I asked her, wiping away her tears, “What can’t you do? How did he question you?” After swallowing, Jennie moved away from me. She remained silent. Rather, she dried the remainder of her face while staring out the window. “Jennie, please tell me,” I gently urged her. “You’re worrying me.” “For his medical care, he needs money. I’m not sure exactly what he needs. However, he asked me to pilfer money from you,” she eventually admitted, very slowly.

“He said it was the only way for him to live.” I noticed red. The theme music from “Kill Bill” was playing in my mind. “He –” Coming to a halt, I cleared my throat. “He asked you for money?” Jennie responded, “Yeah, Mom,” and at last her gaze returned to me. “But how am I going to achieve that? For a long while, I witnessed how difficult it was.

I observed you using your phone to tally every purchase you made and every dollar you spent.” God, oh God! I really didn’t want her to witness that! But Jennie went on. “It’s not the same now. She paused and glanced at the fidgety fingers on her lap. “I know it’s because of your new job, but you don’t worry about every penny anymore.”

“I can’t lie to you, even though I know that taking some money from you won’t harm us. Not for my own father, either.” My vision was still tinted crimson, but my mind cleared because I was so happy for my daughter! I have no idea how, yet I raised the most exquisite soul! I took hold of her and encircled her in my arms once more. “Jennie, don’t be concerned.”

I planted a kiss on her head and said, “I’m going to make some calls and see what your father needs.” “Really?” “It’s true,” I told her. “Everything will be okay.” In any case, for us… “Hello, Emily! It feels like a very long time. I still don’t know, listen.” “Save it, Frank!” I slapped my phone down. I had returned home.

I was stuck in the bathroom, and Jennie was in her room. The greatest buddy of my ex-husband was Frank, and the one I knew had consistently told falsehoods to me concerning George’s location. “Tell me right now what disease George has!” I made a chilly demand. “What are you trying to say? Since then, I haven’t seen George.

“I told Frank to stop telling lies! I said, “I know you’re still friends, but you need to find out for me right away if he’s sick or not. I forbid you from lying to me. This pertains to the life of my daughter. For once, Frank, be a decent man.” Frank was silent for a moment before he said anything. With caution, he said, “Look, I don’t know anything about a disease.”

“I know he’s around, but I –” For me, that was sufficient information. I put my hands on my waist and ended the conversation, moving around my restroom. Frank’s lack of knowledge of any illness was sufficient evidence that George was lying. He was merely wanting money, and he was a slime who used Jennie to get it! I therefore devised a scheme.

“Your father needs these pills.” We were leaving the neighborhood CVS when I stated to Jennie, “They were pricey, but this should be enough for a while.” I was ashamed of myself for deceiving her, but how could I tell her that her father was even more of a jerk than I had thought? With a smile, she questioned, “Will this really cure him?”

After saying, “I’m sure they will,” we climbed into the car. Jennie called her father later that evening to set up another meeting at the coffee shop. The following morning, I drove over to pick her up and parked there as well. I yelled, “Wait, Jennie,” as soon as she opened the car door. “Give this to your father along with the pills.” She nodded as I gave her the note.

While my intelligent and happy daughter practically jumped inside the coffee shop, I remembered the letter I had written to her father: “Your disease is a lie, I know that. You scared our child. You can even take a pill in front of her if you don’t want me to suit you for not paying child support for all these years. Inform Jennie that those suffice.

I’m sorry you scared her! You had better behave yourself and don’t get in touch with my daughter ever again.” I also laughed to myself since the medications I purchased… were diuretics. powerful ones. An hour went by, and Jennie was back in the car with a beaming smile. And George vanished once more, exactly as I had predicted.

I wished he was confined to a restroom for hours, if not forever! I lied to Jennie, so when I told some of my friends, they didn’t think I did the proper thing. However, I stand by what I did, and I’m aware that eventually I’ll have to give Jennie the whole truth. But just now, I just wanted to keep her safe. Was that really so incorrect?