DISCOVERING SADIE

Chapter 9

Sorry Collisions

Sadie's POV
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I lay in bed, wondering what my life could have been if I would've stayed back home. Tracy barely Skypes anymore. The school year has been long and hard but summer is here and Trace obviously has no desire to spend it chatting with me online.

I decided to pack my bags and head back to Florida. Not forever, but I just need to feel the sun on my skin. This place is beautiful but the frost bite is a bitch.

Pulling my travel bags from the closet, I rummage through my draws. Honestly thinking if I would take anything at all. Aside from my essentials, none of these clothes are for Florida living, and surely not during summer.

Before I can finish my thoughts, I hear the front door burst open and slam shut.

I freeze.

Had I locked the door? Is there some intruder in my house? Maybe Keira and her weird ass friends coming to teach me a lesson. Showing me why I shouldn't have ditched them in the forest. I hadn't bumped into any of them since then. I asked around but most of the locals either didn't know who I was referring to, or others suggested they were summer residents. Coming to enjoy the snow the last few months out of the year.

Either way, I was relieved I didn't have to think about them, until now.

"Sadie honey, can you hurry downstairs please. I have big news.. big big news honey." Dad shouts up the stairs, and I hear him dropping him things onto the kitchen counter.

I rush downstairs, leaving my opened bag on the bed. My room is utterly destroyed, I have to remember to clean it up before Dad sees.

"What's up Dad, you really freaked me out bursting through the door like that." Leaning against the wall I wait for him to notice me in the room.

"Sadie, baby we did it. We had the biggest breakthrough in the lab. I can't get into it too much." Dad pours himself a glass of cognac. More than the usual. "We actually found a link to the specimen DNA we have been researching for months."

"Dad slow down. If you aren't supposed to talk about it are you sure you should be telling me." I'm straight on my feet now. Trying to search his eyes for answers. I pull back with emotions I didn't know would surface. "This is the most you've said to me in weeks, you're barely home. So let me reiterate my concern. Why.. are you telling me this."

"Sadie, I know it's been rough, and I'm not saying it's gonna get easier anytime soon. But it will get better. I promise" Dad takes more cognac into his mouth. Holding it before swallowing harshly.

"It has to get a bit harder sweetie." He runs his hands over the back of his head and tugs at the hair with frustration.

"What, why are you saying that." I'm at the kitchen counter now. No longer trying to hide my pain. I want him to see all of it. I want to scream and tell him that I'm done putting my life on hold while he hides in his work. I'm ready to tell him that I'm leaving. And, I don't know when I'll be back.. if I'll even be back.

Dad throws me to the side once again. Looking into my eyes, he sees my heart breaking. "Sweetie, the job has asked me to take charge of a lab overseas. It'll only be a couple of months. But... I.. hhuh." Dad takes a deep steady breath.

"Sweetie, I want to.. no, I need to do this." Dad reaches over the counter. Reaching out for me to tell him that I love him, and how much I support his decision. A decision where he hasn't considered me or what I want at all. Why did I come here?
Why do I always place my life on hold, for someone so distant and cold?