* * *
Vanessa, Rex and her father left the games shop and came to a halt outside.
‘That’s some kid,’ her father said. ‘Does he always live in a fantasy world like that?’
‘I don’t think he’s ever out of it,’ Vanessa replied. ‘Rex, do you believe Rod invited him to the game?’
‘Seems bizarre that he would, but I have a feeling Tucker is telling the truth about that.’
‘That’s gotta be a first.’
‘But what I’d like to know is why Rod invited him. That just doesn’t make sense. There’s no way he’d have time for a guy like Tucker. Ah never mind. There’s no point in us worrying about that.’
‘There’s no reason for us to worry about that.’ She took his hand in his and they continued walking down the street, her father walking behind them.
‘Hey wait you two.’
Vanessa and Rex turned to face him.
Her father peered in the direction of a department store. ‘I want to check something out, but I want Rex to come with me. Vanessa, why don’t you take a look in the fashions shops over there, while Rex and I go into there?’
‘Ok,’ Vanessa said, intrigued at the suggestion. It seemed strange that he would want to take Rex away on his own. Perhaps he wanted to talk to him in private about their relationship. She hoped not. ‘I’ll be in that store there, ok?’ She pointed to one of the fashion shops.
‘Ok,’ her father replied. ‘We won’t be long.’
Vanessa watched them as they crossed the street and entered the department store. Her curiosity was overwhelming and she really wanted to follow them in to see what they were up to, but decided against it. Rex was just too sharp and probably would have noticed if she was hiding nearby.
She wandered into the shop and checked out some of the racks. It was just the type of stuff that suited her. It was just as well Rex wasn’t there at that moment because if he noticed the desire in her eyes he would have started buying up everything she looked at and she already had so much stuff as it was.
She’d barely been there five minutes when her father entered the shop. He walked quickly over to her and smiled. ‘Time to go.’
‘Where’s Rex?’
‘I’ve got him buying something, but I don’t want you to see it right now.’
‘Oh... Shall we hang around here then?’
‘No, he’s going to meet us at Gartie’s in ten minutes.’
‘I thought we were going to the Landing for lunch.’
‘No, I made a mistake. It was Gartie’s I booked. Sorry, I messed up on the names. The Landing was the one I was originally going to book.’
‘Ok.’
‘We better get over there.’
Vanessa couldn’t help but glance back at the department store, feeling incomplete without Rex there at her side. She gave herself a mental slap to tell herself not to be so silly. He’d be with them in short while.
It took them another fifteen minutes to reach the restaurant and they soon sat at their table.
‘It’s good that I’ve got you on your own for a little, her father said. ‘I wanted to know whether you might consider coming to stay at my place during the holidays.’
Vanessa flinched. It wasn’t so much at the thought of staying at his place; it was the thought of not being in Te Arawa with Rex and her friends. The school holidays were just around the corner and she wanted to spend as much time as she could with Rex, but how did she tell her father that?
She realised she just had to come out and say it. After all, she didn’t owe him anything, especially after the fact that he had abandoned her for all that time. Why did she have to feel guilty about refusing to go to his place? ‘I don’t know, Dad. I mean it’s not that I don’t want to spend time with you, it’s just that I have so many plans for the holidays.’
‘Well how about just a week then?’
‘I don’t know.’ Vanessa felt really guilty for saying it. She wanted to compromise, but all she could think about was losing valuable time with the guy she cared about most in the world.
‘It’s him, isn’t it?’ His voice sounded harsh, but then it softened. ‘You can’t bear to be apart from him.’ His eyes seemed piercing even though his voice was gentle.
‘I’m sorry, Dad, but I love him and I don’t think I can stand being apart from him, even for a week.’
‘Well how about just a few days then? Can I have you for a few days? Is that asking too much?’
‘I don’t know, I guess.’
He placed his hand on her arm. ‘I just want to get to know my daughter again.’
‘I know.’ She paused and peered over to the entrance of the restaurant. ‘Rex, he hasn’t got back yet.’
‘Can you forget about him for five seconds?’ Her father’s eyes blazed.
She recoiled and stared at him. The tone in his voice reminded her of the times he got angry with her and her mother when she was younger. He had no right to be angry with her after what he had done. ‘Nuh uh!’ she said firmly. ‘I can’t! You don’t seem to realise just how important he is to me.’
‘More important than your own family?’
‘More important than family that abandons its loved ones!’ Vanessa was not one for losing her cool, but it was a huge struggle right at that moment.
Her father humphed, folded his arms and leaned back in his chair.
‘Don’t make me choose between Rex and you Dad, because there is no contest. I’m sixteen years old. I’m not your little girl anymore. I ceased to be your little girl when you walked out on us.’
‘Am I always going to have that hanging over my head?’
‘An expense gift or two isn’t going to change that, you know. You have to prove that you can be trusted. That you’re not just going to disappear again. Two days is too soon to expect to be playing the role of my father again.’
‘That’s why I want you to come and stay.’
‘I need more time.’
‘How much time do you need?’
‘As much time as I need to know that I can trust you again.’
Her father sighed and rolled his eyes. ‘You are just like your mother, you know that?’
Once again, Vanessa could feel anger welling up inside of her and made no attempt yet again to hide her annoyance. ‘You know? You’re right. I am exactly like my mother. Do you really realise just how much? You don’t. You have no idea!’
‘What are you talking about?’
‘In fact, I bet if you did know you wouldn’t even be here. You’d be so ashamed of your daughter, just like you were ashamed of Mum. If you knew, I’ll bet you’d walk right out of here now and not want anything to do with me. But that’s fine, because I’m going to be the one to leave first. I’m going to find, Rex.’ She rose from the table, grabbed her handbag and made for the exit.
‘Wait!’ her father rose as well and hurried out of the restaurant after her. He pulled her to a halt just outside. ‘What are you talking about? You’re not like her. Vanessa, you have a boyfriend!’
‘Oh, gee, really? I have a boyfriend? I guess that makes me an extra big freak then.’
‘Are you telling me...?’ his words trailed off.
‘Yeah huh, Dad. I’m gay. Just like Mum. Rex is sort of like my straight lover. If you don’t like that, well then, tough shit. See you later, Dad.’ She marched off down the street.
Her father did not follow.