"Chloe, come over and we can talk."

"I don't want to hear what you have to say Dad. I came home for Raymie and for Mom. I'm disgusted with your behavior! I know they have different beliefs than us, but you've just-" she sighed. "There's no excuse for this."

"Please Chlo-"

Click.

Rayford held the phone in his hand. He couldn't believe Chloe, his flesh and blood, his pride and joy, had dismissed him that way. They were so similar he expected her to understand more. Irene preached at her just as much as she did Rayford, and she had to have become just as sick of it. As he sat on the couch and thought of his daughter he saw Hattie walk into their apartment in his peripheral vision.

"Hey Hattie."

She beamed as she walked over and sat down. "Ray, I have something to tell you." He looked at her waiting for her to continue. Sometimes her pause between sentences got on his nerves. "We've lived together almost a month now. I know you and Irene have to be separated two years before you can get divorced-"

"What's the point Hattie?"

"I'm pregnant... We're having a child Rayford." He sat back on the couch. "Did you hear me?" She asked with a smile. "We're going to have a baby... I know that the situation isn't exactly ideal, but there's nobody I'd rather have a child with."

"I've raised my family..." Rayford said softly and Hattie's face fell.

"You don't want it?" Her voice quivered. "Do you not want me? I thought we were together. Irene was your past and I was your future. You said that Ray!" She exclaimed. "I gave up my condo in Des Plaines to move in with you. Was it only physical? I'm nice to look at, a play thing, but you don't want me as your wife?"

Rayford looked over at her as she continued her episode nearly in tears. He touched her hand.

"You caught me off guard that's all. I do need you. You're my future and it's more than just a physical relationship. I'm happy about the baby Hattie, I'm just upset about Chloe."

"What happened?"

"She's home, but doesn't want to talk to me. Who knows what Irene is telling her."

"She wouldn't say anything negative about you. You know that."

Rayford nodded. He thought that could be true, but at one time he thought he knew Irene too.


The next day he drove to the house where he saw Irene's car was gone. Rayford was relieved, hoping he could talk to Chloe without her returning home while he was there. Even more, he wanted Chloe to understand his point. It had always been Rayford and Chloe against Raymie and Irene on so many issues. He walked inside and saw her sitting on the couch channel surfing.

"Where's your mother?"

"She took Raymie to a birthday party." She replied flatly without looking up at him. "I don't know when she'll be back, so why don't you crawl back into whatever hole you came out of?"

"Chloe," he said as he stood next to the couch trying to remain calm and not get angry. She looked up at him and scoffed. Chloe stood up and went to walk away when he put his hand on her arm. "Please listen to me."

"Are you coming home?"

"No," he replied and looked at the ground. Rayford couldn't believe how uncomfortable he felt in the presence of his own daughter.

"I have nothing to say and I certainly don't want to hear your excuses!" She paused. "I know Mom drives us both crazy with her beliefs but you know I let her tell me and even pretend to take an interest sometimes. You could do that too instead of running into the arms of a flight attendant! Mom has cried herself to sleep every night, did you know that? Or even care how you hurt her? Remember last year when I thought I was going to marry my boyfriend but he broke my heart by graduating, going to Europe and getting married? I know the pain Mom's feeling! I may not agree with her about spiritual things but I'll never forgive you for hurting her and Raymie like this. You are destroying our family. You leave Mom for this Hattie person and you are no longer my father. I'll go to Stanford and you'll never see or hear from me again!"

"Chloe-" he started, but stopped as she rushed up the stairs. He knew it was a difficult adjustment for all of them, but one day they'd realize it was better for everybody this way... Rayford sighed, who was he kidding? He knew it'd hurt Chloe and Raymie, but he just didn't care. His selfishness and desires were put before his own children. He just wished they'd realize one day that life could be okay this way too. They weren't losing him, they'd gained a step mother who did care about them and a brother or sister. Raymie had wanted a sibling for years but Irene and Rayford agreed Chloe and Raymie were enough. He would finally get his wish. If only he could get them to see it that way.