Part 16 (1/2)

It is so good to be off that d.a.m.n plane!

Luckily, because of the last minute booking, Chance and his mother were seated elsewhere. I finally got some peace and quiet, some time to think.

But, the truth is, I would have very much preferred to sit next to him for the whole flight instead of Dad.

Dad just wouldn't stop talking about Vegas, about how we should go sometime, about how it was his first time.

And I just really don't care.

He has no idea how much it hurt me for him to not come to my graduation. Surely they would have understood... his own daughter's graduation! I gave a speech, everything.

I haven't forgiven him for that yet. I can remember the whole conversation like it was yesterday...

His face is beet-red, but not with anger or indignation, even though that's what he wants me to believe.

”Ca.s.sie Shannon, you will watch your mouth!”

”Why should I, Dad? You are going to miss my ceremony!”

I'm breathing hard, and I've got my hands on my hips. I mean, this is it? This is just final? Why the h.e.l.l did I even bother waiting for him to come back before eating dinner?

Why doesn't he understand just how much it upsets me?

”Oh, for heaven's sake, Ca.s.sie, it's just high school. I didn't even graduate, and look where I am now.”

I roll my eyes. ”Yeah, just high school. I'm Valedictorian! I'm giving a speech. I finished top of my year. And I'm one of the only students in the state to be accepted into any of the top universities in England. London School of Economics, Dad! Do you know how hard it is to get in there? It is the leading university in the world for social sciences, including political science!”

He sighs. His brown hair is ruffled from all the times he's run his fingers through it. ”I'm sorry, Ca.s.sie. It's all fully booked already. I have to go. I can't very well back out now. Do you know how important appearances are?”

”What about your appearance to me?”

Again, he just sighs. He looks at me, palms up, shaking his head. ”I don't know what to say.”

”It's a holiday, Dad. Can't you postpone it? For me? Can't you come and see your only daughter graduate? Can't you come and listen to my speech?”

”I'll see it all on the DVD the school will send out.”

”Oh for G.o.d's sake, Dad!” I yell.

My eyes are wet but I'm trying not to cry. I'm not trying to make him feel bad. I don't want him to feel guilty. I just want him to come. I don't want to be the only kid there without their parent present.

”It's not really a holiday,” he eventually says. He's deflecting, changing the topic subtlely. He's missing the point, and willfully, too.

It p.i.s.ses me off.

”Yes it is a holiday. Just because your company set it up doesn't mean you aren't going to enjoy yourself. You're going to f.u.c.king Vegas!”

”Hey!” he barks, jabbing a finger at me. His nostrils flare and his bushy eyebrows shoot up his forehead ”Don't swear! It's unladylike.”

I scowl at him. ”I would really like for my father to be present at my graduation ceremony. Is that too much to ask?”

”I just can't.”

”Just because you didn't finish school doesn't mean you shouldn't be there when I do. Just because it didn't matter to you doesn't mean it doesn't matter to me.”

I can't believe it. He just sits there and shrugs. ”You'll do fine,” he adds lamely. ”It's not all you think it is.”

I can't believe I'm hearing this. What a f.u.c.king a.s.shole!

”Mom would come,” I say, knowing it's going to sting him.

As I expect, his face tenses up for a moment. His whole body stiffens. I don't care. I'm out for blood now, even if I don't like this about myself. But he should be there when I graduate. He should be there for me. He's the only parent I've got.

And I'm the only kid he's got.

”Don't do that, Ca.s.sie.”

”Don't do what?”

”The company retreat is already set in stone. I'm just a junior partner. How can I possibly not go? You know I was just promoted last month. If I don't go, how do you think that looks?”

”How do you think it looks to your daughter that you're not attending her graduation?”

”My hands are tied, Ca.s.sie.” He pushes his two wrists together in front of me. His eyes go all puppy-dog.

What a d.i.c.k.

”What about the other partners? Don't they have kids, too?”

”They're all so much older than I am, Ca.s.sie! Their kids have already graduated.”

”And you can't bring it up? Get it moved? Did you even try? Did you even remember?”

”Of course I remembered!”

He's getting hot now. The temperature between us is rising. Good. He's got no ground to stand on.

”But they made it clear that these were the dates. What was I going to say? Gee, Mr. Davidson, Senior Partner, but I really think you should switch up the dates of this retreat you've planned for months and generously extended an invite to me for.”

”You're pathetic,” I spit.

”Watch it,” he says. This time, his tone does get to me. I flinch a little.