Chapter Seventeen: Twelve Years, Five Months
"Happy birthday!"
His now twelve-year-old daughter grinned. "Thank you!"
"So," said Tony, "Did you do anything fun?"
Did I bake you a cake? Did I smile proudly as you blew out the candles? Did I buy you something special? Did you thank me with a hug and that dazzling smile that's so much like your mother's?
"Yeah, I had a slumber party. Grandma made me a cake and we went to Disneyland."
Did you miss me?
"And Oliver bought me a new computer."
"Who's Oliver?" asked Tony, with a sinking feeling in his stomach.
"He's… he's Mom's new boyfriend. She said I shouldn't tell you about him, but I didn't think that was… right."
"Uh-huh…" Tony's head was spinning with jealousy and guilt for feeling that jealousy and begrudging Michelle her chance of happiness, and it took him a moment to realize that Zoe was staring at him anxiously. "So, uh, what's he like?" he asked, attempting to be rational and accepting for her sake.
"He's nice." Zoe nodded reassuringly. "Like I said, he bought me a computer, and he paid for the trip to Disneyland. He's a journalist; he interviews famous movie stars and stuff all the time and he says if I'm lucky I might get to meet some of them."
Tony nodded. "He sounds like a good guy, I guess."
"He is. Mom's really happy with him. She smiles and laughs a lot more than she used to."
"I'm glad."
Do you miss me?
Tony felt tears sting the back of his eyes.
Obviously not.