She was prompt; he had to give her that, which was a relief because he wasn't sure she would even show. He'd been here an hour already, almost expecting her to have some excuse like she arrived, but he hadn't. Andy wasn't going to take that chance, so he'd come early, but he'd only recently gotten something to drink. He couldn't believe she'd wanted to meet with him. The entire situation was odd. He had no idea she was passing through Los Angeles, but he was glad she'd reached out to him, whatever the reason. He had to admit he had hoped to see Hannah with her, bu he also knew that would have been too perfect, an afternoon date with Sharon and his daughter, but still, he was here. Sharon was here, and he was going to get a few moments with her.
"Sharon, hi, it's good to see you," Andy stood as she walked up to him. She looked really amazing to him, dressed in jeans that fit her figure perfect, a scoop neck black sweater with a long silver necklace, and black boots. She was pulling her carry-on bag, which was bright red. He stood to greet her, not sure how to embrace her. It felt odd to stick out his hand to shake hers. It felt odd to him to do nothing. A kiss on the cheek or full embrace felt strange too, even though he'd created a baby with this woman, so he opted to step toward her and give her a quick embrace, almost a side hug. She seemed almost surprised at the gesture and didn't quickly reciprocate it, making it awkward, but she did in the end. Andy tried to play it off, as if it wasn't weird or odd, but he was sure it had to look odd to anyone watching them.
"Ahh, Andy," she wiped the loose strands of hair from her face. That's when he also noted she had some of her hair pulled back, not a look he'd seen on her often, but it looked nice, good, to him. She looked great in any setting. "Thank you for showing up here."
"Sure," he gestured to the table he'd already claimed. There, he had two cups of coffee waiting. He nodded for her to sit, "I didn't know how much time you had, so I ordered you a cup of coffee. I know you mentioned not liking all the coffee options nowadays, just tea or black coffee, so I hope it's okay."
"Oh, ahhh," she looked around and then down at the coffee on the table. "Thank you. I can't take it beyond the security checkpoint," she pointed out to him. He gestured and held her chair for her.
"Well," he gave her a small smile and slight shrug, "all the more reason to sit down and enjoy the coffee right here."
"Right," she said as she let out her breath. She sat and nodded to him. He moved to the chair adjacent to hers and sat, turning to face her.
"So, how is Hannah?" Andy asked as he picked up his cup of coffee. He was trying to relax, trying to tread slowly with Sharon. At the mention of her daughter's name, Sharon couldn't help but smile.
"She's great, really great," Sharon nodded and looked down at her coffee. She now had both hands on her cup, and she stared into the coffee as if she would find an answer there. "She's really starting to smile, not that she didn't before, but it's all the time and is such a happy baby; her eyes just sparkle and make you want to smile. She's not rolling over yet, but I think it will be soon. The frustration from it is evident, which is the only time she doesn't really smile," she smiled slightly and glanced up to find Andy staring back at her, taking in every single word. He couldn't get enough. "Her grip is coming along too. She is reaching for anything she can get and putting everything in her mouth. She's hit herself in the face a few times with her little rattles."
"I think about her constantly," Andy said quietly, his voice sincere. Sharon looked to him and then back to her coffee.
Sharon didn't address his comment, but instead nodded and said, "I have your check for you. I don't need it or want it."
Andy sat back, surprised, and he raised his eyebrows at her, the reason for the get-together now brought to light. She didn't look at him, but instead, she continued to look at her coffee. She finally looked toward him and found him sitting back in his chair now, his arms crossed. He didn't look mad or upset, but instead, he just appeared to be letting her talk. The fact he didn't react, nor comment seemed to irritate Sharon because she waited for him to speak, and when he didn't, she moved to her purse to return his check.
"Here," she said as she pulled it from her purse. He could tell she had it right there on top, easily accessible, because she didn't have to dig for it. "Please take your money."
"I don't want it," he raised his hands in defense. "Look, that's for Hannah. Please use it for whatever you might need."
"I don't need anything from you," she gestured for him to take it. He continued to sit there, and finally, she put the check on the table. "You cannot keep giving me money."
"Why not?" Andy asked, finally engaging her in the conversation. "What's wrong with the money? It's for her. I don't care how you use it. I'm not asking. I'm trying to help, to take care of her in the only way I can right now, the only way you will allow. I'd love to do more, but this is all I can do or would allow," he rolled his eyes.
"I'm independent and can raise her on my own," she told him.
"Oh, stop, Sharon," he finally said. "It's a check. Put it in the bank for her if you don't want to use it. Call it her car fund for all I care. I want her to have it. Have your parents given her money? Has Gavin? I'm guessing the answer to both questions is probably yes, and that's what is ridiculous. What's the difference? You'll take money from them, but not from me? We all love Hannah. Is it so wrong she has money behind her for the future?"
Sharon stared back at him and rolled her eyes, "She doesn't need anything."
"Maybe she doesn't need anything now, Sharon, but she will. Maybe she will be a ballerina like her sister. Maybe she will want to go to some expensive college. Save the money for her. I've tried to play by your rules, but it's getting a little frustrating. I'm here, trying to do the right thing by her, by you, and you continue to jump on me. Jack, I know that dirt bag ran off with your money. He left you alone with your kids to foot the bill for everything. You stayed married to him after all that. I'm here, wanting to have a relationship with my daughter, the opposite of what Jack has done, and I'm trying to give you-give her-money for the future, and I'm still the bad guy. I don't get it, Sharon. I'm trying so hard to do right by her, but you are against it. I'm not trying to take her from you; I just want her to know her dad loves her and will support her too. I've left you alone. I just want a relationship, and yet, I'm the bad guy. You know, I even understand why Sandra hates me. I really do. I wish she would see I've changed, but I put her through it when I was drinking. I was a horrible husband and father. I get it why she hates me. You," he nodded, "I've never done anything to get you to mistrust me, to hate me. I was good with our relationship arrangement. We were having a good time. You were fun even, sweet and sexy," he started to list things about her he had enjoyed. "I know Hannah was a shock, but what happened to that Sharon? That is a side of you I never imagined, but I got to see it. I liked that fun side, and yet, it's gone. I've tried to only support what you want, but you have this hatred for me."
Sharon sighed and looked up while Andy sat back in his chair again. She looked at him, "I'm not going to cash the check, and for what it's worth, I don't hate you."
"Fine," he shrugged. "I'll just open an account I'll designate for her. I'll keep putting money into it, and when she's 18, it will be a really nice graduation gift," he threw a smile at her. Her eyes widened. He continued, "Look, I am not asking you tell her the money is from me. I don't care about that, but I want to do right by my own daughter, at least to start trying. It took me time to get my head on and realize she is just an amazing blessing, but I'm all Team Hannah now. I want to do anything I can for her. I'd give my life for her. You, Sharon, are amazing. You brought Hannah into this world, and I will never be able to thank you enough. I just want to try and help. So fine," he shrugged. "I'll keep the money. Maybe by the time she's 18, she can buy a brand-new car with cash. That's fine with me. Then, it will be hard to explain why some random guy is giving her money. Of course, by then, nothing would make me happier to have my daughter know who I am, but all I can do is take one day at a time."
"I'm really not trying to be difficult," she said quietly before she looked up and met his gaze. She rolled her eyes slightly and said, "I'm really not."
"And, I'm not trying to be a problem. I'm trying to help. You called me to return money I want you to have for our daughter. Call it what you want, but she is. I'm over any piece of paper saying otherwise. I love her with everything I have. I'm trying not to be a crappy father. I kept telling myself that was all I was, but reality hit me like a freight train, and I understand that I can do better. People are quick to say blood doesn't have to make a family, and in the same breath, I'm saying that a piece of paper doesn't mean I don't love my kid. I was stupid to sign that, and I'll keep saying it until you believe it. I think I've kept my word since I found you. I told you I would give you space. I've done that. I've allowed you to contact me. I'd always love to hear more, to get more pictures of Hannah, but I've held back and let you do this on your terms. I appreciate you allowing me into your lives, and that's why I'm really trying to give you space now, Sharon, but I'm not a bad man. I'm a decent guy who is trying. I've been trying for years with my other kids, and I'll continue to try."
"I've never said you were awful," Sharon looked over at him and tried to relax her posture. She was tense; she could feel it. "So much of this is based on my desire to keep Hannah safe."
"That's all I want too," Andy gestured with his hands. "After her safety, I want her to be loved, to feel loved. I want to be part of that, to love her. I know I can do that; I already love her. Money seems like a greedy way to show love, but she needs it too. She will need money; you will need money for things, and I want to help. Now, if that check sits here, I'll do something with it. I'm used to that from my other kids. I'm used to making deposits into college accounts for them. That's what I could do and did when they were younger. If that's what you want, so be it. I can open an account, or you can take that money. You can go blow it on new clothes for yourself; I don't care. I trust you, as her mother, to use it for anything you need. I know you love her too; we can both love her, and just because I love her doesn't mean I'm going to take her from you. Regardless of how you've treated me, you are a good mom, a wonderful mom."
Sharon listened and then glanced at her watch. She shook her head at Andy, "Look, I am going to have to go. I have a flight to catch. I wanted to address this check you put in her Christmas gifts while I was in town, face to face."
"Where's Hannah?" Andy asked. "I've wanted to ask that since you arrived." He ignored her comment about the check, as they'd already gone rounds discussing it.
Sharon gave him a small smile as she stood. It was hard not to smile at the mention of Hannah, "She's with my parents. Gavin flew me out here for his birthday," she rolled her eyes slightly, the lighter topic easier to discuss. "We spent the last couple days together shopping and just relaxing. That's Gavin," she sighed. "He spent thousands on me to celebrate his birthday. He loves Hannah, but this wasn't a trip for her. It was a nice break for me, and Gavin insisted on buying me a new wardrobe."
Andy nodded and looked at her. When he met her gaze, he shrugged, "Well, you look great," he nodded to her. "Back to Gavin-You let your best friend spoil you, spend his money on you because he cares about you,-he loves you, yet, you are doing everything in your power to tell me I can't do the same for you and Hannah, that I can't spend money on people I care about in my life. He made eye contact with her and could tell that hit her. That comment struck a nerve and was something she couldn't dispute.
Sharon was silent as the two stared at each other, just momentarily. Then, she started to move quickly to gather her things. She repeated, "I have a flight to catch." She busied herself, collecting her bag and purse. As she stood with her things, Andy called to her again. He'd sat up in his seat and now was resting his elbows on the table.
"Sharon," he said as she gripped her bag to walk away. She turned slightly to face him, "Look, could you at least promise me you will think about bringing Hannah to L.A. the next time you are in town? Please, Sharon. I know you will be back. I'd love to see her, to see you. I'd love pictures if you want to send them, text or email. I'd love any information about her, anything Sharon. Please think about bringing her and about sharing more with me. I love my daughter."
Sharon took a moment and swallowed, trying not to show a lot of emotion. She reached for her cup of coffee and in the same motion, she picked up the check too, Andy's check. Her eyes met his, just briefly, and she gave him a single nod before she said, "I'll think about it. Thank you for the coffee."
"I hope you will, Sharon. Be safe flying home. Kiss Hannah for me, and I hope we can talk again soon," he said as he stood. Sharon, before he tired to hug her again, nodded and moved quickly out of the coffee shop. He stood there and sighed as he watched her. She'd taken the check, and he hoped she would cash it. Better yet, she'd agreed to think about bringing Hannah the next time she came to town. There would be a next time; he knew it.