Book Three, Part Seventeen: Dad is Single

Mia's Point of View

"Hey Dad." I said as I breezed into the conference room, he was sitting in. He was surrounded by charts and labs and papers galore.

He looked up and smiled widely at me, his eyes telling me how happy he was to see me.

"Hey Mia! What are you doing in this neck of the woods? Aren't you supposed to be working?" He asked.

"I was, but when I got here, I was told that Addie wasn't and that there wasn't really anything for me to do. She okay?" I asked, sitting down.

He sighed and set down the paper he was reading.

"Mia, I asked Addie for a divorce last night." He said, then looked at me closely to gage my reaction.

I laughed, which I could tell surprised the hell out of him.

"Sorry, but I was wondering when you were going to get around to that minor detail." I mocked him.

"Excuse me?"

"You're excused." I said casually.

He looked confused so I thought I should help the guy out. I mean, he is my father after all.

"Okay I will help you out with your general manly cluelessness. I told myself I would not lead you in any way in case Mom found out and wanted to blame me for you divorcing Dr. Barbie to get you two back together. This way I can plead ignorance and if that doesn't work, I can plead the fifth…Do you think that works with parents as well as spouses?" I rambled.

He know looked incredulous.

"Oh for Christ's sake, Dad. Do you think I was born yesterday? I told you before I knew how you felt for Mom. But you can't exactly pledge your internal love for her with a wife, now can you? I am surprised and almost ashamed that it took you this long to man up and do it." I lectured with my 'Mom' face, borrowed from my very own awesome mother.

Suddenly he laughed.

"Just when I think that nothing you do can surprise me, you do." He chuckled.

"Yeah, I like to keep people on their toes." I boasted proudly. "How did she take it?" I asked. I didn't dislike Addie. I wasn't conspiring to get rid of her. I accepted her as my stepmother, but I would prefer to make my Mom's eyes shine again, even at the unhappiness of two people, one of them being the man who raised me. I loved Mark, I always would. He would continue to be a big part of my life but both he and my mom deserved better, even as old as they were…

"She was…upset." He said hesitantly.

"She wigged out, didn't she?" I asked.

"At first, yes she…wigged…out but then she just seemed to accept it and I left her at the hotel and took her her things this morning. She was…polite." He said.

"What did you expect? Hugs and smiles? You are dumping her. That can't feel good. Not that I know about that." I smiled proudly.

"About that." He said.

I held up a hand.

"'That' is not open for discussion. Love me, love Jake." I said sternly.

He grimaced.

"Or at least accept him and accept that I will make smart choices. I am not stupid. I will not end up knocked up, defiled, or obsessed." I stated.

"What about deflowered?" He grumbled under his breath.

"That, I can't promise." I said.

He glared.

"Dad, I am fifteen. I just got my period last year."

"Ugh!" He slapped his hands over his ears.

I rolled my eyes.

He looked at me warily for a minute and then lowered his hands when he realized I wasn't going to say anything thing else about Aunt Flo.

"Dad, I am…a virgin and I don't see that changing anytime soon, okay? So, relax. You don't need more gray hairs."

"I don't have gray hairs." He denied.

"Oh, okay, so that is just a little of your blonde coming through. I see." I said with fake realization.

"You just have a comeback for everything, don't you?"

"Yep it is part of what makes me so lovable. Now back to the 64,000-dollar question."

"And what is that?" He asked.

"Which one of us is going to tell Mom of your impending single status?" I smirked.

The look on his face was a pure 'uh oh' one.

I sighed.

Must I do everything?

What do you think?