The Devil Behind Me(56)

“Fine! I hate the fucking store! I hate what it’s done to you and me! We work day in and day out for what? Nothing!” I screamed.

“You didn’t need to work,” he said coldly.

“Are you serious?” I fired back. “Then who would work? You? Don’t make me laugh. You can hardly stand on your own two feet half the time. You’re sick, Daddy, and working here isn’t making it any better. Not for you or for me,” I shouted.

“You just want an excuse to leave with Daimon. You don’t need one, just go. I can do this all myself,” he roared.

“Daimon? What does Daimon have to do with anything?” I yelled.

“At least he’s not Frank,” my father stated angrily.

I began to cry uncontrollably at his harsh words. “I can’t believe you would mention that!” I yelled.

“You want to close my diner, Addie. This is all I have left of your mother and my dream. If this goes, she goes too.” He began to cry.

“Daddy, I'm sorry. I know I failed you. I know I screwed it all up, but I tried, I really tried.”

“Addie, I’m not going to give up as easily as you. This is my business, my dream. Thank you for helping me all this time, but I no longer want you here. Now get out.” he said harshly.

“I gave up my future for you and this stupid diner. It doesn’t matter what you say, the diner will close down within a few months anyways,” I shouted.

“What?” he yelled.

“We haven’t made any money, Dad. The diner has bled us completely dry. It’s done.” I finally admitted the truth, the giant truth which hung over our heads.

“I will find a way,” he said defiantly.

“You do that,” I fired back.

“If you had more drive, the diner wouldn’t be in the position it’s in,” he said in a serious tone. His words broke what little of my heart I had left.

“You think I wanted to be here? You think I wanted to schlep greasy diner food for a living? I hate being here, but I did what I had to for you and Sofia,” I snapped.

“With your business degree you could have made the business work,” he said angrily.

“I could have had a Yale degree, Dad. But I don’t, mom died and everything changed,” I spat out.

“Yes, your mother died and left me here all alone to care for two girls and our diner.”

“You’re not the only one who lost her, Daddy, I lost her too and so did Sofia.”

“Get out, Addie! You want to take it all away, just like I lost your mother, you want me to give up the only connection I have left with her. Get out,” he shouted so loudly I was afraid.

“Daddy?” I said meekly.

“GET OUT!”

I left the diner and my father behind. I walked through the streets of Astoria and made my way to downtown New York. I knew he was hurting, losing the business meant losing her all over again. He shouted at me not because he hated me, but for the first time in years we didn’t have Sofia to make things better between us. We were both hurting and all we could do was lash out at one another.

I wondered aimlessly as the night over took the sky. I looked up above as a droplet of rain had fallen on my head. It was starting to rain, but I didn’t care. I was overworked, exhausted and hurt by my father’s words. Even though I knew they came from a place of pain and hopelessness, his words stuck with me as they whirled around my mind. ‘Had you done better…with your business degree…you want to take it all away from me.’ The drizzle turned in to heavy rain. The water poured down on me, soaking my jeans and shirt. I don’t know how many hours I walked, but somehow I ended up in front of Daimon’s building. There I stood, the downpour beating down on me. My tears seemed cold compared to the rain that fell on me.

“Ms. Addie.” The jolly doorman appeared, looking somewhat dismayed.

“Could you tell Daimon I'm here?” I asked meekly. I was so broken I didn’t care who saw me.

“Sure,” he said as he went inside and came right back out. “Go ahead. He’s inside.” He held the door open for me.

I walked into the opulent lobby; it looked different now, I don't know why, but it did. I must have looked like a wet dog soaked to the bone as I slowly made my way past the man at the desk.

“Ms. Addie,” he said softly. I nodded and sniffled.

My wet hair was dripping on the expensive carpet I was walking on. I made my way to the elevator and the man at the desk came to help me. I stepped inside and pressed the button for Daimon’s penthouse. The elevator took its time as I stood in the middle making a small puddle around me. I looked through the highly polished bronze surrounding me. I looked listless and felt dejected. The words ‘get out’ kept running through my mind. Finally the elevator stopped, the doors opened and there in front of me stood Daimon.