“No.”
She searched my face.
“Really?”
“Nobody is entitled to your affection because you share DNA.”
Her shoulders relaxed.
“Okay.”
I knew Maya had arrived before I actually saw her.
The atmosphere changed.
Conversations became quieter.
Heads turned.
Then she walked inside.
Maya looked beautiful.
Expensive dress.
Diamonds.
Perfect hair.
Harry walked beside her, followed by several members of his family.
The moment Maya spotted Adele, she opened her arms dramatically.
“My beautiful girl!”
Several guests turned.
“I’ve dreamed about this day,” Maya announced.
Adele gave her a polite smile.
“I’m glad you came.”
Maya touched her cheek.
Then she saw me.
“Robert.”
“Maya.”
She looked me up and down.
“You look tired.”
I couldn’t resist.
“Fifteen years of parenting will do that.”
Harry looked away.
Maya’s smile tightened.
“Don’t start.”
“I wasn’t planning to.”
“You always were good at making yourself look noble.”
Visual Art & Design
I felt the old anger rising.
Then I looked at Adele.
She gave me the smallest shake of her head.
Not yet.
So I said nothing.
Soon, it was time for the ceremony.
Adele linked her arm through mine.
As we waited behind the doors, she whispered:
“Dad?”
“Yes?”
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
She squeezed my arm.
“For never making us feel abandoned even when we were.”
I nearly lost control before the ceremony even began.
The doors opened.
We walked together.
When we reached Jerome, the officiant asked the traditional question about who presented Adele.
I started to answer.
But Adele spoke first.
“The man who raised me does.”
A murmur moved through the room.
I kissed her cheek.
When I turned away, Maya wasn’t smiling.
For the next hour, everything was beautiful.
Then, during the reception, I heard Maya talking to Harry’s relatives.
“I tried,” she was saying.
My body froze.
“Robert made everything incredibly difficult.”
Harry nodded.
“Maya tried for years. He kept the girls isolated.”
