Chapter 10

Luna laughed with Portia as she just guffawed. She was a cute little girl.

James wasn't out of work yet, even though it was twenty minutes away and the little girl wasn't ready yet.

-Okay, princess, how about we go get you ready so when your daddy comes we can go to the doctor?

Portia nodded.

-Okay. - She said and stood up with a big smile on her face- But I don't want to go to the doctor.

-Why not?

-It's boring. I want to go to the circus. -she said smiling. Luna smiled. She remembered what James told her.

-Baby, I can't tell you anything. When your father arrives, you'll ask him. Well?

-Why?

-Well, he's your dad and he wants to take care of you. We can't not listen to him. Besides, you'll get me in trouble. -she said and smiled.

-Okay. I'll wait for Dad. - She ducked her head.

Sometimes she thought about how much she'd like to start her own family, to have a nice house, not too big, not too small.

Luna dressed Portia in a T-shirt of her favorite character, a black jogging suit, sneakers, and over the T-shirt, a black sweatshirt. She pulled her hair into a neat ponytail and put perfume on it.

The two went downstairs at the same time James entered the house. He smiled quickly and took his daughter in his arms. He gave her a tender kiss on the cheek and then looked at Luna.

-How are you?- he asked looking at her seriously.

-I'm fine, what about you?

- Is it necessary to answer? - he answered. Luna noticed how nervous he looked.

- Everything will be fine.

- I hope so. - He answered curtly. Luna thought he might have to get used to it.

-Well, Portia, shall we go? - she asked.

The little girl nodded.

-Dad, can we go to the circus later?

A buying smile came over her face, knowing her intention.

-I don't know. Why do you want to go to the circus?

-I want to go. - She expressed whimsically.

- Portia...I don't know. We'll see. - He answered seriously. Luna looked at him carefully. Something was wrong with him.

-You're a fool! - shouted the girl, pulling herself out of her father's arms.

-Why am I a fool?

-You never want to do anything with me!

Portia's eyes glazed over and crying seemed imminent. James replied.

-Honey, it's just that I'm....

-No! I don't want to go to the doctor with you. I want to go with Luna. You're never here. I don't love you anymore- she exclaimed as the first tear fell from her cheek.

- Why? -James asked as he watched his little daughter try to hold back her tears. Her countenance had changed.

- Because she lets me go to the circus. -She said rubbing her eyes. He looked questioningly at Luna. Oh, God.

-Did you tell Portia about the circus?- he asked angrily.

- No, I haven't done anything.

-I've explained this to you, Luna. I have! -He said angrily.

-James, I didn't do anything! -she said, raising her voice. He looked at her in disbelief. His eyes filled with rage.

-Don't yell at me!

- Why you won't let Portia be a child, James? All you're doing is depriving her of things girls her age do.

-She's my daughter and you don't tell me what the fuck to do, understand? - he shouted. Luna looked at him angrily.

-I don't mean to tell you what to do, I know she's your daughter. I'm sorry, but maybe she needs a little fun once in a while. I....

-I'm regretting hiring you. - He confessed angrily. Luna looked at him in disbelief. James looked at Portia, who was watching the scene curiously.

- What did you do to Luna, Dad?

- What, honey? -James asked.

-What's...hired?

- Nothing. It's just, like, some adult thing.

-Will you take me to the circus? - she asked again, completely ignoring the answer to her old question.

-I... yes. -He said and glared at Luna.

After a few minutes, they were in the car. The driver was driving in silence. It was half an hour before Portia's turn.

Luna hadn't probed too deeply into anything she didn't need to know. Of course, knowing about Portia's health was unpredictable for her work in any emergency. However, she didn't want to poke her nose into any delicate matters.

It was a bit chilly, and you could feel it even with the heat on.

- I'm sorry- James said.

- For what?

- I shouldn't have treated you like that. I don't expect you to understand.

- Yes, I understand.

- I was raised that way. I... sometimes I don't realize it.

- I don't mean to pry, James. But she's a child and sometimes she needs things explained to her as such.

- It's hard for me. She's...

Luna sighed.

-I know. -She said and looked back. Portia was sleeping.

The walk took about ten more minutes, until they finally arrived. It was one of the best in New York and he had been taking care of her since Portia was two years old.

James took his daughter in his arms and tried to wake her up by calling softly to her. The little girl thought nothing of it, though.

When they entered the office, the room was empty and the doctor was at the desk next to his secretary. Seeing James, he gave a quick smile.

-James! How have you been?

-I've had better days. You?

-I could say the same. Right on schedule, huh?

Entering the room, Portia looked annoyed. She greeted her doctor in a disinterested manner and after exchanging a couple of words, he began to check her out.

- Where is the circus? -James asked in a whisper.

-I don't know, I arrived this week, remember?

James nodded.

Portia began to cough heavily. James became alert but the doctor stopped him.

-It's just a cough. Nothing to worry about. -Everything looks fine, it must have been normal bleeding.

-Are you better? -He asked his daughter.

-I am, thank you. -She answered and lay down again.