One Week Ago
Ire-read the text dad sent me for the hundredth time. This can’t be right.Thisis an apartment complex and not a particularly nice one at that.What the hell is going on?
I run my fingers along the metal panel outside the building, searching for something in the faded text that resembles anything familiar. My finger stops suddenly at 3C. I can’t be sure, but this has to be it. All I can see is a partial first initial thathasto be an E and the last name definitely starts with an M but I have no idea what comes after.
My finger depresses the button and the faint sound of a buzzer sounds somewhere in the distance. I shake out my hands and exhale sharply as I wait. Fuck, why am I nervous?He’s my dad for Christ sake.
“Come on up,” my dad’s deep voice booms through the speaker at the same time the door clicks.
Once inside, I ascend more than one flight of stairs until I’m met with the apartment number in question. I don’t have to knock. The door opens and my father’s disheveled form comes into view.
“Hi, Dad.”
“Hi, pumpkin.”
Jesus, he looks like shit, but my heart warms at the sight of him. I didn’t realize how much I missed him until right this second. I follow the wave of his hand inside where he gives me a quick tour. Emphasis on quick. I think this entire place is the size of my bedroom growing up.
“Want some coffee?” he asks while pouring himself a cup. I grin and stifle a laugh when I see the words on his mug… ‘World’s Greatest Grandpa.’ I got it for him for Christmas when I was little. I remember picking it out–by myself–at the school store that year and being so proud of myself… until I got home and mom told me I messed up and got the wrong one. Dad didn’t flinch, though. He opened it and without hesitation, proudly proclaimed to everyone how much he loved it. I can’t believe he still has that old thing.
“Sure, I’ll have some. Does mom know you’re drinking that?”
“About that.” He grabs another mug and pours me a cup, then pulls the creamer from the fridge and sets everything on the tiny dining room table. “You should sit.”
We prepare our coffees in heavy silence. Something is wrong.
“What’s going on, Dad?”
“Demi, your mom and I are separating. Well… I guess we’re already separated. We’re getting divorced.”
My head rears back. I know they haven’t always seen eye to eye, but I never thought it would come tothis. How did I not know things were so bad between them?
“Before you start spiraling, you should know we’ve had problems for years. I worked very hard to hide it from you and it worked… for a while.”
“What happened? Why now?” I ask cautiously.
“Well, if I’m being transparent, the last straw was the day you came out to us.” I doubt I’ll ever forget that day. “Your mother was–well, she was a raging bitch to you.”
“Dad!” I’ve gone my entire life without hearing him curse.
“Don’t be such a prude, pumpkin.” He gestures his hands dismissively at me as he takes a sip of his black coffee. “This is who I am. There’s a lot you don’t know, because your mother made me into the husband she wanted me to be. It didn’t matter what I wanted. My only job was to provide for the family and be her fucking arm candy.”
Who is this man and what has he done with my dad?
“Unfortunately, I hurt you in the process. I should have stood up to her that day and I never should have let you walk out the door believing your parents didn’t love you unconditionally.
“The truth is… I don’t care who the fuck you love. Women. Men. I literally give zero fucks as long as you’re happy.”
My thoughts wander back to that day. He’d always had my back a little more than mom, but when I told them I was gay, he didn’t stand up for me like I hoped he would. I think I expected the reaction I got from her, but from him… he fucking broke my heart.Better late than never, I suppose.
“What about Mom?” I ask hesitantly. The fact that they’re getting divorced, tells me I likely already know, but on the off-chance I’m wrong–
I reach for my mug of coffee and take a sip as dad reaches out and takes my other hand. “Your mom’s not ready, Demi. I don’t know if she’ll ever be ready. She’s too set in her ways.”
I knew it.
Not that I’ve ever been close to my mother, so not having her now doesn’t change much, but she isstillmy mom. Every girl deserves a mom that loves her. I did a lot of work with Raegan to overcome this issue with my parents. You’d think this wouldn’t hurt as much as it does.
Shit. Now my mind is filled with images of a certain redhead, in her pencil skirt and low-cut blouse. And those heels. Fuck my life. I hope she and Hayes are figuring their shit out so my sacrifice was worth it.
