Helena approached immediately.
“Ross.”
“What?” I demanded. “I’m standing right here.”
Daniel stepped away without arguing.
Helena gently directed Holly toward her brother and sister.
Then she turned to me.
“Don’t put her in the middle of this.”
“I don’t need another man pretending to be her father.”
“He wasn’t pretending anything,” Helena replied. “She was excited to show him her drawing.”
“I am her father.”
“Yes, Ross. And she showed you first.”
I looked toward Holly.
She was watching us with a worried expression.
Suddenly, my anger seemed ridiculous.
I said goodbye to the children and left.
Later that evening, I told David what had happened.
He listened without interrupting.
Then he asked, “Did Daniel do anything wrong?”
“No.”
“Did he insult you?”
“No.”
“Did he tell Holly you weren’t her father?”
I shook my head.
“Then why did you attack him?”
I couldn’t answer.