Some days later found Amanda preparing to visit with her mother, much to the young girl’s chagrin. Daniel knew she had been having a blast with him and his pretend lover; going to the park, the movies, even to the arcade in town that he claimed was a germ haven. He found himself able to relax more with Tiffany, and it seemed that his daughter had noticed as well. She sat sullenly in the back seat, arms crossed over her chest as she sniffled softly.
“Honey, you only have to stay with your momma for a few days. Then, it's back to playing princesses with your daddy and me," Tiffany murmured soothingly. Daniel chuckled, glancing in the rearview mirror. His heart ached at seeing his daughter so upset, but he couldn't justify depriving his wife of time with her; at least, not yet.
"Will you make daddy wear the feather boa again?" Amanda inquired softly, and Daniel glanced to Tiffany from the corner of his eyes, silently mouthing ‘no.'
“Of course. Maybe I’ll even break out my makeup and give him a makeover," Tiffany said in a tone that sounded entirely too pleased with herself. She grinned at Daniel, and he rolled his eyes good-naturedly before focusing back on the road. "But I'm only going to break out the lipstick if you behave for your momma until we come back to get you,” Tiffany added, and the young girl groaned unhappily.
"She never thinks I'm good," Amanda lamented, and Daniel rumbled a laugh as they drove into the parking compound of Melody's apartment complex. Daniel unfastened his seatbelt, watching as Tiffany remained firmly planted in the passenger seat.
“Come on. You two will have to get used to being in each other’s presence from time to time,” Daniel teased. Amanda giggled brightly as she unfastened her seatbelt as well, opening the door and jumping out of the car.
“Yeah, Miss Tiffany. Maybe you and mommy can be friends,” she announced grandly. Tiffany snorted, but quickly composed herself. It was obvious she couldn’t say no to Amanda’s pleading gaze, so she unbuckled and stepped out of the car as well. They walked as a group to Melody’s apartment, and Amanda rhythmically tapped on the door.
“Hold on a minute,” Melody called out grouchily, and moments later the door was pulled open. She brightened upon seeing her daughter, though her expression immediately dropped again upon seeing Tiffany. “Well, look what the cat dragged in,” she muttered. Daniel stiffened, prepared to launch into a tirade. However, Tiffany spoke before he was able.
“I owe you an apology, Melody,” the larger woman murmured, and Melody’s eyes nearly bulged out of her head. Daniel might have found it laughable if he weren’t so surprised as well.
“An… apology?” Melody repeated, uncertainty obvious in her voice. Tiffany breathed a sigh before reluctantly nodding.
“I shouldn’t have said the things I said to you. I have no way of understanding what your relationship was like with Daniel. Though he treats me quite well… maybe he’s simply changed since the two of you were together. I just wanted to let you know that I'm sorry for my behavior and that I realize it was inappropriate. Especially in front of Mandy," Tiffany murmured. Melody looked taken aback, opening and closing her mouth for several moments. She looked much like a fish, and Daniel forced himself to swallow a laugh. Despite feeling as if the apology was unwarranted, he couldn’t help the warmth that bloomed within him in the face of his pretend lover’s compassion.
“...Thank you,” Melody finally settled upon, her face looking significantly less strained than it had when they first approached. “Truth be told, I owe you an apology as well. I was so angry to see that someone was happy with my ex-husband. I wanted to rip that happiness away from both of you. But regardless of how Daniel treated me, you could be right. Maybe he has changed. For your sake, I hope he has," Melody muttered, looking vulnerable. Daniel looked between the two women and felt Tiffany give him a rough nudge in the ribs. He glanced at her, fighting a groan when she jerked her head towards Melody. As much as he wanted to deny it, the truth was that he very much owed his ex-wife an apology. Though she struggled to be a good mother at times, she had loved and taken care of Amanda during the times he simply could not. She may not deserve full custody of their daughter, but at the very least, he felt he could offer an apology for the way he treated her towards the end of their relationship.
“I’m sorry, too,” Daniel apologized bluntly, and Melody looked even more surprised. “For all our fights, you helped raise Amanda the best you could. I should have been a better husband to you. I know I can’t change that now, but…,” he trailed off, and Melody averted her eyes, clearing her throat.
“If you want to make it up to me, treat this one well, Danny. I mean it,” Melody uttered with an air of finality. She reached out to take their daughter’s hand, guiding the small girl into her apartment. “I’ll see you two in a few days. Enjoy your time together,” the slender woman said before abruptly slamming her door shut. Daniel stared at the door for a moment, before glancing towards Tiffany. She met his gaze with something akin to amusement, and all at once he felt his heart surge with affection.
“Let’s go home,” she murmured. He nodded, fighting the urge to shout to the heavens how wonderful she was. He slipped into the car, and she turned the radio up once he started the ignition, humming under her breath. It was a wonderful sound, a sound that brought memories of the night he had nearly shared with her to the forefront. She sensed that he was rather uneasy, and as they pulled into the driveway of his home, she turned to face him. “Daniel? Are you okay?” She inquired softly. He hesitated for a moment, meeting her gaze. All at once, he lost control of himself. He lunged forward, tensing his hands in her blouse and forcing their lips together. She squeaked, immediately deepening the kiss. After a moment, however, she jolted away. "You said," she sputtered, and Daniel looked at her with a pleading expression.
“Since that night, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you. How beautiful you are, how much I want to… to...,” he trailed off, and she stared at him through wide eyes. “But you deserve so much better than to lose your virginity to a man who can’t make up his mind, you deserve--,” he stammered out, only to feel her lips crash against his once again.
“Take me to your bedroom,” she murmured as she drew away, eyes dark with desire.
“But, Tiffany, if I start, I’m not sure I can stop,” he groaned. She smiled gently, caressing his cheek.
“You don’t have to. I know you don’t love me, Daniel. But for tonight, can you… can you just pretend?” She implored. His breath caught in his throat, but he managed a nod. The two scrambled out of the car, immediately finding comfort in each other’s arms. They kissed passionately all the way to the front door, drawing away only long enough to draw breath. Adrenaline surged through Daniel’s body, and as soon as the door was open, he lifted the curvy woman up. She wrapped her legs around his waist, surprised and obviously aroused by his strength. He staggered up the stairs, struggling not from the added weight but from the sheer strain of his arousal. He slipped into their shared bedroom, tossing her onto the bed. She bounced up, laughing almost deliriously before their lips met again. He fumbled with the buttons on her blouse, and she forced him away just long enough to pull his shirt off.
Frustrated with how long it was taking to get her shirt off her, he ripped it open sending buttons popping in all directions. She laughed, and he reveled in the sound, pressing his lips to the column of her neck. He reached around, swiftly unclasping her bra. It fell away, and his lips continued to travel down her body. She gasped out his name, keening loudly as his mouth found her plentiful chest. He wrapped his lips around a nipple, gently tweaking the other one with his fingers.
“Daniel,” she moaned gutturally, and his stiff arousal gave a sudden throb. It was simultaneously going too fast, and not quite fast enough. She jerked her hips upwards, and he struggled with the button of her jeans before managing to yank her jeans down. He hesitated for the briefest of moments upon seeing the damp spot on the front of her underwear, leaning in to deeply inhale her scent. She whined, bucking her hips up. He moved swiftly, pulling her underwear down and pressing a kiss to the apex of her thighs. "Stop… stop teasing me, Daniel. I want you. I want you… inside me," she gasped out desperately. He seemed more animal than man now, so captured in his arousal. He slid his jeans and boxer briefs down on his hips, his arousal springing to attention once it was freed. Taking control, Tiffany pushed Daniel onto his back. He groaned, hips jerking spasmodically as she gripped his throbbing manhood. She stroked it for a moment, considering it with a hungry expression. Decidedly, she shifted to rest on top of him, pressing the head of his length to her entrance. She lowered herself slowly, and he watched her expression shift from bliss, to brief discomfort. He felt her hymen tear as he entered her fully, and she simply rested with him inside of her for a moment.
“Are you okay,” he managed, leaning in to gently capture her lips. She whimpered against him, nodding her head before slowly moving her hips. Her motions were strained at first, but as she established a rhythm, she grew more desperate. For his part, all he could do was to grab her curvy hips and synchronously pound into her. She moaned in earnest, bouncing on top of his throbbing staff. The sensations soon became nearly overwhelming, and as she slammed down on him a final time, her walls clenched around him as she came. He cried out her name, the word coming out strangled as he shot his load deep inside of her.
It was over all too soon, but Tiffany considered him with an expression of near overwhelming relief.
“Thank you,” she gasped out, pressing her lips to his once more. He returned the kiss weakly, groaning against her lips as she lifted her hips off him. The clean freak inside of him might have demanded that he go shower immediately, but he couldn’t find it within him to move. Tiffany curled up at his side, and he heard her breathing begin to even out as it seemed she would drift off asleep. Just before sleep claimed him as well, she whispered three words that made his heart stop. “I love you," she uttered softly, unaware that he was still awake. Guilt crashed over him in waves, but he fought to keep his face passive as he pretended to be asleep. She pressed another kiss to his cheek and moments later she was snoring softly.
Rest would not come so easy for Daniel.
The following morning found Tiffany tucked comfortably in his arms, snoring softly with her face pressed against his chest. He watched her with a conflicted expression, not wanting to wake her up, but certainly not wanting to wake her up and deal with the consequences of his actions either. As much as he cared for Tiffany, he knew a relationship wouldn't work. He had already screwed up things with his wife so much, he dared not risk harming the woman in his arms in such a way. He exhaled a sigh, resting his chin atop the crown of her head. She stirred slightly, and he went still in hopes of not waking her.
“Good morning, Danny,” she murmured against his chest, pressing a gentle kiss to the inky black tattoo that spread across his chest. His heart gave a noticeable pang, and as she drew away to look up at him, he struggled to force a smile.
“Good morning, Tiffany,” he finally managed, edging away from her to slip out of bed. As the blankets fell away from him, he became all too aware of his nudity and Tiffany’s eyes upon him. He shifted uncomfortably, rummaging around for a pair of clean underwear at the very least. Seems laundry had been the last thing on his mind, but it also seemed he had done very little actual thinking in the preceding days. Tiffany hummed softly under her breath, and he understood she was watching him with rapt attention as he got dressed. He glanced towards her, forcing an uneasy smile. “So… what are the plans for the day?” Daniel inquired softly, receiving a warm laugh in turn.
“God, Daniel, I could stay in bed with you all day,” she hummed, burying her face in his pillow. His heart gave another pang, and he offered her an awkward smile.
“Well, we do have to prepare the house for my daughter, tomorrow. Today, it’s just us, but... I’ll prepare breakfast for the two of us in the meantime,” he offered, shifting towards the door. Tiffany chuckled, sitting upright and allowing the sheet to fall away from her. Her breasts swayed temptingly as she leaned forward, crossing her arms under her chest.
“Isn’t that my job? I have become something of a homemaker after all. Seems you’ve put me in my rightful place after all,” she teased. He chuckled, a rather humorless sound.
"Oh, it's no trouble. You simply… get dressed and meet me downstairs," he forced out, turning his back on the woman and slipping out of the bedroom. He knew he was being unbearably awkward, but he wasn't sure how to approach the woman the day after their lovemaking-- sex. Their sex. What they had done wasn’t making love, because they were not in love with each other… despite the feeling in his heart. Despite the words, Tiffany had uttered when she thought him fast asleep. He shuffled downstairs, feeling a familiar emptiness at not seeing his daughter already flitting around the house. He knew she was simply with her mother, and he would be picking her up tomorrow at the latest, but he couldn’t help the ache that nearly overcame him at the thought of losing her altogether. Though that seemed an unlikely prospect with the arrangement he and Tiffany had, he was beginning to have second thoughts about the entire facade. He sighed, cracking some eggs into a pan to fry. He could hear Tiffany beginning to meander down the stairs, though he tried to pay her little mind as he prepared their breakfast. He shuffled away from the stove, slipping two pieces of bread in the toaster. He felt her approaching him from behind, unable to stop himself from stiffening as she wrapped her arms around him.
“What are we going to do today, without Amanda here?” Tiffany inquired teasingly, and Daniel couldn’t help but stiffen in her grip.
“I need to do some grocery shopping, maybe just take some time to relax and read a book I’ve been meaning to catch up on,” he answered vaguely. He could only hope it wasn’t painfully obvious that he intended to do these daily activities along, but Tiffany caught the hint, allowing her arms to slip away from him.
“That sounds… fun,” she muttered, not bothering to mask her scorn. “But if you really want to sell this relationship thing, you’ll have to step your game up a bit.” She taunted. It was obviously an attempt to tease him, but something about the words struck him entirely the wrong way. He wheeled around to face her, narrowing his eyes critically.
“Seems I did that well enough last night, wouldn’t you say?” Daniel bit out snidely. Tiffany’s eyes widened, and she looked briefly wounded. However, she soon recovered, crossing her arms over her chest.
“If I didn’t know any better, I would think you were already having regrets about the entire thing,” she retorted. Daniel remained silent, continuing to prepare breakfast. Tiffany exhaled a weary sigh, stepping away from him and slipping into the dining room. He knew he should comfort her, he knew he should assure her that his regrets were certainly not due to a lack of attraction. However, it was all he could do to focus on preparing breakfast. Once the eggs were done, he plated them and carried them into the dining room. Tiffany sat at the opposite end of the table, resting her head in her hands. Guilt sank its gnarled claws into him, and he parted his lips to speak. “I didn’t expect you to regret something as simple as sex. I know you're attracted to me. What difference does it make if there's no emotion behind it?" He smirked with biting remarks, “It would be just as well, were there a mutual lack of emotion.” She looked up at him, eyes wide with an emotion he couldn't quite recognize.
“What are you even talking about?” She demanded, and he chuckled hollowly, serving up her eggs and toast.
“Nothing. Just eat your breakfast,” he bit out. She stared at him through soulful eyes, and he cursed the fact that it seemed as if she could see into his very soul as well. Just then, his cellphone began to ring. He glanced towards her, unable to tear his eyes away for a moment. The phone jingled obnoxiously, and he gritted his teeth, turning his back on her to go grab his phone from where he had left it the night before. The battery was reading low, and it was fortunate he could manage to even get a call at any rate. Recognizing the number as Melody's phone, he answered in a gruff voice. "What is it, Melody?" He groused. He heard an uncomfortably shuffling on the other line and a soft voice hum uncertainly.
“Daddy, are you okay?” His little girl inquired awkwardly, sounding almost afraid. He cursed himself internally, cursed Tiffany as well, before pulling himself together.
“I’m fine, sweetheart. What do you need?” Daniel replied gently, gripping the phone tightly in his hand. Amanda hesitated, and he swallowed a sigh as she hummed a moment before speaking.
“Momma wanted to invite you and Miss Tiffany over for dinner tonight. She said something about an olive branch, but I don’t really know what that means,” she admitted shyly. Daniel tensed despite himself, knowing that they were supposed to be on better terms with his ex-wife from this point out. However, the thought of dealing with the awkwardness with his fake lover as well as his ex-wife seemed nearly too much to bear. “Please, Daddy? I really want to see you," Amanda whispered, and his heart nearly broke in his chest. Of course, he would do whatever his daughter asked him, he was wrapped around her delicate little finger. He decided not to give the argument with Tiffany another thought, forcing a smile although Amanda couldn’t see it.
“We’ll be there later, honey. Don’t you worry. Tell your mom we thank her for inviting us,” he replied amicably, suddenly aware of Tiffany’s eyes upon him from the doorway of the dining room. He gritted his teeth, feeling inexplicably angry at how awkward the entire situation had become. All because the foolish woman had developed feelings for him. Who cared if he had developed feelings of his own, he had never intended upon acting on them. “Bye honey,” he muttered to his young daughter, voice strained. She sweetly bid him a good day as well, before they both hung up.
“So, I take it we have plans,” Tiffany mused quietly. Daniel turned to face her, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Assuming you can hold yourself together,” he retorted. She narrowed her eyes at him, the smallest of tears pricking at the corners. He felt a grim sense of satisfaction, knowing that the only solution for dealing with her feelings for him was to nip them in the bud, so to speak.
“Why would I have a problem holding myself together? Just because you agreed to take my virginity?” She asked hoarsely. Anger and guilt surged through him, melding together in an uncomfortable combination. He stepped towards her, eyes narrowed intensely.
“I’m more concerned with the reason you allowed it in the first place. It was obviously a mistake, rooted in misplaced feelings. I had expected to go into this entire thing with a grown woman, not someone childish,” he gritted out. She glared, reaching out to jab her finger against his chest.
“Why are you being such a dick suddenly? Just because I wanted to wait to lose my virginity doesn’t make me a child. You’re the one acting like a child. Amanda is more mature than you are when the two of you are angry. I’m beginning to understand why Melody felt the way she did,” she hissed. Daniel’s heart felt as if it were breaking, but his brain buzzed with sheer fury. He stepped towards her, smiling a saccharine sweet but quite obviously fake smile. He gripped her by the chin, and she struggled against him, pushing against his chest.
“You want to know what the difference is between those two situations, Tiffany? You want to know why you’re different than Melody?” He inquired icily, his heart pounding in his chest. Tiffany’s eyes widened in primal fear, and she struggled even harder to get away from him. It was as if she knew the venom he was prepared to spit, and wanted to shield herself before it killed her. "I loved Melody. We loved each other. Melody wasn't a foolish woman with a foolish crush,” he sneered, getting right in her face. He watched as her face crumpled, and though his chest ached at the sight, he knew it had to be done. At least, he had thought it had to be done. He was beginning to question himself now that the wind was slipping from his sails.
“I…,” Tiffany began, jerking away from him and drawing her hands to her chest. It was as if she was feeling a sudden pain in her chest, and Daniel could only assume it was heartbreak. His anger dissipated, and he parted his lips to sputter an apology. Tiffany did not give him the chance. “I was wrong about you. I thought you… I thought you were a nice guy. I thought you were a good guy. But I was mistaken. I fell in love with someone who truly doesn’t exist,” she muttered. He stared at her, watching quietly as she edged past him and towards the door. She grabbed her keys, and fear washed over him as she opened the door.
“Tiffany, you absolutely cannot quit on me now. What about my daughter? What about this whole charade,” he cried out, desperately trying to backpedal.
“I need to think,” she murmured. She looked towards him, a heartbreaking pain shining in her eyes. Then, she slipped out the door and towards her car. He watched her go for a moment, pondering all the things he could say to remedy the situation. He gritted his teeth, lurching towards the door of her car.
“If you won’t talk to me and handle this like adults, I have no desire for you to come back tonight. If this is truly over, I never want to see you again. I won’t have you break my,” he paused, catching her gaze. He swallowed, steeling himself. “I won’t have you break my daughter’s heart,” he muttered. She met his gaze, holding it for a long moment. Tears streamed down her face, but the look in her eyes is what truly startled him. It held an emptiness, a sheer lack of emotion that he had never seen in the woman’s eyes before.
“Goodbye, Daniel,” she whispered, shifting the car into gear. He had to leap away from the car as it lurched backward out of the driveway, just to avoid being struck. He watched her go, his heart pounding in his chest as bile rose in his throat. What had he done? Was this what he had wanted? Had he truly wanted to push her away? He watched as her car raced down the road, disappearing into the distance with the sound of squealing tires. Concern washed over him, but it was quickly replaced with self-righteous anger. If she was so willing to throw this all away, if she had been willing to throw it away just for a chance to sleep with him, he couldn’t blame himself for her leaving. He turned his back, a sense of dread washing over him as he stepped back into the house.
He had to distract himself from what had happened, but first he had to break the news to his beloved little girl. He knew how dearly she had loved the woman he shared a fake relationship with, but knew that he couldn’t let her believe that Tiffany was going to come back. Not after what she’d said. Not after what they had said to each other. Deciding to get dressed and break the news to his daughter in person, he got dressed, trying to mask his misery by washing his face with cold water. He grabbed his own keys before stepping back outside, looking at the burnt rubber along the asphalt of his driveway. He swallowed thickly, slipping into his car and turning the ignition. The radio played a sorrowful love ballad, but he quickly switched it off. He reasoned that being alone with his thoughts certainly had to be a better option than listening to tales of love gone wrong. That’s not what this was, and it wouldn’t benefit him to entertain that idea. To think it was love gone wrong would require admitting his feelings for Tiffany. She was the poor girl who had caught feelings for the wrong person, not him.
He swallowed his pride, turning the radio back up and belting out the lyrics to the song. Tears pricked at his eyes, but he would not allow them to fall. In the distance, he could hear the wail of a siren, nearly drowning out the radio. However, he simply turned up the volume, turning the bass up full blast. He screamed along with the song, gripping the steering wheel tightly. He knew he was being ridiculous, knew he shouldn’t feel as if his heart was breaking within his chest. He had to focus on his daughter, and how he would comfort her.
Melody's apartment complex soon came into sight, and he pulled into the parking lot. His little girl was riding her bike back and forth on the sidewalk, and he could spot his ex-wife lingering towards the side of the building. He opened the car door quietly, slipping towards Melody before Amanda could spot him.
“Can I have a smoke?” He inquired gruffly, and Melody quirked a brow, looking as if she had something snide to say. She seemed to rethink it, however, as he felt a single tear roll down his cheek.
“Goddammit, Daniel,” she muttered, giving him a menthol cigarette. She lit it for him and he took a long drag before exhaling the plume of smoke. Melody looked fully prepared to give him a piece of her mind, apparently able to piece things together to an extent from the fact that Tiffany was not with him. However, she fell silent as their daughter leaped off her bike, rushing towards the two of them.
“Daddy! I’ve never seen you smoke before. Are you alright? ...Where’s Miss Tiffany?” She asked in a rush, her words coming faster and faster. He felt a sense of shame wash over him as tears pooled in the young girl’s eyes and she wrapped her arms around him before burying her face in his stomach.
“Miss Tiffany is gone, honey. I… I don’t think she’s coming back,” he managed, wrapping an arm around his daughter’s shoulders. She sobbed against his stomach, gripping him tighter.
“But you said it wouldn’t be like with mommy. You said Miss Tiffany would be different. I thought… I thought… she said she loved me,” the girl wept.
“I know, honey. I thought it… I thought it would be different. But she… no, I screwed up,” he admitted, the guilt washing over him in full force. His daughter drew away, and she looked to her mother imploringly.
“Can daddy stay here with us tonight, mommy? Please?” She implored, and before Daniel could argue, Melody rested a hand on his arm.
“You’re in no shape to be driving like this. You messed up, Danny, but I won’t see Amanda lose her father over this. Stay and have dinner with us at least, I want you to pull yourself together before you drive home,” Melody gently maintained her gaze into his eyes. He wanted to argue, wanted to argue that he had to find Tiffany. If he was in no shape to drive, he could only imagine the shape she was in. However, the protest died on his lips as his daughter sobbed out another cry, clinging to his leg.
“What do I do, Melody?” He implored. “I know I have no right to ask for your help, but… I love her. I really do,” he admitted, more to himself than the woman before him. She took another long drag of her cigarette before stomping it out, taking Amanda by the hand.
“We’ll have dinner, the three of us, and tomorrow you can go looking for her. Tell her you’re sorry. Just make sure she knows how much you love her. Shithead or not, you’re not an altogether bad guy, Danny. I’m sure she loves you as much as you love her, if not more so. And, as much as I hate to say it, things just wouldn’t feel right without her around. Not just for Amanda’s sake, but for yours as well,” Melody muttered, looking torn between wanting to smack and embrace her weeping ex-husband. He nodded, and Melody led both him and their daughter into her apartment, where the scent of home fried chicken wafted freely through the air. The scent was tantalizing, but sadness gripped Daniel’s heart at the thought that he could not share it with the woman he loved. The sentiment seemed shared by the others in the apartment, and Melody gently soothed Amanda’s tears before moving about setting out plates for everyone. The meal was eaten in silence. Despite wanting to begin searching for Tiffany, Daniel knew he had an obligation to see that his daughter was alright. Melody threw a sheet and a pillow on the couch, and although he and her mother were getting along, Daniel mused that Amanda seemed no more soothed for it.
“Daddy, you have to find her. You just gotta. Tell her we love her,” she sobbed, curling up on the couch with him. He wrapped his arms around his sweet baby girl, muttering soothing word into her ear.
“We’ll find her, baby girl. Everything will be okay. I promise,” he murmured. She drifted off into a restless slumber, and it was all Daniel could do to follow suit. He had no idea if the words he’d said were true. He had no idea if they would find Tiffany, or if she would even want anything to do with him. He shuddered to even consider the alternative: never seeing her again and him never getting the chance to reveal his feelings. If only he had been up front, instead of trying to fight what they both knew was right. If only he had been forthcoming with her, instead of afraid of his feelings. Now his daughter was left to suffer, and he only had himself to blame. Shifting carefully, he pulled his cellphone out of his pocket and dialed Tiffany’s number. He allowed hope to well in his chest as the phone rang, waiting for her to answer. However, after what seemed an eternity of ringing, her voicemail answered. Tears sprung to his eyes at the sound of her sweet voice, and he spoke shakily into the phone. “Tiffany… please come home. Please,” he pleaded, before hanging up the phone. He could only hope that somehow she would hear it. He could only hope that tomorrow would somehow be a better day. However, something deep within him told him that things may not be so simple. Shaking off that thought, he allowed his eyes to flutter shut. With his daughter gripped tightly into his arms, he drifted into the most fitful slumber of his life. His dreams were haunted by images of Tiffany rejecting him, laughing at him, telling him how much she hated him. When he woke up the next morning, he had no idea that the matter would be so much worse than his dream. So much worse.