At the time Ralphie didn’t ask questions now, obviously, he knew.
“Sadie?” my father repeated.
Shirleen and Ava had come up with me. I felt their eyes on me as well as Daisy’s. I couldn’t do anything, my mind was still shut down.
“Sadie! Jesus! Are you there? I don’t have all fucking day.”
“Daddy,” I whispered.
I hated calling him “Daddy”. I always hated it but it was the only thing he allowed.
At my word, the room electrified.
Shirleen’s arm shot toward Daisy and I saw her fingers snap repeatedly but Daisy was already digging through her purse. I watched as she pulled out her cell.
“There’s talk,” my father said in my ear.
“Talk?” I repeated.
“Talk. We’ll get to that in a minute. Where have you been and why have you refused my calls?”
I blinked.
Was he nuts? Did I play my role that well that for twenty-nine years he actually thought I was the dutiful daughter? I’d always thought my father was smart (he even told me he was smart, he told me this loads) but it seemed apparent he was pretty fucking dumb.
Daisy jumped off the counter, phone to her ear and as she stepped away Ralphie and Roxie got close.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Visiting days, Sadie. Christ, I have things to go over with you. I’ve been here for months, there’s business to attend to, where the fuck have you been?”
“Working,” I replied, wheels had begun to turn in my head as I heard Daisy talking quietly on her cell.
“Working,” his voice was terse, angry and disbelieving. “Your father is in prison and you don’t…”
My back started to go straight and, as my eyes focused on Ralphie’s concerned face, my father’s voice kept on in my ear but I didn’t hear a word he said.
Something strange was happening in my chest. Something hard and hot was forming there and I realized it was anger.
In a flash, my mind reactivated, I lifted my chin and a New Ice Princess, one I’d never met before, one that had a whole different way of dealing with things, slid with a decisive snap into place.
“Excuse me,” I cut into my father talking, my voice dripping icicles.
“What?” he asked.
“I said excuse me. You were talking but I didn’t have any interest in what you were saying so I wanted you to stop speaking so I could ask you why you’re phoning. I have an opening in a few days and work to do.”
My father was silent.
“Hello?” I called.
“Sadie, now’s not the time to be funny,” he warned.
“I’m not being funny. I’m being perfectly serious. Now tell me, is there something you need or is this a social call?”
“Have you lost your mind?” my father exploded.
“No,” I replied shortly.
A brief pause then with soft menace, “It’s true. You’re fucking him.”
I blinked in confusion. “Pardon me?” I asked.
“Chavez. You’re fucking Hector Chavez.”
I wasn’t “fucking” Hector but it was close enough for my body to start shaking.
How could he know?
Obviously word got round, even in prison.
New Ice Princess replied for me, “I can’t imagine why that would be any of your business.”
“You’re joking.”
“May I ask, father, why you’re phoning when you hear I’m fucking Hector and you didn’t phone when I’m sure you probably heard that Ricky Balducci beat me senseless, broke multiple bones and raped me?”
My father displayed a one track mind and his response made my heart squeeze painfully.
“Hector? You call him Hector?”
“Well, I can hardly call out, ‘Agent Chavez, oo Agent Chavez,’ when he makes me climax, now can I?” I snapped, New Ice Princess gone, Attitude Sadie in her place and I heard Roxie let out a surprised giggle.
“Sadie, you little –”
I broke in before he could finish. “We’re done,” I snapped. “And I mean that. We’re done. Don’t call back, don’t write and don’t come looking for me on that sorry day when they let you out.”
With that, I took the phone from my ear (even while he was still talking), I pressed the off button and slammed the phone down on the counter.
My gaze swung around my audience. Uncertain faces watched me, Daisy was back amongst the crowd and all their eyes were on me.
I wanted one of my Ice Princesses, new or old, to come to me.
Instead, Shirleen’s hand touched the small of my back. At her touch, I lifted my hands, put them over my face and burst into tears.
Shirleen turned me into her arms and pulled me into her body. “Get it out, child, get it out.”