Three phone calls, one father, one daughter
WEDNESDAY:
*ring *ring*
"Kitchen, this is Graham"
*click*
FRIDAY
*ring* *ring*
"Hi, you've reached Hallie Lowenthal and Graham Chase. We aren't in right now, but-"
*click*
SUNDAY
*ring* *ring*
*ring* *ring*
Maybe I should just hang up.
"Y'ello?"
"Dad? Dad. Hi. This is..." The last week hits her all at once, and Angela's voice is breaking.
Not that her father notices.
"Angela! I am so, so happy to hear from you, honey. How are you doing?"
She sniffles. "Not -- not great."
There's a heavy sigh from the other end of the line. "I'm sorry I didn't come to tell you in person. I just -- I wasn't sure how you'd take it. And I thought your mom -- you know she's better with stuff like this than I am."
"No, you just don't want to deal."
"... Maybe that's fair."
"Dad -- look, it's not just about the divorce. Though I don't understand how you can do it. Danielle is just broken, and mom is broken, and -- really, Hallie Lowenthal?"
"Hallie is ... you never gave her a fair chance. And this isn't just about Hallie."
"... Whatever. She's not as pretty as Mom. Or as nice."
"Angela ... Look, there were things going on in our relationship, that -- I am not justifying this to my sixteen-year-old daughter. Your mother and I will always love you and your sister. Always. And we will always be here for you. We just aren't together any more. Right now, I mean ... we are only separated."
"Fine. I am never going to understand this, you know that?"
"You don't have to." With his occasional scary intuition, Graham picks up on an edge in Angela's voice. "Honey? Is anything else going on? Danielle told me that it seems like you're doing really well."
"Oh, Dad." Angela doesn't quite sob, but there's a catch in her voice. "This school is so weird. There are, like, vampires and demons and zombies and my boyfriend used to -- never mind -- and a girl died last week, Dad. A really sweet, smart, young girl. And they think somebody killed her."
There is a sharp intake of breath on the other end of the phone. "That's terrible, honey. I am so, so sorry. Things like that shouldn't happen. Anywhere. And I'm sorry we sent you to a school where they -- did you say vampires?"
"Yes." She sniffles. "I mean, only a few, but ... it only takes a few. And dead people. Walking around."
"We knew the school was diverse, but ... I never wanted you to be uncomfortable with anything. Do you want me to come get you? You could stay with your mom, or me, or your grandparents, or -- whatever works best for you. Just let us know, anytime, and we'll be there."
"No. No. I have reasons to stay here, now. But ... don't send Danielle, okay?"
"Danielle thought it was the coolest place she had ever been. But honey, really -- call me anytime and I'll be there."
"I ... I trust you on that, Dad. Even if I don't about ... you know."
"I know." There is a very long pause. "I do hope you'll understand all of this someday. But I'm 41 and I don't, so ... it might take a while."
Angela's voice is strangled when she next speaks. "Why is everything so hard?"
"If I knew that ... I guess it is because it has to be? You know I love you, though. Always."
"...I guess I do, yeah."
"Good. I'll see you for Thanksgiving, right? And if you wanted to bring your boyfriend, Hallie and I have a spare room."
"We haven't talked about Thanksgiving yet. I'll ask him."
"Okay. Stay safe, all right? And we'll talk later?"
"Of course. Bye, Dad."
"Bye, Angela."