Dancing Queen

Chapter 21

"What a warm welcome" Christina replied, smiling sarcastically and entering the house almost forcing her way in "Nice place. A bit small, perhaps".

"What do you want?" Benny asked her abruptly, slamming the door harder than he'd have.

Christina turned to him, crossing her arms over her chest "I'm here to see my daughter" she told him in an almost businesslike tone.

"To see your daughter?" he repeated ironically, also crossing his arms to his chest "I thought that you were supposed to see her a few months ago at the recital as agreed or last year for her birthday as agreed or a few weeks ago when you told her you were coming... As agreed!" he told her harshly.

"I was busy, Benny! You know? Money doesn't fall out of the sky and a singing career is hard work" she rolled her eyes annoyed.

"Oh, yeah, because you've become a world star, so..." he said shortly.

Christina glared at him and approached him "Don't start, Benny. It's not part of you to be aggressive".

Benny let out a forced laugh "You're incredible..." he ran a hand over his face, already tired of that discussion "Do you understand that it doesn't work like this? That an unexpected visit from you'd be ok if you came to all those scheduled where Heléne is aware that you'd be there and instead you don't show up? Do you understand that you're only doing damage to her, promising your daughter heaven and earth without being able to respect even one of the things you say!" he finished without being able not to raise his tone .

"I had commitments that couldn't be postponed! It's so hard to understand?! I'd always be here if I could, but I can't abandon everything for a dance recital!" she retorted, taking more steps towards him "There will be millions more in the future!".

Benny shook his head and laughed without amusement "You know that I have a job too, yes? You know that I too have a thousand commitments and a day is not enough for me to do even 1/3 of the things I should do? Well, I don't give a shit: if there's my daughter's dance recital, I'm going to my daughter's dance recital!".

"Good! Good for you! Do you want the father of the year pin?!" she yelled at him.

He ran a hand over his face and then stopped in front of her "Why are you here? Why now? Was it too much for you to make a damn phone call? What if we hadn't been home? Has it ever crossed your mind that we have our own life too?!".

She scoffed "Well, you're here, aren't you? It doesn't seem to me that your life has suddenly become more exciting than it was a month ago or a year ago. Anyway, I'm on my way to London and we had a stopover here. The plane will be tomorrow and I took the opportunity to come here" she explained simply.

He snorted, laughing almost maniacally "What a kind gesture... It's really nice to know that we're in the first place among your thoughts".

"My daughter is, I can't say the same for you".

Benny opened his mouth to argue when the front door suddenly opened.

"And then she put a sticker on my wrist!" Heléne laughed and entered the house, looking over her shoulder at Frida, then she froze as she entered, her eyes wide open "Mum ..." she murmured and then ran towards her "Mum!" hugging her legs.

"Hey, Heléne..." Christina stroked her head, smiling at her.

"Daddy!" Heléne turned towards her father "Mum is here!" and she ran towards him to embrace him, caught up in her enthusiasm.

"I saw her, honey" Benny murmured, stroking her hair and pulling her close to him.

Heléne looked back at her mother again and took her hand "Mom come! I have to show you my room!" she told her with all the enthusiasm and chaos of thoughts of a little girl who hadn't seen her mother for a long time.