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“Where’s Rain? Is she going to join us?”
John looked up from the menu and smiled at his daughter. He stood to give Angelica a hug. “You made it! How was the drive?”
Angelica slid into the booth across from him, grabbing his menu.
“The drive was fine,” she said. “Traffic wasn’t bad at all. I was dreaming of waffles all the way down. Where’s Rain?”
John met her eyes. “We broke up.”
Angelica’s eyebrows raised. “What? Why? I thought you two were so cute together. I really like her. Plus, she’s really helped my psoriasis.”
She pointed to her elbow, where John could see the normally red and scaly patch had calmed down to a light pink. He felt a surge of pride; Rain had really helped his little girl.
Thinking of Rain made his heart lurch painfully. He missed her so much.
“It’s a long story,” he said vaguely.
Angelica dropped her menu and studied him carefully. He tried not to shift under her curious gaze. “Dad. What happened?”
He sighed deeply. It seemed weird to talk about his love life with his kid, but on the other hand, he didn’t have a lot of friends who he could talk to. He had more friends than he used to, but they were all Rain’s friends first, so he’d mostly been avoiding them.
“She disappeared for a couple of days, and I got pissed off and confronted her, so she got mad broke up with me.”
“You two ready to order?” They both turned their attention to the waitress to place their breakfast order. Angelica resumed their conversation as if there’d been no interruption.
“Wait Dad, back up. What do you mean she disappeared?” she asked.
“She told me she was going out of town until Sunday but then she was MIA until Tuesday,” he explained. “Then she didn’t even bother to let me know she was back.”
“She didn’t call or text you to say she was delayed?” Angelica asked in confusion.
“No, she was some place in the boonies without cell service,” he explained.
“Did you know that before she left?”
“Yes,” he answered.
“Why were you upset she didn’t call if she told you ahead of time she couldn’t?” she asked.
“She came home two days late,” he reminded her.
“What happened that she had to be gone longer?” Angelica asked. “Some kind of emergency?”
“No clue.”
His daughter cocked her head and frowned at him. “What do you mean, no clue? Something had to have happened. She wouldn’t tell you what it was, is that the problem?”
He thought back to the confrontation with Rain. God, Angelica’s question made him realize for the first time that he had never actually asked what happened. “I didn’t ask.”
He pressed his lips together. Angelica stared at him like he was a bug under a microscope until he finally continued, “Um. I realized she was home and I went to confront her. It got heated and I didn’t get all the details. Then she told me I was an asshole and broke up with me.”
“Let me get this straight, she’s some place where she can’t call you, and when she gets back from whatever happened, you yell at her without finding out what happened. Do I have this right?”
John nodded. It sounded so much worse now that Angelica was saying it out loud. “I love you Dad, but I have to say, I’m with Rain on this one. I would have broken up with you too if you came over and yelled at me without finding out what the problem was. What else happened?”
“She told me that when she got into cell range all my calls and texts annoyed her, so she turned off her phone,” he added sheepishly.
“Is all that normal behavior for her?” his daughter asked.
John shook his head. “No, I guess not.”
“How many times did you text her?” Angelica asked curiously.
“A lot.”
“Do you miss her?” she asked.
“So much it hurts,” he answered honestly.
He sighed and glanced out the window. As if he had manifested her, he saw Rain parked in front of the diner, Luna in the back seat. The car was loaded up with boxes and Daisy was leaning in the window talking to her.
He watched as Daisy straightened, then waved as Rain drove off. He only caught a brief glimpse of Rain’s face as she pulled away, but she definitely looked upset.
“Excuse me honey,” he said to Angelica. “I’ll be right back.”
He hurried outside and called to Daisy. “Hi Daisy, good morning,” he said. “Um, where is Rain going with her car all packed up?”
Daisy shot him a hard look. “Why do you care? What with her being flighty and insensitive and only caring about herself and all.”
John winced as Daisy threw his words back in his face. Apparently Rain had given her a blow-by-blow of their argument.
“Please Daisy. She looked upset. Was she upset?”
Daisy’s face was stern. “Of course, she’s upset John, she’s on her way home for her father’s funeral.”
“Rain’s dad died?” He hadn’t heard Angelica come up behind him.
Daisy gave her a quick smile. “Hi Angelica, yes Rain’s dad died unexpectedly.”
She glared at John. “Her parents asked her to come for a visit two weeks ago without giving a reason. Rain got there and he died the next day. She had no idea he was even sick. It’s really thrown her for a loop. Obviously.”
John felt like Daisy had punched him in the stomach. Why hadn’t he asked any questions before he went off on Rain that morning? He’d called her selfish for being at her father’s deathbed. Rain was right, he really was an asshole.
He had thought about reaching out to her many times over the past two weeks but instead he’d focused on his wounded pride. To think she had been two doors down, grieving and alone, while he sat around sulking, waiting for her to come apologize for not calling him.
He had to go to her. He had to make it right. He should be there for her. He just hoped it wasn’t too late.
“Where do they live?” he asked Daisy.
“I don’t think....”
He cut her off. “Daisy. Where does her family live? I have to go there. I have to apologize.”
“It’s a little late for that, don’t you think John?” Daisy was usually pretty mild-mannered, but she was a momma bear for her friends.
“I wasn’t there when she needed me, Daisy. I want to be there for her now.”
“She doesn’t need you giving her any more of your selfish shit,” Daisy said sternly.
Angelica nodded emphatically, clearly in agreement with Rain’s friend. He couldn’t blame her.
“I love her Daisy,” he said, admitting it out loud of the first time. “I was a jerk and she’s probably better off without me, but I want to try to make it right. Please Daisy. Where is she going?”
Daisy’s face softened. “Her family lives outside of Salmon Springs. I don’t know the address but it’s a very small town, I’m sure if you ask for directions to where Rain’s folks live someone will direct you. I understand the commune is pretty well known in those parts.”
John nodded, then turned to his daughter. “I’m sorry Angelica, but I’ve got to go to her.”
Angelica grabbed his arm. “Let’s go get our waffles to go. I’m coming with you.”