“How about we order the pizza and then break the news to her,” Addison suggests, picking up the bags and walking over to Avery’s room, putting them inside.
I stand and open my phone, ordering three pizzas since I don’t know what she eats on hers, with fries and some chicken wings. I also order a cheeseburger in case she doesn’t like the pizza. “I ordered the pizza. It should be here in twenty minutes.”
“Sounds good.” Addison nods at me as she wrings her hands in front of her.
“Where do you want to do this?” I ask her, looking around to see if there is a more comfortable place to tell her.
“The couch is good.” She points over at the brown couch, and I walk over to sit down on one end.
I look at the pictures hanging on the wall while Addison calls Avery.
I hear the sound of clicking and clacking, and when I look up, she is walking out of her bedroom with her pink dress on, with a red bandanna in her hair and gold shoes. She has one of the plastic earrings on the side of her ear and she is wearing every single bracelet that came with the set. She has five rings on two fingers. “Look at my dress,” she urges Addison as she turns slowly in her plastic shoes.
“You look amazing, now come sit down.” Addison motions with her head toward where I’m sitting. “Mr. Stefano and I want to talk to you.”
She walks over to me clicking and clacking her shoes the whole way. I suddenly really feel sorry for the person who lives under her. I sit at the edge of the couch as she comes over and sits next to me, leaving a little space for Addison. Instead of sitting next to her, she kneels in front of her. I have never in my life felt like this. Ever. My whole chest feels like it’s being crushed, yet it also feels like it’s going to explode.
“Look at my ring.” Avery holds up her hand to me. “Thank you for buying me presents.”
“You are so welcome,” I tell her.
“Honey,” Addison starts, and I can see she is blinking away tears as she sits back on her feet. “Do you remember when you asked if you had a dad?”
“He’s at work,” Avery says, and my heart sinks at the way her voice is, “very far, far, far, far away.” If it was any other time, I would have laughed at her exaggeration.
“He was at work,” Addison says and looks at me. I can see her swallowing the lump in her throat.
“Well, you see,” I start, turning to her, thinking of ways to say what needs to be said. “I was really busy.” I stop talking because none of this makes any sense to me.
But Avery just looks at me, tilting her head to the side. “Are you my dad?”
I swallow down the lump in my throat before I say the words. “I’m your dad.”
addison
. . .
I hear Avery ask the question, and my heart speeds up so much in my chest, I can’t even describe it. I try to swallow, but the lump has formed in my throat and nothing happens. Then I try to say something, but when I open my mouth, nothing, and I mean nothing, comes out. I blink away the tears forming in my eyes, but then Stefano looks at me and then back at Avery, saying the three words that will forever change this moment. “I’m your dad.” I feel as if I’m having an out-of-body experience as I look at Avery while she listens to his words. This, this moment right here, this is the moment I’ve dreamed about ever since she asked me about her dad. I should be happy, but there is a little bit of sadness to this moment.
Avery sits there in her new princess dress and looks up at him with matching eyes to her father.
“Did you get lost?” Her voice comes out soft.
Stefano chuckles at her question before he puts his arms around her. “A little bit.” He looks at me next. “But I’m here now.”
“Are you going to visit?” I can’t even imagine what she is going through. I hope this moment is a moment she will always remember.
“No.” He shakes his head, and my whole body feels like it’s drained. I thought I was ready for this conversation. I played it over and over in my head so many times over the past four years, but it’s nothing like I imagined. “I’m going to live here.” I don’t know who gasps out in shock first, me or Avery, who now jumps off the couch.
“You can sleep in my bed.” She grabs his hand, pulling him off the couch. “Come see my room.”
“Um…” I voice to his retreating back. He laughs, looking over his shoulder but goes with her as she pulls his finger toward her bedroom.