“I will keep that in mind. Thank you, Penelope.” I ended the call rather abruptly, having reached the end of my stamina. “I need to sit down…”
“Is it the baby?” Griffin looked alarmed and grabbed my elbow.
“It sounds like we have a lot to talk about.” A deep voice called from behind Griffin.
We both jumped and spun to find my father standing just a few away with his arms crossed and a deeply disturbed expression on his face.
“Dad…” I felt my eyes fill with tears.
“Let’s go inside… I have a feeling that we should all be sitting for this.” My father opened his arms, and I rushed into his embrace.
· · - ·?· - · ·
My father left Griffin and me to put our things in my room and in the guest room while he gathered my mother and Kyle. He told us to meet him in the dining room in ten minutes and that he would make sure there was something for me to eat and drink.
I had never seen the man look more exhausted than he did when he looked me over one more time before heading back down the stairs.
“He’s so disappointed in me…” I whispered to Griffin as I stood in front of my childhood bedroom.
“No… he’s disappointed for you.” Griffin corrected.
I mustered up a sad smile and then opened my door. It had only been a few days since the last time I was in this room, but it felt like a lifetime ago…
Because life is completely different now than it was just a few days ago…
I didn’t bother unpacking, but I did change into my slippers and sweatpants before trudging down to my interrogation.
Griffin was already sitting at the table and was making small talk with my mother and brother while my father sat silently. I noticed that my mother kept shooting worried expressions inhis direction, but was trying to pretend she didn’t notice his mood.
They all went quiet when I walked into the room. My mother stood and embraced me.
“Your father said it’s been a long day?” She looked concerned, “You don’t look like you feel well…”
“Where is Ben?” Kyle added as he pulled me into a hug.
“We need to talk about that.” I mumbled and sat down in the seat next to Griffin and glanced at my father.
My mother and Kyle froze and finally looked to my father.
“Leonard?” my mother asked, “What is she talking about?”
“I don’t know enough to say.” Dad grumbled.
Kyle looked between Griffin and I with narrowed eyes. “What’s going on? I knew it was weird that Griffin has been at your house.”
“Benjamin, just sent us lovely flowers… was it to apologize for not coming with you again?”
“No. It was likely to assuage some of his guilt.”
“Guilt?” Kyle scowled.
“I’m going to say this as quickly as I can because I’m really starting to get a headache.” I rubbed my forehead, and my father reached out to push a bottle of water towards me.
“Drink and eat while you tell us.” He instructed. I nodded and grabbed a few of the crackers that had been placed on the table.
“When I returned home, I found Ben in the middle of an inappropriate meeting with a coworker… in my hot tub.” I mumbled.
The silence that I was met with was deafening until it was shattered by a string of curses from Kyle.
