Oh my god!
That heavily accented voice demanding I open the door is my dad’s! A huge smile appears on my face, I chuckle while I open the door.
As soon as it opens, my dad yells, “Where is the fuck bastard?!”
Ah, okay.
Dad looks a little out of sorts. His hair is a mess, his eyes are bloodshot and he is spitting angry.
My brow furrows and answer, “Which fuck bastard, Tata?”
He pushes his way into the apartment and makes a show of looking around. Lifting sofa cushions, peering down the hall, checking under the dining table and going so far as to even check if I’m concealing someone in the kitchen cupboards.
He stands in the kitchen and turns to me, he responds, “THE fuck bastard. He no here?”
The fuck bastard. That could only be…
I answer softly, “Jace isn’t here, Ta. I haven’t seen him in years. Before Mia was born.”
Dads eyes flash and he tells me, “He call. He call me looking for you. He ask where you live, Valentina. I no tell him but he try find you.”
What? No way.
I shake my head and say, “Tata, you must’ve been mistaken. He’s not here so…”
I haven’t even notice I’ve left the door open til I hear, “Everything okay, babe?”
I spin and see Nik standing there staring holes into my father’s head. He has a pizza box in his hands and is dressed in sweats and a t-shirt.
Le sigh.
He looks amazing.
I spin back to my back and see Dad staring holes right back into Nik. The funny thing is that Nik is acting protective of me. Okay, so my father has his hands on his hips while wearing a scowl but if my father were a dog he would be a Chihuahua. All bark and no bite.
I ask Nik quietly, “What are you doing here?”
Nik continues to glare at my dad and answers, “Nat thought you might need some company tonight with her being out so she asked me to come.”
That little sneak!
Dad loosens up at this. He storms over to Nik, holds out his hand and says, “Nat tell you to take care my Tina? Natalia is like my own child. If she like you, I like you.”
I roll my eyes and introduce them, “Nik. Dad. Dad. Nik.”
Dad shakes Nik’s hand and replies, “You have longer name?”
Nik nods and replies, “Nikolai Leokov.”
Dad smiles and says, “Ahh, Ruski!” Then he looks at me and says, “Nije hrvatskom, ali on je okay.” Then he leans forward as if Nik isn’t there and whispers loudly, “But Ruski are communists, Tina.”
Oh my God, Dad!
I did not miss my father embarrassing me at all. Luckily, I hear Nik chuckle and he asks me, “Is there a problem? You looked anxious when I got here.”
But it’s my dad that answers a heavily accented, “Big problem, Niki. So big problem. The man try see Tina, she no want to see him. He call me today.”
Nik brow furrows as he asks, “Which man?”
Oh, crap!
I start, “Tata, nemoj!”
But it’s too late, dad blurts out, “The fuck bastard, Jess!” Dad can’t say Jace properly.
Nik turns to me, his eye twitches and he repeats, “Jace? As in, that Jace?”
Oh, Shit!
I don’t normally swear but this is an Oh, Shit moment! Nik looks about ready to kill someone, namely Jace, and dad seems to like this because he’s smiling like a loon.
I’m just about to answer when someone walks into the doorframe and I freeze.
Jace Weathers looks into the open apartment and freezes, too.
I choke out, “Jace, what are you doing here?” Nik steps forward to stand next to me.
Jace looks from Nik to me to Dad and greets, “Hi. It’s been a long time, Tina.”
You don’t say?!
Jace still looks good, a little more mature looking but still tall and handsome. He looks at dad and says in greeting, “Marko.” Then he looks at Nik and says, “I’m Jace.” He holds out his hand for Nik to shake.
Oh, no. I don’t want Nik to get arrested for assault so I quickly take Nik’s hand and squeeze it.
Nik utters, “I know who you are. I just don’t know who you think you are to come here today.”
I jump back in fright when Jace is pushed in the back. He flies forward into the apartment and there stands a fuming Nat behind him yelling, “GET OUT YOU FUCKER, YOU AREN’T WELCOME HERE!”
Nat stalks in followed by Mimi, Lola, Trick, Ghost, and Max.
I ask a shrill, “What is everyone doing here?!”
Nat looks at me and says, “Your dad called me. I left dinner and called for backup.”
Dad storms over to Nat, kisses her cheek and puts an arm around her shoulder. Dad loves Nat. Always has. They have the similar abrupt personality and bond over it.
My face falls and I ask, “You left your date for me? Honey, you shouldn’t have done that.”
She smiles and pats my hand, “Don’t worry, I’ll reschedule.”
Jace stands, straightening his jacket. He looks at Nik and says loudly, “I’m the father of Tina’s child. That’s who I know I am.”
A long silence follows.
Nat is the first to react. She steps forward and whispers, “You dare call yourself that?”
Rage fills me. I look at Jace and ask slowly, “Do you even know when Mia’s birthday was?” Jace looks down at his shoes. I continue quietly, “Or the first word she ever said?” The rage builds and I yell at him, “When did she cut her first tooth, Jace?” I close my eyes and breathe deep before saying calmly and quietly, “All you were was a sperm donor. Mia didn’t have a father.”
I burst into tears and croak, “I needed you so badly when she died. My dad had a breakdown mourning my mom. When he needed me the most I couldn’t be there for him because I was organizing Mia’s funeral as well as my mom’s. And you didn’t even come to her funeral.” I nod my head and state, “Twenty five fucking messages, Jace. That’s how many I left. If it weren’t for Dad and Nat, I don’t know where I’d be. But I’m good now. No thanks to you.”
Max looks disgusted as he asks, “You didn’t go to your own daughter’s funeral? What kind of man are you?”
Ghost looks livid, he steps forward and spits, “You need to leave right fuckin’ now.”
Trick growls, “You forget you ever knew Tina.”
I’m suddenly surrounded by warmth and the love of my friends. And it’s nice.
Nik doesn’t say anything for a while then, “Money.”
Jace avoids my gaze when Nik states, “He needs money, Tina. That’s why he’s here.”
My mouth drops open. I don’t believe it. But Jace doesn’t deny it.
Nik gets right up in Jace’s face and says with frightening calm, “I swear to God, you ever come near her again and I will gut you and use your intestines to decorate my Christmas tree. You’re nothing to Tina. Just somebody she used to know.”
Lola hold Trick’s hand and boasts, “Tina has something good here. She doesn’t even think about you anymore.”