I had to keep my heart strong. I squeezed my eyes shut and forced myself to say, “You’re going to have to go through the proper channels if you want to see my daughter, Roger. I don’t trust you. I don’t know what atmosphere you live in or what you’d have her around or who your friends are.”
I pushed the phone against my face with my shoulder as I hurriedly turned off the oven and pulled out the sausage balls with an oven mitt. I set them on top to cool and hurried back out, murmuring in my daughter’s direction. “They are very hot so don’t touch them until I come back in, okay?”
Alana nodded, not looking up, continuing her coloring like she really didn’t care about the sausage balls. I was still a little concerned so I stayed by the door in the other room with the oven in my line of vision. Alana didn’t move and I was satisfied.
“I just got out of jail,” he retorted, dryly. “I don’t have any friends here.” I could tell he was already losing his temper with me, which I was grateful for, in a way. It proved to me that he couldn’t keep up the charm and deception like he used to. He was frustrated with me.
“I don’t know what you expect from me. Did you think you were gonna walk out of jail and find me and just waltz right back into my life? I didn’t expect you to be out for another seven years and frankly, I wish they’d made you stay inside so I wouldn’t have to worry about you in my life.”
I wasn’t intentionally winding him up. I wanted to see how he would react to the rejection because he could easily have done it one or two ways. He could have continued his charming ways and tried to grab my heartstrings or he could show his true colors.
He chose to show his true colors, which was a relief in a way.
“You better stop trying to keep her from me. I have every right to be her father.”
“I’m not saying you don’t,” I responded. As much as it pained me to say it, I knew he had the right to be with his daughter at some point.
“I never laid a hand on you and was a model husband to you. I can be a good dad, too. You won’t let me even try.”
His words stuck with me for a moment. Was he being genuine?
A crack of thunder from outside and my windows suddenly lighting up made me alert to a coming storm. Distracted now, I went around the house closing the windows and locking the doors. The storms have been harsh lately.
“I didn’t say you couldn’t try. You just have to do it the right way. I’m not taking any chances with my daughter. How am I supposed to know what kind of people you’ll have her around?”
“Listen,” he said in a blunt tone, “you either let me see my daughter or you will suffer the consequences.”
Chills erupted over my body. He sounded deadly serious.
“Excuse me?” I asked in an astonished voice.
“You heard me,” he said menacingly.
“I’ll do what I have to,” Roger said, his voice dropping to a dangerous level. “But you better decide quickly, Savannah. Because if you don’t, I will.”
The line went dead.
I stood there, phone in hand, staring at the storm brewing outside as my heart raced.
Chapter Fourteen
Jackson
My phone blared, shattering the calm. I grabbed it and answered without hesitation when I saw her name.
“Jackson, are you home?” Savannah’s voice trembled, raw with fear.
“I’m here. What’s going on?”
“Roger just called. He sounded... threatening. I’m not sure, but it’s unnerving. I—I don’t feel safe.” Her voice cracked, and I could tell she was holding back tears.
“Don’t say another word, Savvy. I’m on my way.”
