23 Griffin Way, Monday afternoon [8/10]
On a hot day like this, there was nothing else to do but lounge by the pool, and that's what Dani was doing until her cell phone rang. It's too bad she didn't check the Caller ID before answering.
Ken
"Happy birthday, Dani! How's my favorite little girl?"
Dani
"That depends on which girl you're talking about," said Dani. "How many other illegitimate children do you have running around out there?"
Ken
There was stunned silence for a moment on the other end before Ken spoke again. "That wasn't called for, Dani. I'm your father. I deserve a little respect."
Dani
"Then maybe you should have told me the truth about my mother when I wanted to know instead of telling me she was some Spanish princess living in Europe. Do you even know when my real birthday is, or did you just pick a random date when you had my forged birth certificate made?" blasted Dani.
Ken
"It wasn't a random date, Dani," said Ken. "It was the day that your mother left you with me when you were just a newborn. I've always chosen to celebrate the day my darling little girl came into my life."
Dani
And even though Dani's anger at her father has been building for months, Ken's word did quell some of the bitterness she felt. "It's probably the first time in years that you haven't taken me out to dinner at the club for my birthday," she pointed out.
Ken
"Well, that can be fixed," said Ken. "I'm in Baltimore this week to check out a horse. We should have dinner. Maybe I can even stop by and see this new house I heard about from your brother."
Dani
"No! I mean, you don't want to come here, really. It'll be too far out of your way, and I still don't have any furniture in the extra bedrooms so you can't stay," argued Dani. It was important for her to keep Ken out of the life she'd built for herself in Fandom, because he was bound to meddle in things.
Ken
"Oh," said Ken. "Well, then you should come and see me. I'll be staying all week at the Sheraton, but I'll be watching the workouts at Pimlico in the mornings."
Dani
"I can be there tomorrow," promised Dani. She would kick herself later for agreeing so easily.
Ken
"Great! I'll see you tomorrow, baby girl," said Ken.
[Establishy, but open!]
Ken
"Happy birthday, Dani! How's my favorite little girl?"
Dani
"That depends on which girl you're talking about," said Dani. "How many other illegitimate children do you have running around out there?"
Ken
There was stunned silence for a moment on the other end before Ken spoke again. "That wasn't called for, Dani. I'm your father. I deserve a little respect."
Dani
"Then maybe you should have told me the truth about my mother when I wanted to know instead of telling me she was some Spanish princess living in Europe. Do you even know when my real birthday is, or did you just pick a random date when you had my forged birth certificate made?" blasted Dani.
Ken
"It wasn't a random date, Dani," said Ken. "It was the day that your mother left you with me when you were just a newborn. I've always chosen to celebrate the day my darling little girl came into my life."
Dani
And even though Dani's anger at her father has been building for months, Ken's word did quell some of the bitterness she felt. "It's probably the first time in years that you haven't taken me out to dinner at the club for my birthday," she pointed out.
Ken
"Well, that can be fixed," said Ken. "I'm in Baltimore this week to check out a horse. We should have dinner. Maybe I can even stop by and see this new house I heard about from your brother."
Dani
"No! I mean, you don't want to come here, really. It'll be too far out of your way, and I still don't have any furniture in the extra bedrooms so you can't stay," argued Dani. It was important for her to keep Ken out of the life she'd built for herself in Fandom, because he was bound to meddle in things.
Ken
"Oh," said Ken. "Well, then you should come and see me. I'll be staying all week at the Sheraton, but I'll be watching the workouts at Pimlico in the mornings."
Dani
"I can be there tomorrow," promised Dani. She would kick herself later for agreeing so easily.
Ken
"Great! I'll see you tomorrow, baby girl," said Ken.
[Establishy, but open!]