No Longer Your Perfect Husband

dr

rantic rhythm of the windshield wipers. I broke every speed limit, my knuc

was disheveled and out of breath. A nu

I hel

Lily Davies.

r. Miller? You took your time. The doctor n

said, my chest tight with anxie

her tone softening slightly. "The surgery is to set the bone and repair

I knew what that meant. Bone breaking

he waiting room, my head in my hands.

ally, a doctor in

of Lily

t. "I'm her fath

he's in recovery now. It was a nasty break, but she's a strong kid. She'

so intensely I felt

g her to her r

and small in the big hospital bed, her right leg encased in a mas

he anger, all the resentment, it all melted away, replaced by a raw, overwhel

agined her, small and scared, stepping into the stre

called Olivia. I had to

ng distant and distracted, music thumping in the

said, my voice dangerously q

d abruptly. "Wha

one. She just got out of su

tant fundraiser," she stammered. "I just step

ng into the street? Where the hell we

soon as I can," sh

ne in disbelief. Her daughter was in the

urs ticked by. One hour. Tw

ed open. Her eyes, the same cool grey as her mother's,

she whispered, h

ctor gave you medicine.

inced, her eyes filling w

and helped her drink through a straw. She dr

ed on my face. A tear rolled do

ad

he first time in her seven years of life that

hispered, my own voic

ded, her grip tightenin

. I'm ri

expensive perfume and hairspray. She was still in her evening gown, a sil

exclaimed, rushing to

candy. "Look what I brought you,

can't have this. She just got out of surg

I'm her mother. I know

ack. "Or she wouldn't be i

"I want my dad," she sobbed, turning her face a

shock and fury. She was not used to being

calculating look entered her

ive. "She needs you. She needs her father. Maybe... maybe t

her perfect hair. I looked at Lily, crying i

called for the person who always took care of her pain. Olivia saw that depe

rity settl

Lily's grasp. She looked at

irm. "I gave up my parental rights, remember? You'r

led. "But... y

terile air. "I'm not. You should call m

She's your responsibi

walked towa

ream. A raw, piercing sound of abandonm

down the hallway. Nu

arm. "Ethan, you can't be serio

pulling my arm away. "She has

every step. I didn't look back. I got in my car, and I drove away