47

That's what he called me when I was four years old, and then we would go to the square for walks and eat ice cream. Afterwards, I think he preferred alcohol to strawberry ice cream.

"Jean, please. If you have the slightest consideration for me, leave me alone" I ask, once and for all.

After ten years of wandering the world as a purged soul, what could a father change?

"I... I..." he seems to have no reaction, he certainly didn't expect me to answer.

"I have a million things to say, Blair. But I can't, not now. You wouldn't believe it"

"Not even"

"I have a proposal. And please think about it. I want to be something in your life, anything. I live in Las Vegas, come too. I can employ you, and then..."

"What?" the bitterness in my tone is so burning that I hear my voice sound louder than I would like. Does Jean simply look into the past and see rainbows?

"I don't know you, Blair. I spent years looking for my only daughter, when she should have been by my side. I came back to Philadelphia,