Oh, fuck.
This is him. The man who kicked his pregnant daughter out. Who chose his pride over his own child. Who let Tiff struggle alone for years while he did nothing.
“What are you doing here?” Her tone is so flat, I can’t tell what she’s feeling.
I know what I’m feeling. Anger. Rage. Annoyance.
Her dad stuffs his hands in his pockets and smiles. “I came looking for Zach. Didn’t think I’d find you here,” he says, his gaze sliding from Tiff to me, then to our daughter. “Living in sin with some punk—”
“I live here with Zach,” Tiff cuts in, her voice firm. “What do you want?”
He takes another step forward, and I follow, partially covering her. “I haven’t seen you in four years, and that’s how you greet me? I thought I raised my daughter better than that.”
“Daughter?” Her voice is wavering. I want to intervene and protect Tiff, but it’s not my place…yet. The reality is, just a couple weeks ago, people would have viewed me with the same disdain as him. “You lost the right to call me your daughter the night you threw me out.” She's trembling now, her keys rattling in her hand. “Leave. Please.”
“Not until we talk.” His voice rises, and Ella stirs against my shoulder. “Is that my granddaughter?”
“Leave.” Tiff’s voice breaks, and fury bleeds through.
“Tiff.”
“No. You don’t get to dictate things anymore.” Tears are streaming down her face now, and I feel her lean into me. If I wasn’t holding Ella right now, I’d wrap my arms around her and carry her inside. “You told me that I was an embarrassment to the family. You slammed the door in my face when I was six months pregnant and scared out of my mind.”
“I was angry—”
He takes another step forward, his hands gesticulating wildly. That’s when my instincts take over. I move between him and Tiff, Ella still cradled carefully in my arms.
“She asked you to leave,” I say sternly. “I suggest you listen.”
He blows out an amused breath, assessing me. “Oh, are you the new boyfriend?” His eyes rake over me before they drop to Ella. “Think you can play house with my daughter and—”
“Jamie, stop,” Tiff says urgently. “Please. Take Ella inside—”
“I’m not leaving you out here with him,” I say without moving.
“You should listen to your girlfriend,” her father sneers, taking another step forward. “This is family business. You got no part in—”
“I’m Ella’s father,” I blurt out, wishing I could stuff the words back in my mouth.
Why the hell did I just give this guy more ammunition?
“Father?” he says in shock, looking between the two of us. “You’re the rich prick who finally decided—”
“That’s enough.” The voice comes from behind me, and I turn to see Zach drop his gym bag on the pavers and stride up the walkway, his face like thunder.
“Zachy Boy.” Tiff’s father holds his arms out, offering a warm smile. “It’s been too long. See you’ve still got the bike we were building together. Did you finish the work on it?”
“Don’t start with pleasantries to me, Uncle C. You’ve shown up here, running your mouth, and you think you get to lecture anyone onfamily?”
Tiff’s dad takes a step back, but Zach’s not backing down. He steps in close, so close that the man has to tilt his head back to meet his eyes.
“Zach,” he says, and there’s no denying the fear behind Tiff’s father’s eyes. “I just want to talk to my daughter—”
“You don’t have a daughter anymore.” Zach’s voice is dangerously quiet. “My parents have a daughter because of you.Ihave a sister now, but you don’t have a daughter. Not anymore.”
“I was angry. I made some mistakes—”
“You made choices,” Zach corrects, positioning himself next to me. “And now you have to live with them. Tiff, do you want to talk to him?”