Cooper stared at May in shock the cup of coffee held halfway to his mouth. He set it back down and looked at May, wanting more information than she had just given him. Finally, after a few moments of silence he asked, "well? What does it say?"
"Haven't read it yet," May responded as she stared into her cup of coffee.
"Why the hell not?" Cooper asked, staring at his friend. If he had been in her shoes the letter would have been opened well before now.
"What could he possibly have to say after so long?" May sighed, finally lifting her gaze to her friend, thus allowing him to see the worry and insecurity in her eyes.
"Only one way to find out," Cooper said as he picked up the letter and held it out to May as he moved around the table to stand next to her, an arm wrapped comfortingly around her shoulders.
Tentatively, May opened the envelope and pulled out the folded paper before reading aloud.
Dear May,
My Sweet little angel, I've missed you so much, and regret that I never bothered sticking around after your mother and I divorced. I'm married to a wonderful woman who has a son a little older than you. So I guess that means you have a step-brother, I remember when you were little and would beg for siblings. Well now you have one, I'm sure you would get along great with him if you're anything like you were as a little child.
Anyway, your mother and I have spoken and I would greatly appreciate it if you came and spent the rest of the year with me.
Your mother said you planned on taking some time off after finishing high school to figure out what you want to do. So I know that there isn't a reason you can't. Which is why I've included a ticket to get you out here to LA.
See you soon.
Your loving Daddy,
Jack McMeel
May set the letter down and looked in the envelope and found the ticket he mentioned.
"Is he on crack? Why the fuck would he think I would want to spend time with him? The asshole walked out of my life when I was barely five and never looked back," May ranted, shaking Cooper's arm off so she could pace back and forth.
"Maybe he's trying to make up for that," Cooper responded lamely before the phone rang.
"Hello?" May snapped when she answered.
"May sweetie, what have I told you about answering the phone like that?" her mother said before continuing, "you will be getting a letter from your father soon."
"It's already here," May interrupted. "You can't honestly expect me to go."
"May," her mother began, "I fully expect you to go. I am the one who paid for most of the ticket to get you out there."
Sighing angrily May snapped, "Why the hell do I have to stay with that asshole?"
"Watch your mouth young lady. And you will stay with your father because I said you would," her mother growled.
"Fine," May growled into the phone before hanging up. She stormed up to her room, lighting up a cigarette and taking a deep drag, letting the chemicals fill her lungs as she searched the closet for her suitcases.