A Hunger to Share ( Book Two )

chapter 9

Ada 

Ada knocked on the library door, stomach in knots.

Last time she had seen her Mom she'd been knocked out by her Father after trying to protect her.

The memory made Ada feel hot with anger. She took a deep breath, and tried to calm herself down. She was here to make things better, not worse.

"Come in." Mom spoke.

Ada entered hesitantly, and looked at her. She was sitting in an armchair, reading a big book. The comforting sight took her back to her childhood. Mom was the first person to make Ada fall in love with fictional worlds.

"What is it Nora?" She said without looking up from her book.

"Mom it's...It's me." Ada said in a low voice, not sure if she should go any further.

Her head suddenly came up, blue eyes filled with disbelief. "Ada?"

"Yeah. It's me."

She was crushed in her arms. "I knew it. I knew you'd come back eventualy." Mom said, crying into her hair.

"Mom I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for leaving you when you needed me." She hugged her back.

"It's Ok. You needed to get away. I understand."

"Yeah but I was selfish. I was so selfish."

"It's Ok baby. It's Ok. You're here now. That's all that matters." Mom stroaked her hair affectionately, then kissed it.

*

Ada stayed home all day, and spent it with her family.

She let Mom fuss over her. They couldn't stop talking about Ada's unborn child. Happiness was radiating off of them, and for once, Ada was the cause of that.

Around midnight, when Mom and Nora went to sleep, Ada left the house. There was one more person she needed to see.

*

"Are you here to kill me?" Steven said after opening the door of his hotel room.

Her Dad looked good, but he'd always been good at pretending to be Ok. His sad brown eyes gave him away. Being torn from his family had taken it's toll on him.

Ada cleared her throat. "I'm here to talk."

"About killing me?"

She rolled her eyes. "No Dad, about what happened with Gideon and other things."

His eyes flashed with guilt. He held the door open for Ada and she walked into his room. It was clean and lived in. Dad had made it his temporary home since last month when Mom had kicked him out.

They sat on two chairs facing each other. Dad started filling two glasses with scotch. Ada stopped him.

He looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "Are you hangover or am I going to be a grandpa?"

"The later."

"Is Gideon the father?" He asked, taking a sip of his drink. 

"What? No. It's James's."

"I'm all ears." Dad had that kind look in his eyes, the same one he always reserved for his youngest daughter whenever she needed him.

The one that said whoever hurt you I'll make them regret their existance.

Ada told him everything, and he listened like he used to.

"I see." Dad said after she was done telling him the true version of the story.

"Gideon's not the bad guy here, neither is Adrian." Ada said. "It was all a big misunderstanding."

"A very deadly one."

"Yeah, but you survived it."

"I didn't, neither did any of you."

"Dad..." Ada reached for his hand.

"Why are you trying to make me feel better about all of this Ada? Have you forgotten what I've done to you, to all of you? I hit your Mother. I locked you up for a week, I..." His voice cracked. "I made your life hell because I was too scared and proud to ask for help."

There were unshed tears in his eyes. Ada could see how much he hated himself. She could see the guilt, the remorse. He reminded Ada of herself.

"I haven't forgotten anything." Ada took his hand in hers. "I'm trying to forgive you. I'm tired of all this hate. I want you to come back home."

"Your Mother doesn't want that, neither does your sister. You shouldn't either..."

"Believe me they do. You, and Mom are miserable without each other."

"I don't deserve your forgiveness."

"You do. You've suffered enough. We all have. It's time to be a family again." She squeezed his hand.

"How can you want that? After everything I've done?"

"I've done worse. I almost got James killed twice. I used people, tortured them. I was awful and selfish and Mom and Nora still took me back. They'll do the same for you. You're still my Dad. I love you. I miss you."

"Ada  I...I don't know what to say..."

"Say you'll come home."

"Ok." He gave her a faint smile. "I'll come home."

Ada jumped up und hugged her Dad.