12. Father

Sky.

✙ ☠ ✙

"Look, I just wanted to give you some time with your dad.." My mom argues.

"You could've told me that you were talking to him but instead you just lied to me!"

"I know." She nods.

My dad's at his hotel, Aron is with some friends and I'm back at my mom's apartment trying to figure out what the hell possessed her to let that useless jerk back into our lives.

Steve and I have spent so long practicing the song for my mom and I was so sure she liked him. Turns out she likes my dad.

"How did you even find him! You said you didn't know where he was, was that a lie too?!"

"No! Sky, I never lied about that! We lost touch after the last time he visited. I got to thinking when I saw Rose with Steven and Diana and I thought about your father. I called his mom, his brother and finally found out where he lived. Then I sent him a letter a few weeks ago.. We talked on the phone and I.."

"You love him, don't you? You guys are back together?"

My mom sighs and then nods.

"I just don't get it! How could you still love him? He left us!" I raise my voice.

"Everybody makes mistakes, Sky. You can't blame him for something that happened years ago! The important part is that he's here."

"Are you kidding? Of course I blame him for what he did! I grew up without a fucking father! I had to learn everything by myself!"

"That wasn't just his fault." She says quietly, guilt in her eyes.

"You're right. It was yours too." I get up.

"Sky, I understand you're angry at me but please.. If not for me, for yourself just spend some time with him. I want you to know him. Please."

"No way." I head for the door. I'm done with my mom. And now I also have to tell Steven he's been replaced by my dead beat dad.

"He's sick, Oliver."

I stop in my tracks. It's like my heart's not beating for a moment.

I turn around. "What do you mean, sick?"

She stares at the floor and takes a shaky breath. Then her wet eyes meet mine. "He doesn't have much time left."

I can't believe how much this hurts me. How deeply I feel about this. He meant nothing to me. I barely know the guy and still hearing that he's dying is heart-wrenching.

"We don't know how long but he doesn't have much time left so please.. I want you to know him while you can." She wipes her cheek. "Maybe then you'll finally understand why I love him."

I look down at the floor.

× × ×

I pace up and down the wooden porch of Steven's house a million times before I finally knock.

The door creaks open and I walk on inside.

"Steve?" I call.

I hear the piano from the living room.

I sigh and walk further into the house. Steven's playing the song we practiced almost perfectly. He smiles a cheerful smile when he sees me.

I smile back faintly.

I lean against the door frame and watch him play. He's so happy. And so in love. Now I have to come here and break his heart. I really thought Steve was going to be my dad soon. He feels more like my dad than my real father. How do I tell him this was all for nothing?

Steven finishes the song spotlessly. I clap.

"Pretty good, eh? Just a little more practice and I'll completely blow your mom away. She'll love it! I can just feel it!" He squeals excitedly.

I look away.

He gets up. "And guess what I got her?" He picks up a a flat red velvet box from the coffee table and opens it.

I gasp as I look at the beautiful golden necklace. It has swirls and red gemstones all over it. She'd love it.

"They're rubies. I know your mom likes red. Do you think she'll like it?" He looks kind of insecure as he sees my facial expression.

"I can get a different color if—"

"No, it's perfect." I whisper.

"What's wrong?" Steven grabs my shoulders. He looks so worried.

"Sky?"

"My dad's back." I say quietly.

"Oh." He looks surprised and confused.

"My mom's.." I can't even get the words out of my mouth. I can just feel Steven's honest eyes burning in my skin. He's not ready to hear what I'm about to say.

"She wants me to spend more time with him but.. I think he's a jerk." I settle for that. I can't tell him. It would break his heart. And from what my mom said my dad won't be here very long anyway. If I can just get Steve to wait with the song for a while longer then maybe I won't have to tell him my mom's into my dad. Maybe she could fall for him after all this is over..

Steven pulls me into a warm hug. I sigh of relief.

"Listen, I know it's hard but your mom just wants what's best for you. You should give your dad a chance. Let him explain his side of the story. You might be surprised." He pulls away.

"Right." I smile.

"I just think.. Maybe it would be better to wait with the whole.. necklace and the song. Until.. things clear up between my dad and mom.."

"Are they fighting a lot?" He gives me a worried look.

"Yeah. I just think it would be better if we waited a bit longer." I hate lying to him. But it's for his own good.

"Alright. You know her best. Only gives me more time to practice!" He laughs.

I can't bring myself to be so joyous.

Steven sees my facial expression and comes closer. He squeezes my cheek. "Hey, no need to be upset, okay? It'll all be fine." He smiles kindly.

He needs to be with my mom. He deserves her so much more than my dad does. I just have to be patient.

× × ×

I come home feeling absolutely terrible and find my dad on the couch.

"How the hell did you get in here?!"

"Your mom gave me a key."

"Jesus fucking—"

"Now, now. Don't get upset. I think this is valuable bonding time."

"The only reason I'm not kicking you out right now is because you're dying."

That takes him back for a moment. I enjoy the quiet. Not for long.

"Actually, the only reason you're not kicking me out is because you're too weak to do so."

I roll my eyes. I hate him. How could my mom like this asshole?

"Your mom told you I was sicky?" He lights a cigarette.

"And now I know why." I sigh. I head into the kitchen.

"I'd like a beer, thank you."

I resist the urge to throw it at his head. I grab two beers and head over to the couch. After handing him one I sit at the furthest end away from him.

"Really?"

I sigh.

"Alright. Let's start this first official father-son talk. Our first order of business: your boyfriend. I don't like him."

"First of all, he's my fiance,"

Since when do I care?

"Secondly, I don't care what you think of him."

"He's just so.. I don't know. He's too much of a big boss. He really likes himself, huh? With the shaved edges and the whole attitude. He needs to learn some fuckin' respect."

"You're one to talk."

"Hey, I'm your father. The only respect in this relationship should be coming from you!"

I lay down on the couch.

Why? What did I do to deserve this?

The door opens suddenly and in comes Chase.

He brings my joy right back. And then I remember my dad's here and I don't want Chase to meet him.

"Maybe you should go home." I say in a very unsubtle way.

"And who is this!" My dad gets up.

Kill me.

"Hi, I'm Chase." He smiles, confused and intrigued.

"Who are you?"

"I'm Oliver's dad. Oliver." He smiles cheerfully.

I bang my head against the couch.

"Is this your dad? Wow!" Chase seems really happy to meet him.

My dad smiles proudly.

"You guys don't look alike at all!"

"I know." My dad wraps his arm around Chase. "One lesson: date an ugly girl. Cause if you date a pretty one your son will end up looking more like her than like you."

Chase chuckles.

That literally makes no sense. None at all.

"Alright, you guys met. You can go now." I say.

"Would you stop being so rude! I finally met someone in your life I like!"

"You don't like Aron?" Chase asks.

Why are they talking to each other like they've known each other forever?

"He's too boasty. He's too much."

"I totally get that!"

"Chase!" I yell.

"Wait, listen! That's how I felt at first too but when you get to know him you'll find he's a really nice guy."

"Why don't you just marry this one?" My dad asks.

"Dad! He's sixteen!"

"So are you?" He frowns.

"I'm eighteen." I say annoyed.

"No offense but Chase looks more like eighteen than you do. You could pass for a twelve year old."

Chase snorts and tries to hold in his laugh.

"Chase!" I throw a pillow at him.

"I'm sorry! But he's funny! You gotta admit!"

"If you think making fun of someone is funny." I fiddle with my rings.

"You're too sensitive. That's another thing but I'll teach to be tough." Dad says.

I sigh.

When is Aron coming home?