Dressed For Death

CHAPTER 11

JULIETTE

This was one of the moments I feared that I had to face one day. I just didn't expect that it would happen today.

Embarrassment was consuming my thoughts, but I was stronger than this. I could face my father in front of Hayden after I constantly refused to talk about him.

I felt so small when everyone looked at me like they witnessed something they shouldn't. The irony was that most of them already knew I was related to that poor excuse of a man.

I slowly faced Hayden. This conversation wasn't going to be in public. "Can my father and I have a private room to chat please" I whispered.

He nodded and gave a sign to the officers to lead my father where we were going. It was the same familiar path I usually took when I went to bail my father except we stopped in front of a room that I never went into.

"I'll be just outside if you need anything," Hayden told me as he opened the door for me. I put my hand on his shoulder and gave him an apologetic smile before walking into the room.

My father walked shortly after me and the door closed behind him. I was still silent even when we were both alone now.

I pushed the chair and sat down. I leaned back and crossed my arm, waiting for him to speak up first.

He copied me and sat down in front of me. He put his forearms on the table and looked down to observe his hands.

"Why did you wanted to talk to me?" I asked him, barely audible, but I knew he heard me when he slightly lifted his head to look at me.

I averted my gaze when looking into his eyes got too much for me. I felt bad for doing so, however, I knew I had the right to feel this way when I couldn't recognize the person sitting in front of me.

"Do I need a reason to speak to my daughter" He replied, and I scoffed.

"I'm tired of always cleaning up your mess after you," I said to him, trying to keep my calm the best I could.

"Don't you speak to me that way" He spat, and I immediately gave him a furious glare when that man dared to say that to me.

"You need to pull yourself together. It's the last time you use her as an excuse to touch a bottle of alcohol" I was fuming with rage.

"I'm not using my wife as an excuse to drink!" He yelled at me as he slammed his hands on the table.

"Yes, you do! When are you going to realize she's not coming back, dad!" My voice cracked when I yelled at him. Tears prickled the corner of my eyes as I tried my best to stay strong.

"Nathan needs you! I need you... I tried so hard to tell myself that I don't care about you anymore, but you're my dad and I know a part of me will always love you" I brushed away the tears that escaped from my eyes and took a deep breath.

"You don't think it's been hard for me? Single dad with two kids and one of them is sick. But, I can't be sad because my daughter doesn't accept that" He said as he put his hands up in the air like he was surrendering.

"I never said that and don't act like you give a shit about Nathan's cancer, because you're not the one who's paying to keep him alive! And you don't even bother to visit him at the hospital" I accusingly pointed my finger at him.