Selena’s Summer with Daddy



Rianna was on her knees in the garden, planting rose bushes when Mark pulled into their long driveway. She turned around with a smiled on her face, welcoming him back home. He got out of the truck and tossed his keys into the air several times.

“Where’s Sel?” He asked, looking around and not seeing or hearing her.

“She’s in the back. Playing with her baby dolls.” Rianna answered back. Mark walked up to the garden and admired the work Rianna had gotten done. When they first moved in, there was nothing around the house but grass and bushes. Now Rianna had it looking like the outside set of the Martha Stewart show.

“Looks good, Babe. Almost as good as you do.” He held out his hand and helped her to her feet. She pulled her gardening gloves off and tossed them to the ground. Then she wrapped her arms around his neck, and he wrapped his arms around her waist. They kissed each other, just as Nick pulled up behind Mark’s truck.

“Beautiful.” Nick said, getting out and approaching them. Mark just feigned a smile and kept his arms around his woman.

“Let’s not make this moment more awkward by standing around. If I’m gonna get back in Florida before dark, we have to get started now.” Nick pressured. Mark let Rianna go.

“I’ll get her.” Mark said to her, then he walked around the side of the house toward where Selena usually played. Nick just stood in his place looking at Rianna in her tight shorts and tiny top. She had her hair sloppily tied into a bun on the top of her head. The way most girls with long hair do it when they just want their hair out of their faces. He missed that about her. He missed coming home and pulling the pin out of her hair, letting it fall. He missed her kisses, the same kisses Mark got when he came home. The same kisses Nick witnessed as he pulled into the driveway.

“You two are really serious, huh?” He enquired. Hoping she would say no.

“Yes, we are.” She said, not looking at him but working again with her flowers.

“You look so sexy that way. Bent over like that, doing your little garden work. It’s picture perfect.” She quickly stood up straight so that her butt was no longer poked out in his direction.

“Stop Nick, it’s not going to work.” She said. Mark came around the side of the house. Selena was hanging on to his arm, swinging from it as he lifted her into the air. Rianna saw them and went into the house to get Selena’s bags. When she came back outside, Nick took them for her and put them in his trunk. As he did this, Rianna knelt down and talked with Selena.

“I want you to listen to your Dad, ok? Be a good girl, and behave yourself. And most of all, I want you having a good time. There’s so much to do in Florida. You’re gonna love it there. And you’ll get to see Aunt Marcy, Uncle AJ, your cousin Angelina is there too. And I know you miss your Grandma Jane and Grandpa B. You can see them too when they come to visit, ok?” Selena nodded her head, a sad look on her face.

“And Selena, if you ever want to talk to us, you call. Even if it’s four in the morning. Mark will be here, and I’ll be here too. And if we’re not, guess what? We’ll keep our cell phones on. All the time. You remember the number don’t you?” Selena nodded again. Nick was sighing sarcastically, showing impatience.

“Alright sweetie. We’ll see you soon.” Rianna finished, kissing Selena and hugging her. Mark knelt down too and kissed her as well. She hugged him extra tightly, and Nick was highly annoyed by it.

As they drove away, Rianna waved goodbye with a heavy heart. “Three whole months without her, Mark. I miss her already.”

Nick looked down at his daughter every time he reached a stop light. She was content playing with her doll and looking out of the window.

“Is that new?” Nick asked, the doll still had ribbons in her hair. He knew Selena would have taken the ribbons out and played with the hair by now. So the doll must have been new.

“Mark gave it to me for my birthday.” She held the doll closer.

“But you’re birthday’s next month.” He said.

“I know, he gave it to me early.” Nick decided to leave the subject alone. Selena had all of a sudden become extremely protective of Mark, and he didn’t want to push her buttons with that. He wanted for her summer with him to be as enjoyable as humanly possible.

“Want to stop at McDonald’s? Or how about Burger King?” Selena still looked outside of the window.

“I’m not very hungry.” He accepted her excuse and passed by both fast food restaurants. He was almost near the interstate when he noticed Selena was sleeping. He could tell because she loosened her grip on her doll and her head was down. He missed having her with him so much. But he knew that it would be difficult getting their relationship back. She was young, but she understood that her father hurt her mother. And she understood that Mark made her mother happy. So it was only natural that she would favor Mark. And he knew that he had to change her view of him before their three months were up. He also knew it wasn’t going to be easy.

Nick had been driving on the interstate for an half an hour or so when Selena woke up. She yawned and looked outside of the window.

“Are we at the airport yet?” She asked, not seeing a sign that would tell her where they were. Then she saw a blue sign with a plane on it.

“We’re almost there, sweetie.” He assured her, getting into the far right lane, about to exit.

“Can I ask you something?” Nick said, Selena looked at him and shrugged.

“How does this divorce make you feel?” He asked. He really wasn’t trying to warp her mind into thinking that Rianna should return to him. He was just curious as to how this whole situation was affecting her.

“I don’t know. Exhausted I guess.” She turned back toward the window again and started tapping her finger against the glass.

“Exhausted?” It was a peculiar answer.

“Yeah. This whole thing is exhausting. Momma’s trying so hard to make everyone happy. And when she can’t she cries all of the time. Mark is trying to make her happy, but she won’t be happy until she knows you’re over this. And you, Daddy, you’re knee deep in denial.” Was her reply. It was a mouthful for such a young girl. But she was advanced for her age and always had been.

“I’m in denial?” Nick asked, eyebrows raised, but eyes still on the road.

“Yes you are!” She said, the tone of her voice raising. “You keep convincing yourself that Mom’s coming back. But she’s not. You think that holding on to this dream of getting your perfect family back is good for you. But in reality it’s hurting everyone. Including me. And I’m tired of it. That’s why it’s exhausting.” Nick was in the parking lot of the airport now and since they had ample time to waste until the plane was scheduled to leave, he parked and continued to talk with his daughter.

He couldn’t believe how opinionated she was. He had been hearing these things from his parents, his bandmates, his friends, and Rianna. Now, hearing it from his almost 6-year-old daughter was shocking. He was finally opening his mind and listening.

“I’m hurting you?” He asked, turning in his seat to face her. She turned to face him too.

“Yes, you are. Daddy, I don’t like coming to stay with you and seeing you mope around all day, stressed out over Mom. You’re 27 years old. You look ok for a dad, I guess. I just don’t see why you don’t get another girlfriend. That way you can have someone to share your life with and you and Momma can be friends again.” She was like a 4 ½ foot tall psychologist. She was making perfect sense.

“You know something? You’re absolutely right. I have been acting like an ass.” He had forgotten that he was talking to a child and slipped in his wording.

“Well, I wouldn’t use that word, but yes... you have been.” They both sat there looking at each other with identical eyes. Then Nick broke the silence.

“Well, we better catch that plane.” They had been parked in the rental car parking lot. As soon as they got out, a driver took over the truck and drove away. They took Selena’s luggage and went into the building. He held her hand as they made their way to the gate.

Once on the plane, Nick decided to resume their conversation. Wondering what other insightful information his intelligent daughter might have for him.

“So, are Rianna and Mark really, really serious?” She looked up from her book, Little Women, and stared at her father, scornfully. Little Women, wasn’t that like a junior high school book. This girl’s IQ had sky rocketed since the last time he saw her.

“You’re pushing it, Dad.” She said, then returning to the pages of her novel.

“Come on, Sel. You’re supposed to be helping me out. If you tell me how happy they are, I might accept them quicker.” She scoffed and placed her fingers between the two pages of her book. Then she looked up at him again.

“They are very happy. They fuss sometimes. But it’s always over little stuff. Like, last week Mark bought a king snake for a pet. I liked it and everything, but Mom wanted to kill both the snake and Mark.” Selena smiled, thinking back to the comical event. Nick did remember how Rianna hated snakes and spiders.

“Anyway, they do fight sometimes. But they always come to a mutual agreement and work things out. And they really love each other.” It was hard for Nick to voluntarily listen to this, but he forced himself to.

“They might even get married.” Selena added. She knew it would hurt Nick to know that, but she also knew that he needed to hear it badly. He sat back in his seat and closed his eyes. She took his hand and held it.

“Daddy... if you love Mommy. I mean, if you really love her... let her go. Let her be happy. And more importantly, you need to be happy yourself. Holding on to her keeps you from progressing.” He opened his eyes and looked at his daughter. She was staring up at him over her glasses, looking just like her mother. His little scholar.

He absolutely hated the thought of Rianna becoming another man’s wife. But he had to let go. He just had to. For his sake. For Selena’s sake.

~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~


Once in Florida, Nick drove to AJ’s house. He knew that Selena couldn’t wait to see Marcy, AJ, and especially Angelina again. He figured they would stay there for a couple days so she could spend some time with them.

AJ was washing his truck, and Marcy was washing hers when they pulled into the driveway. Both of the McLeans had huge smiles on their faces when they saw Nick and Selena’s faces.

“Hey Angelina!” AJ called over his shoulders. She appeared from behind the house. She was out of breath and sweaty. Her jeans were dirty and so was her shirt. She had been playing football again. As soon as she saw Selena, she ran to her, giving her a huge hug. Then she went to her uncle.

“Hey Uncle Nicky!” She exclaimed, jumping up into his arms and hugging him around his neck. He put her down and the two girls ran into the house. Probably up to Angelina’s room.

AJ dried his hands and went to give his “brother” a hug. Marcy did the same, kissing him on the cheek.

“How have you been, really?” She asked. Even though Nick had caused her sister so much pain, she still loved him like he was still her brother. And in a way, he was and always would be.

“I’m hanging in there. Had a nice talk with Sel on the way here.” She nodded, squinting because of the sun in her eyes. He looked down at her belly and saw that she was pregnant. AJ saw him looking and placed his hand on his wife’s stomach.

“Yep, it’s a little boy.” He said proudly, then he kissed Marcy on the lips.

“Congratulations you guys. That’s wonderful.” Nick said with a smile. Marcy took his hand and let him into the house while AJ turned off the waters hose. Nick and Marcy sat down in the living room while AJ went to get them all some sodas.

Upstairs, Angelina was tossing a basketball into the air and catching it while Selena was sitting on the bed, looking around the room, noticing how much it had changed.

“So, Tia’s pregnant?” Selena asked, referring to Marcy.

“Yep. It’s a boy too. I’m gonna have a kid brother.” Angelina said proudly. She tossed the ball to Selena and she caught it, tossing it back.

“I want my mom and Mark to have a kid. But that won’t happen until they get married.” Selena said, slightly saddened by it. She wanted them to marry so badly.

“Don’t worry, they will.” She flopped down on the bed next to Selena and sighed.

“Wanna play PS3?” Angelina asked with a look of excitement. It was the newest Playstation console on the market.

“Yeah!” Selena replied, and Angelina started a game.

Downstairs, the adults were sitting around having a conversation...

“So, how’s Rianna and Mark?” AJ asked, sitting his soda can down on the coffee table.

“They’re ok. Doing quite well. The house is nice.” Nick said, trying to be as courteous about the conversation subject as possible.

“Yeah, she sent us pictures.” Marcy said, rubbing her belly.

“You know, I’m really looking forward to spending all this time with Selena. It’s gonna be really good for the both of us.” Nick said with a slight smile. He had been thinking about what Selena told him in the plane and he was already feeling better about the divorce.


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