The Sinner

11

Midsummer's.

An excuse to wear your best dress and socialize with other rich people who have sticks shoved entirely up their asses. Forty five year old mom's live for this day, the social event of the summer.

I'm planning on getting shit faced, especially because there's an after party at one girl's houses that we all went to high school with. That's, the part I'm looking forward to. Not to talk with people's parents that ask when I'm leaving for college, or any of that garbage.

I glance in the mirror after I finish running the curling iron through the bottom half of my hair. I chose to go with Sarah's suggestion of a black dress. Black clothes are usually a good choice, at least for me. For one, they make me feel thinner and also complement my skin tone well. And, it goes well with my dark hair.

I hear a light knock on my door, my eyes flicker from my reflection to the wooden white doorway. My dad walks through, he was dressed in a fancy striped dress shirt, along with nice expensive dark pants.

"Think you can help me?" He asks as he holds out his tie. I hesitate, before I see his pleading eyes, and then give him a nod. I walk over to him, he's never been able to tie his tie. That was one of the things my mom taught me how to do before she left.

"How was your trip," I ask to break the silence. He looks down at me, pushing some curled hair behind my ear. "Where did you even go?"

"Just back to the mainland," He explains. "Maggie is very nice, I think you'd like her."

"How can you be so sure?" I ask as I pull the tie up around his neck. My eyes look into his matching green ones. "She's probably awful, Dad."

"Right, because us awful people need to stick together right?" He jokes, I push my lips out as I try not to smile. He nudges me, making the smile come out fully. "Don't be mad at me for leaving honey, I know I'm gone a lot. But it won't be for forever."

"I just want to see you," I tell him. "I feel like the trip to Nassau was the first time we've spent quality time together."

"We'll go on another trip soon," He reassures me. He looks down at my outfit and gives me a dramatic twirl. "You look beautiful, honey."

"Thanks Dad," I say with a small smile. "Ward asked me if I wanted to walk out with Rafe. He's winning some award tonight."

He smiles, "And do you want to?"

"No," I tell him. Not after he had a girl come over the other night. "I don't, Rafe's a douche."

"Rafe can be a douche," He agrees while chuckling. "He's a good kid, and I'm sure it'll make their family happy."

I shrug, "I guess." I grab my heels off the bed before walking back towards him.

"We should head over to the country club soon," He tells me. "It's almost six." I follow him out the door, and I hear something close downstairs as I hover above the stairs.

"What was that?" I ask as he slowly descends the stairs.

"One more thing," He explains. I raise my brows as I get to the bottom floor. I turn the corner to see a woman standing in our kitchen.

No fucking way.

"Hi," She beams at me. She was tall, skinny, and blonde. "I'm Maggie, I've heard so much about you."

This is not happening right now, my eyes flash to my dad out of shock and he smiles nervously at me.

"Nice to meet you," I finally manage to push out. She walks over to me, arms wide open and she wraps them around me. Even though I watch her walk over to me, I still jump when she hugs me.