by Maya Sliver
“And what about, Dad. Will he ever be able to forget you?”
“Probably not.” Tears sting my eyes. Emotions clog my throat. Wiping my eyes, I speak again, “Why do we not look at the brighter side of the picture instead? How about the three of us getting along with each other really well. Going out, having fun. Why don’t we imagine us as a happy family.”
“I need time to think over it.”
I heave a sigh of relief.
“I’ll wait for you.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
William
The night was dreadful and nightmarish. I had dreams after dreams about my past life, Stella, Carrie, and Blake.
My head hurts and my eyes burn as I trudge downstairs and walk into the kitchen. Fetching myself a cup of coffee, I amble to the living room and deposit myself down on the couch.
Ah, I massage my forehead with the free hand, taking a generous swig of the coffee. Looks like today also I won’t be able to make it to the Queen’s.
The headache is not ready to leave me. With this terrible head pain, getting ready and traveling to town seem like an uphill battle.
I grab the mobile from the side table to inform the Queen’s.
Shit. The moment my eyes land on the screen of the device, I let out a surprised howl. There is a missed call from Carrie.
This has been the first time I’m hearing from her since the fallout four weeks ago, but she gave me a call which unfortunately I missed. Without waiting another moment, I slam a thumb on the screen and put the calling device close to my ear.
After a few rings, she responds, “Dad.”
“Carrie, you’re all right, my sweetie?”
“I’m fine, Dad. Just wanted to tell you I’ll be there in a few.”
“I know you’ve grown up, kid but you don’t need to call before dropping in at your dad’s house, do you?”
“Is Blake there?”
“No, she’s not.”
“Okay. I’ll be there in the next ten minutes, Dad.”
“Sure, sweets.”
She disconnects the call and for first time I realize how far my daughter has gone from me and from this house. Is it my love affair? Would she behave the same way if I had been dating some other woman and not Blake?
Before any conflicting thoughts throng my head, I quickly type a text to Mister Asher at Queen’s informing him about me taking a leave for the day. Then, I rise and walk back into the kitchen, checking the supplies for breakfast.
I arrange everything on the counter for cheesy bacon egg hash. This is Caroline’s favorite breakfast.
After stirring fry the potatoes, I quickly add cheese and bacon to it and toss it for a while. Using a wooden spatula, I make four wells in the hash, crack an egg into each well and sprinkle the mozzarella around each egg. The eggs start to bubble and froth with a shiny yolk in the center. The dish looks appetizing.
The cheese melts and coats the eggs from all sides. The bacon releases fat with an aroma hard to resist, my stomach starts growling. I feel happy. My daughter is coming back home, and I just can’t contain this happiness. I sprinkle some olive oil over the dish and just as I switch off the heat, the doorbell rings.
Carrie is here.
I quickly wash my hands. Wiping them on my sweats, I run to the door. I swing it wide and open my arms, “Come on give your dad a hug.”
She smiles before stepping ahead and hugging me.
“How have you been, girl?”
“I’m fine, Dad. How are you?”
“See me.” Pulling back, I stretch my arms wide.
“You look skinny and pale.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes.” She saunters inside.
“It smells great. What’s that?”
“It’s bacon with potatoes and eggs and lots and lots of cheese.” I close the door before following her to the foyer.
“Bacon cheese hash. Yay!” She exclaims. Dropping her sandals near the door, she runs to the kitchen.
She grabs a fork and digs into the steaming skillet.
“Careful. It’s still very hot.”
She blows the morsel of bacon wrapped in egg and cheese on the fork before shoving it into her mouth. Her eyes sew down as she chews the food. “Umm… Yummy…”
“Let’s set the table.” I pick out two china plates and some cutleries. Next moment, I’m spreading the breakfast on the table, followed by two cups of hot chocolate. Carrie loves chocolate, and for a change, I too don’t mind indulging in some sweetness. After all, my daughter is back.
After breakfast, we sit on the couch indulging in some lighthearted chit chat where she told me about Ben and his family and how friendly and hospitable they were to her during her stay in their house.
This is the first time Carrie has stayed away from me for almost a month. It’s been a month and half since I’m seeing my daughter back in the house. Yet, she looks and behaves quite different. It feels as if she has literally changed and grown up into a young woman while staying away from me.
“Dad, I got to tell you something?” Her lips twitch as she gazes at me.
“Yeah, sweetie, go ahead. I’m all ears.”
“I know it’s hard, Dad for you and me both.” She edges closer and holds my hands. “But I got to take this step.”
“What step, kid?”
“I’m sorry, Dad, but I think it’s time for us to accept the truth.” She clears her throat.
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t take me wrong, Dad. It has nothing to do with Blake.”
Here she comes to the point. I should have guessed why she is behaving different. She’s not my daughter who went to the trip a few weeks ago but an entirely different Carrie is sitting next to me right now.
“Tell me what’s going on in your head.”
“I’m thinking of moving to some other place, Dad, but not too far away. I’ll be around. We can meet on weekends.”
“So you are leaving me?”
She nods.
“Well if you’ve decided, I’m not going to stop you.”
Silence ensues as I try to swallow the bitterness of the situation. Yeah, I knew she’d leave the nest one day for a bright career, better future prospects. I knew she’d leave me to pursue her dreams. Yet, I never thought all this would happen so soon and in such a bleak manner.
“You know what, Dad? It’s not that you’re an obsessive Dad but I too am an obsessive daughter. A daughter who hates the idea of her dad moving on and dating some other woman because I always believed that one day you and Mom would patch up, that one day Mom would come back, and we would be able to reclaim all the lost happiness of our lives. But that day never came.” She sobs and sniffs. Hell, my daughter is crying and crying for a woman who never ever bothered about her.
“Oh, sweetie, it’s not your fault. You’re not an obsessive daughter. The only thing is that you hold high hopes for someone who doesn’t give a damn about you and your feelings. Stella never bothered about me or you. I too have waited for her for years, hoping that one day at least she’d call and ask about you, telling me that she wants to see her daughter, but she never did anything of the sort.”
“It could be she’s not well, Dad, suffering from some illness and finds it hard to get back to us. After all, it was she who left us and now she hesitates to contact us after so many years. Have you ever tried to find her, relocate her, search for her?”
“Well, she’s in perfect health.”
“And how do you know that. Are you guys in touch with each other?”
I see a sliver of hope shine across her otherwise gloomy face. She wipes her eyes.
“A few months ago, I got a call from her attorney asking me if I’m ready to sign a divorce.”
“Shit.” She smacks a palm to her forehead.
It’s the truth. I’ve been hiding it from my daughter for almost four months.
“I consented to the mutual divorce. The next day, I received the papers at Queen’s ad
dress. I signed them and sent them back the same day.”
“Why didn’t you tell me about all this before, Dad? Don’t you think it’s my right to know about my parents’ getting divorced?” She wipes her eyes, her voice suffused with pain and grief.
“I’m sorry, kid. I couldn’t gather the courage to reveal this brutal reality of our lives to you. I’ve been waiting for the right time or perhaps waiting for you to grow mature enough to handle the bitterness of your parents’ separation.”
“Or handle the even more bitter truth of Mom alienating me?”
“Don’t get disheartened, kid. It’s Stella misfortune that she declined the blessing God had bestowed upon her. She kept you in her womb for nine months, endured the pain of raising you from a baby to a toddler to a young beautiful girl, and then abandoned you, mistakenly dropping the divine blessing into my lap. You’re a blessing to me, sweetheart, you’re my happiness, my sunshine, the reason for my very existence. You’re my daughter. Did you get that, Caroline Wild.”
I hug my daughter, and she wraps her arms around me. We sit there for a while on the couch as we both try to comfort each other. Today is the day when I literally feel like moving on from my painful past. I hope Carrie too gets away from the painful memories of her childhood and moves on.
“I’m sorry, Dad.” She breaks the hug and pulls back, wiping away her tears.
“Sorry for what, sweetie, you haven’t done anything wrong.”
“Sorry for the way I behaved with you and Blake.”
“Then it’s me who has to say sorry.”
She gazes at me with her big blue eyes, still glazed with some remnants of tears.
“Sorry for keeping you in dark about my relationship with Blake but even I am surprised with how fast it happened. Then I started feeling strongly for her.”
“Love has its own sneaky ways.” A faint smile paints her face as she wipes stray tears off her cheeks.
“And how can my little pumpkin pie talk about love and its ways. Is she…”
“Not yet lucky enough with love, Dad.” Her voice chokes in her throat, and I can say she has gulped back some emotions. Has someone broken her heart?
“You okay, kid?”
“I’m perfectly fine, Dad.” She gazes at her wristwatch and then her eyes travel to the front door.
“What? Getting late?”
“No, I’m waiting for Blake. She must be here in a few.”
“What?”
“I want to talk to you guys before I leave. It’s important.” She pats my knee and I hear the doorbell ring.
Carrie rises and strides to the door. The door flings open and a current of fragrant breeze enters the house.
“Hey.”
“Hi. You look lovely.”
“You too are slaying, bitch.”
I hear the friendly banter, and it makes me believe the friends have sorted out their differences. I feel light and happy but still panicky and jittery about Carrie leaving. Yes, I know it’s a crucial stage of her life. She must learn to live alone. She must become fully confident about herself. She must be independent. After all, it’s only six months to her graduation. After that, she will be leaving Westlake. But even then, I want my daughter to stay with me in this house for the remaining six months till she moves out of town. I do so want this to happen, but I can only wish and hope for I’m no longer imposing my orders on her. Not anymore. From now on, she’s in charge of her life. And if she thinks she’ll feel more confident and independent living alone, though staying close, she has my support. and I’m happy for her taking such a bold step in life.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Blake
“No, you’re not going to leave this house. You’ll stay here with your dad,” I blurt out.
“Please, Blake, try to understand me. I’m trying to be on my own so that it won’t come as a shock when I move away from Dad.”
“Where are you moving to? You haven’t yet got the acceptance letter.”
She’s quiet for a while and then she murmurs, “Actually, I got it.”
“What?” both William and I speak in unison as our eyes pin Caroline down on the couch.
“Yes. I forgot to tell you guys.”
“Bitch, I’m not gonna leave you.” I quickly rise from the sofa and reach out to her covering her in a hug.
“That’s wonderful news. Congratulations, Kiddo.” William’s affection-laced voice enters my ears and I release Caroline from the bear hug. He’s all smiles, happy and pleasantly surprised on his daughter’s achievement. Briston is not everyone’s cuppa and that Caroline has nailed it is really a matter of great celebration.
“Thanks, Dad. My apologies for keeping it a secret from you guys. After receiving the letter, I decided to start mocking up the entire living alone thing,” she speaks, forming air quotes with her fingers.
“Okay, great then come and live with me in my dormitory. We have a few beds available.”
“Only if you move into this house.”
When she says this, I and William both exchange glances and I can’t stop myself from smiling though William looks a bit shaky and nervous.
“I’ll only move here if you stay here.” I declare and drift my eyes from William to Caroline.
“I can’t stay here. Just now I explained the reason, don’t make me reiterate it again.” She scowls, letting out a shriek of annoyance.
“Don’t make things complicated, Carz. Didn’t we agree on living together for a month’s time and then you deciding whether you want me in the house or not?”
“I never agreed on any such condition, Blake. Do you think I’m that selfish that I’ll agree to that awful condition of yours?” She drifts her eyes from me to William and then again lands her stare back on me. “You guys are staying together in this house and I’m to go out.”
“Don’t you dare say such nonsense, Caroline Wild, I’m not going to let you slip. You’re bound to stay in this house.”
“You can’t order me, you smutty bitch.”
“I can’t order, but I can ask you to return a favor.”
“What favor? I don’t remember anything.”
“Do you remember getting drunk and throwing up at Ben’s party? It was me who endured the nasty smell of your awful vomit on my shoes all through the ride while driving you back home. And not only that, it’s me who endured the barbs, becoming the object of your dad’s unreasonable behavior and accusation.”
“But I apologized, didn’t I?” William intervenes.
“Oh, yeah, had you not, I would have swept away in the rains that night.”
Reminiscences of William driving across town in the rainy night, looking for me, then finding me in the park, apologizing me, hugging me, dropping me home, and I kissing him in return all throng my head. I feel my lips curving into a small smile as old memories of our first ever peck allure my senses.
“Shit. I think you’re going to win this fight, cunt.” Caroline slams her feet on the carpet, yet her tone light and jovial.
“Yay!” I exclaim, rising from my seat and twirling across the living room.
“Language, guys. I know you all are grown up girls, but still this kind of language is not acceptable in this house. So, please keep your elaborate vocabularies to yourselves.” William rises from the couch and saunters to the kitchen perhaps fetching himself yet another cup of coffee.
“Coffee for me too, Will,” I call him from behind as he brushes past me.
“For me too, Dad.”
And again we continue with our friendly fight over Caroline staying back and finally I win over her. She agrees on staying, where the three of us will be together. Yet, Caroline is granted the freedom of moving out should she feel any discomfort in staying with us.
Later in the day, me and Caroline both get our luggage from our respective shelters.
By evening, I’m all set to embark on yet another new and exciting journey of life. A life where I’m going to stay with my best friend and her dad. Ye
s, the same man who I’d been crushing on for months, who’d been the regular traveler of my fantasies and who I’m truly, madly, and deeply in love with—William—the love of my life.
Epilogue One
Six Months Later…
William
A huge jumbotron is mounted high on the wall bathing the entire basketball arena into a festive air as Westlake High gears up for the graduation ceremony. The gleaming glass-and-steel structure is pretty big to accommodate hundreds of parents, extended families and friends.
Rows and rows of newly polished metal chairs sprawl across the vast auditorium. The entire arrangement boasts professionalism and sophistication.
Soon, families and friends start filling the rows. A few minutes later, the entire stadium is filled to its capacity with not a single chair or corner left to accommodate any more newcomers.
At sharp ten, students in long black gowns and mortarboards follow the teachers and academicians into the arena. While the faculty rises to the stage, the graduating students occupy the front rows.
I see both of my girls. Carrie and Blake, along with other students, wave and cheer. Both of them peer into the crowd and just as their twin set of eyes meet mine, both of them grin ear to ear, waving at me. The rest of the students too are looking for their parents, waving and grinning. And almost all of them take selfies.
Then the Principal, Miss Perkins, who happens to be my old schoolmate, takes the microphone. She speaks briefly, congratulating the students and advising and encouraging them for choosing the right career path.
After the Princi’s short and impressive speech, the graduation ceremony begins with specifically recognizing the top academic achievers as well as those who excel in various community services. While Carrie tops in all subjects of science stream, Blake is recognized as the top contributor in community services including volunteering in soup kitchens, blanket and clothes distribution to homeless shelters, and sandwiches in parks service primarily governed by the Westlake High.