A Drop in the Ocean

Chapter 40

When we got to Seattle, I got a call from my sister saying she wanted to meet me at Pike's Market on the morning we got there so we could eat some food.  I took a cab and went by myself.  I didn't need anyone else there.  Texting my sister, I found her at a small restaurant.  Walking over to the table, I noticed that she was sitting with someone.  I couldn't see who it was, but he had short red hair, and he was older.  Suddenly, I started to panic.  But she had seen me.  

"Jordan!  Over here!" she called out, and he turned.  My father.  That fucking son of a bitch.  I walked over to them, my jaw clenched.  Rosie stood, and so did he.  I sized him up.  He seemed to be the same as he did in the picture I have, but he was just a little older.  Grey was peppering the sides of his head, and he had a more noticeable beard that was also speckled with white.  And he looked tired.  Well, join the club buddy.

"Hi," I said, venom dripping from my voice.  My father was staring at me.  I was scowling at him.  

"Please sit," Rosie told me, beginning to crouch down in her chair.  I shook my head.

"I'm not fucking sitting down," I told her.  She gave me a shocked look.  

"Why not?" she asked.  I gave her a disbelieving look.  

"Are you fucking serious right now?  You are actually going to eat with this man after he abandoned us?" I cried.  People had begun to glance at us.

"Sit your ass down.  You're making a scene," she told me through gritted teeth.  I narrowed my eyes at her, but I sat, crossing my arms defiantly.  "Thank you," she said sharply.  

"I can't believe you," I said, shaking my head.  

"And why the fuck not?" she asked.

"Because.  You're actually conversing with the man!  Seriously!  After everything mom told us!  After leaving us!  Not even calling on Christmas or birthdays!  And you will still talk to him!" I whisper-shouted.

"I'm sitting right here," he finally spoke up.

"Oh, so now you're going to talk?  After eighteen fucking years?" I said through gritted teeth.

"You're being a bitch, J.  Stop," Rosie told me.  I laughed.  

"Seriously?  I can't even believe any of this is happening right now!" I cried.  

"Can I explain, please?" he said.  I gave him a look through narrowed eyes. 

"You have one minute.  And it starts now," I told him.  

"Okay.  Your mother kicked me out after you were born because of my drinking problem.  I had told her that I would go to a rehabilitation center, but she still wanted me out.  So I moved to Seattle, turned my life around.  Your mother and I got divorced.  And I never spoke to either of you.  Until your sister was a sophomore in high school.  Somehow, she was able to contact me, and then she decided to come to the college here to be closer to me," he told me.  I spun my head over to my sister.  

"You've been talking to this prick for four fucking years, Rosemary?" I exclaimed.  She looked down at her hands and nodded.  "And you left the family that has taken care of you for your entire life just to be closer to him?  After everything he did?"  She nodded again.  "You know what you left out, you selfish prick?" I asked him.  He just stared at me.  "The part where you hit her.  You hit our mother.  So I'm glad you're gone.  I never want to see you again," I told him, standing from my chair.  I turned to walk away, but he grabbed my arm, standing.  I swung around and used gave him a left hook in the cheek.  He let go of my arm and put his hand on his face.  Rosie stood up but I stopped her with my hand.  People were looking at us.