Separated

Part 14

Stevie was on edge since she woke up. In an hour's time, Mick was supposed to come over and pick up Jade for the weekend. She hadn't seen him in over two months and she would have gladly gone on without seeing him again, ever. Stevie never knew how her ex husband might behave, whenever they had to come face to face. Sometimes Mick acted nice towards her, talked politely, sometimes he barely said a word to her or simply made snide comments.

"Jade, honey, your father has arrived!" Stevie yelled, standing at the bottom of the stairs, making sure the girl would hear her.

A moment later, Jade appeared and not overly excited, made her way down the stairs, a backpack on her little shoulders. She hugged her mother and held on tightly, tilting her chin up. Stevie sensed there was something on the girl's mind.

"What's up?" Stevie asked, before the doorbell rang.

"I don't want to go." Jade replied, her honest answer was followed by a deep sigh.

"It's only for a couple of days, baby. Your father misses you." Stevie hoped that there was at least a grain of truth in what she said.

Both of them turned to the front door, when Mick attempted to enter the house. Stevie rolled her eyes and went to let him in. A goofy smile on his face, Mick scratched the back of his neck.

"I forget that I have to ring the bell." He said.

Stevie thought that it was getting close to a year, since they divorced, but she kept it to herself. "Nice to see you, Mick."

"You, too." Mick nodded, sounding sincere. "You're looking good." 

Stevie was unsure of how to take it. Everything that came out of his mouth, she presumed it to be either a lie or sarcasm. "Thank you." She wasn't about to compliment him in any way back. 

"Hey there, princess." Mick looked over to Jade, who didn't seem particularly happy about leaving her mother's side. 

"Hello."

Yes, Mick had never been a fantastic husband or a father, he simply wasn't a family man. At least, not the kind of family man she hoped to have in her life. But Stevie also knew that Mick loved Jade in his own way and it had to hurt him, the massive emotional gap between himself and his daughter. 

"Are you all ready to go?" Mick asked and Jade gave a nod of her head.

The girl gave a hug to her mother, holding on slightly longer than usual. "I can't wait to come back." She whispered to Stevie.

Holding Jade at arm's length, Stevie gave her an apologetic look. She had no right to keep the father and daughter separated and she would never think of doing that, but seeing Jade unhappy, made Stevie feel sorry for her.

"Love you." Stevie said, kissing the top of Jade's head.

"I love you, too." The girl smiled a little.

"Could you wait in the car for me, sweetheart?" Mick asked, lingering in the doorway. Jade walked past him, leaving the adults alone. "How are you doing?" He asked Stevie and it almost sounded forced.

"I'm doing really well, actually."

"Oh." Mick sounded somewhat upset hearing that. "Good. Good." He repeated, unsure of what else to say.

"We don't have to do this, Mick." Stevie said, wishing he'd just leave.

"I- I broke up with Stella." He stuttered.

Stevie nearly started laughing. "Okay. And?"

"Well, I thought... maybe you and I-"

"Let me stop you right there." Stevie interrupted, holding her hand up. "I'm just going to pretend you didn't even mention that."

"But-"

"No, Mick. I have zero interest in whatever you thought that you and I could do." Stevie shook her head, folding her arms over her chest.

Sighing, looking a bit defeated, Mick stood in the same spot for a second longer. "Right... then, I guess, I'll see you on Sunday."

"See you then." Stevie said, giving a nod of her head, anxious for Mick to finally leave her doorstep.

Stevie had a date to get ready for.