The Color Of Love

Chapter One: The Way It Is

My parents have separated since I was seven. I never knew what happened between the two of them. All I do remember is my mother and her boyfriend packing us up and moving to Cider Creek outside of Texas. I didn't even get a chance to say good-bye to my father or pack my stuff. My dad was a gentle soul who loved us to death and only tried to make our lives easy. Now I am seventeen, and my mom's boyfriend has decided that he wants to travel my last year of school. Now I have to leave my friends behind, the only guy I have dated since intermediate school and the cheerleading squad I worked so hard to captain over. Eric and I were the power couple of the school with being voted most popular every year, having the highest G.P.A and leading our teams to victory none stop. Now my mom decides to pick me up and move me back in with my dad so that I can graduate and have a stable living environment. Don't get me wrong and think for one moment that I do not love or miss my dad, but I have a new life that I enjoy. My father and I talk on the phone regularly, and we text each other every chance we get so he does not miss out on anything I do.

I also come to Lakeview every Holiday so I can spend time with him. He is the lead homicide detective in this town and has done very well for himself. He is very handsome, and all the women in the town wanted to be the next Mrs. Mitchell, but he had not moved on from my mom. He kept hoping she would return with me, and we would be a family once again. The drive to my dad's house was always beautiful, and the greenery was captivating. "Nickie, baby is you ok"? "Yes, mother I am just trying to enjoy the view." I could see my mom looking in the rearview mirror at me. I could see the tears growing in her eyes as she looked at me. My mom had never been away from me longer than two weeks at a time, and she called me every minute at that. After a two-hour drive, we finally arrived at this gorgeous red brick house. The front yard was beautifully landscaped and taken care of by the gardener. The grass cut and rose bushes lined the front wall gorgeously. It had a beautiful stone walkway that lead to the front door. Seth pulled into the driveway, and my dad walked came out to greet us. Mom and I climbed from the car and gathered my stuff to take in my house. My father walked toward us and gathered my things from my mom.

I ran into my dad's arms, and he hugged me tightly and kissed my forehead. "Hi my gorgeous Princess." I looked up at my father deep, gray eyes and smiled at him in happiness. He was six feet tall, muscular build, had a gorgeous smile with vibrant white teeth and a butterscotch complexion. He was African American with some French decent mixed in his bloodline. "Hello, my father, how are you doing"? "Better now that you are home to stay." "Hello Mitch." My dad looked up and saw my mom. "Hi, Beautiful." I could see my mom blushing as she looked at my dad. My mom was Caucasian from a European decent. She had sky blue eyes and red hair that shined in the light. She had gained weight over the years so now she had a large frame at 5'8. That did not change how my dad saw her. She could be obese, and my dad would still find her beautiful. I let go of my father and moved out of the way. "How have you been doing"? "I have been good and yourself"? "I can't complain Alison." I see you have kept the house the same since we left". "I couldn't bring myself to change anything in hopes that you would come back." I saw the pain in my father's face as he was talking to her. Seth started blowing the horn frantically. "I better am going before he brings your neighbors out of their homes." "Alison before you go I need for you to look over these divorce papers and sign them." My mom looked like my father had just stabbed her in the heart. "It's not right that you move on with your life Alicia, and I can't because of the vows that we took." My dad handed her an envelope and watched as she walked away. My mom walked over to me and wrapped her arms around my shoulder. "I love you Nickie Nicole Mitchell and don't you forget that." My mom kissed me and got into the car, and Seth drove off. I saw Seth yelling at her and acting as if he wanted to hit her again. My mom thought I didn't know that he had been abusing her. My dad walked over and put his arms around my shoulder as we watched them drive away. "Let's go and get you settled in so we can go and get something to eat." We carried my stuff in the house, and I was amazed at how beautiful my dad had decorated. "Wow, dad you painted this house amazingly." "There were things that needed changing around in my life." I never knew what happened to my parents.