Dave dragged Amy back to the office kicking and screaming. He had reached his limit and now he wanted her out of his life as soon as possible. He dropped her in the seat next to her lawyer. He grabbed the divorce papers from Todd and placed them in front of Amy.
“Sign.” he whispered, dangerously.
She looked at him scared. His face was so close to her, she cringed away in fear. “No.” The fear she felt was evident in her voice.
He forcefully placed the pen in her hand, “You are very lucky you are a woman, sign or I might just forget that fact.”
Throwing the pen across the room, “I want more.”
“I’m going to rip the settlement in half if you do not sign right now, and if we go to court I will leave you penniless.”
“Your dirty laundry would be aired if you do.” she said courageously.
She knew exactly how much his reputation meant to him but that would mean she would also expose herself. He knew she didn’t want that either, but she thought she could arm twist him into giving in with idle threats. He stood up and looked at her, picked up the papers and stared down at her, making sure he kept her gaze. Amy smiled, thinking she had won. Dave smiled back, she in for a surprise. He ripped the papers and placed the pieces in front of her. Amy’s smile faded, she looked shocked and then scared.
“It’s a means to an end.” he stepped away from her and turned to her lawyer. The pale man had been quiet the whole time, completely out of character for a lawyer, “I’ll try and get it set for next week and I’m also going to get the boy’s family to press charges for statutory rape.”
“What!” Amy yelled, jumping to her feet, “You can’t do that to me!”
“Yes I can, and I will, now get out of my building!” He headed for the door, but her lawyer cut him off, stopping him.
“She’ll sign the papers right now.” Amy protested, but he turned to her and hushed her, “A hundred thousand or being broke, and seven years in prison? You’ll take the deal.” He turned back to Dave, “I’m sure that was a copy, and you have the original?” he asked hopefully.
Dave looked at him amused, “Todd, bring the papers to my office when she’s done.”
He walked out of the room towards his office. He felt so exhausted, but yet glad it was all over. He would ask for the divorce to be expedited, and Amy would finally be out of his life in a month. That night and the day after, he was going to spend it packing all her stuff and removing every trace of her from his life.
He met Carol at her desk with a wine glass in her hand. She extended it to him and picked up another, “What’s this?” he asked with a smile.
“We are celebrating. The witch is finally gone.” she gulped down the content and poured another one.
“How did you know I would get her to sign?” he took a sip and let the bittersweet liquid settle on his tongue for a moment before he swallowed and took another sip.
“You are Dave Greer, you always get what you want.” she gave him a playful seductive smile. Dave starred at her with a raised eyebrow, and here he thought the flirting was going to stop. She winked at him and raised the glass to her lips, “Where is Lizzy?”
Dave felt his heart stop. With all his anger for Amy he had completely forgotten about his daughter. He placed the glass on the desk and ran for the elevator. He felt strung-up and impatient as he paced the six-by-four containment, waiting to get to the lobby. He couldn’t believe he had turned out to be exactly like Amy. He criticized her parenting skills, when he left his daughter in a cafe, and worse, on top of a table!
When he got out, he ran across the street, several cars missing him by an inch. He crashed into the cafe and looked around. She was nowhere to be seen. He felt his legs weaken as he stared at the vacant table he had left his daughter on. He ran to the blonde waitress and turned her around to face him. She had to hold on to the plate on her tray to keep it from flying across the room, “Where is my daughter?” he asked breathlessly.
She just stared at him, stunned and annoyed, “Did you give her to me?”
A little boy approached them and looked up at Dave with a sober face, “What are you doing?”
Dave let go of blonde and crouched down to the boy’s height, “Have you seen a blonde little girl who was sitting on that table?” he asked with a nervous smile.
The boy stepped away from him, “Why? Do you know her?”
Dave could see he was scaring the kid. He took a deep breath before he answered him, “She’s my daughter.”
“Why did you leave her?” he scolded, stepping closer to Dave.
Dave could feel the little patience he had left, fade away. He was in no mood to get reprimanded by a two feet tall kid, “I’m sorry, I promise never to do it again, now please tell me where she is.”
“You are very lucky my mama is the best… well maybe not the best, because she won’t let me keep her, but she has her.” He moped.
****
Maria walked out of the kitchen with a pot of coffee in one hand while the other held the little girl to her hip. She went around tables, filling empty coffee cups with a genuine smile on her face, it was hard not to be happy with the little girl around. She turned to find Jane and Michael with a man, and then Jane turned and left them alone. Maria felt panicked, she rushed to them and pulled Michael away.
The man stood up with a relieved look on his face. Maria looked at him again, it was the little girl’s father—Dave—and his cheek looked a little red, the woman’s—Amy—fingers visible. He reached for her, but she took a step back, pulling Michael with her. Dave’s facial expression changed, he looked irritated.
“Can I help you?” Maria asked with a levelled voice. The images of him angry flashed in her mind, she didn’t want to see that again, but she wasn’t going to make it easy for him. He left his daughter on top of a table for goodness sake!
“I’m here to get my daughter.” Dave took a step forward and she took a step back.
“Da!” the little girl shrilled happily, waving at Dave, and then her attention was diverted back to the gold cross pendant on Maria’s neck.
“Mama, do we really have to give her back?” Michael whined. He reached up and took the girl’s hand.
“Michael, she’s not a puppy,” she said softly to her son before she turned to Dave with a stern look, “nor a thing to be left on top of a table at a public cafe.”
“I said I was sorry.” Dave said, frustrated. He extended his hand for the baby but waited for Maria to give her up.
Maria looked at him for a while before she shifted girl on her arm. She brushed her curls from her face and kissed her forehead, “Your daddy won’t be winning any parent of the year award anytime soon, but I think he’s learned his lesson.” She laughed and kissed Maria on the cheek. Maria passed the child to the agitated father. He hugged her tight against him, apologizing profusely for leaving her alone.
“Thank you.” he said, more relaxed. He extended his hand to Maria, “I’m Dave. I work at McKenzie and Associates across the street.”
Maria took his hand, it was soft, heavy and hard, “I’m Paula, and you already know where I work.”
“I’m Miguel.” Michael offered. He moved close to Dave and held on to girl’s foot.
Dave gave him a peculiar look before saying, “She’s Elizabeth.”
“Lithbeth,” Maria said repeating the child’s attempt at telling Maria her name, “she’s a beautiful child,” smiling at the little girl. She took Michael’s hand and pulled him to her, “Not a puppy or a toy for you to keep.”
“He lost her!” Michael accused. Maria’s hand shot up and covered his mouth.
Dave looked at him and laughed, “I think we’ll be going now. Thanks again,” he turned and walked out of the cafe with his child in his arms.