The Brave and Beautiful

A Little Fight Never Caused Any Harm... Right?

Izzy's POV

My kitchen smelled of apple pie and old books. I sat at the table beside my mother, who was wearing the most disturbing outfit. But atleast it looked fun.

"So, Izzy, what are your questions about your father?" My mom asked.

I was gonna start of simple. I had many questions, some more pressing than others, but I didn't want to dive right in. I needed to start off with the obvious ones. "Why is he back in Elmsville?" As I said this, I didn't take my eyes of my mother. I continued to glare at her, as if she was going to run away if I wasn't looking.

"Well, he came back to Elmsville for two reasons. One, his work transfered here. Two... he needed to come and apologize to us." She said, smiling. I totally believed the first reason, but the second reason made me cackle in my head. Was my mom really niave enough to believe my dad came back here for responsible and kind reasons!

"Okay, fine. Why were you sticking your tongue down his throat the night he returned." I knew I was swimming in testy waters, but my mom didn't glare at me, or yell. Instead she sighed.

"Ah, well. That night, I got a knock on the door. And when I went to answer it I was very surprised to find your father staring back at me. He had tears in his eyes instead of a bottle in his hands like he once used to. He told me how his work transfered here, and that he came to set things straight. I was scared, but just as curious. I let him come in, and... well. He apologized. He gave this whole speech about how stupid he was, and when he left us, it was him in his drunken cloud of stupitidty. I ordered him out, saying there was no use. I would never forgive him. It was the first time I stood up to him, and it made me feel so alive. But he continued to apologize. For hitting you, for abusing me. He said he goes to these meetings, and seminars. He tells me how he's seeing a psychologist. He begs for my forgiveness. I see the same person who I once was, cowering from him. This time he was cowering from me."

"Then what happened mom?" I said, hanging on to every bit of information. I could'nt believe my dad had it in him to apologize like that. I've always remembered him as a cold hearted beast. But then I remember, a few weeks ago, when I yelled at him. He didn't hurt me, he cried. And that other time, when I came home and he was cooking. I never hit me, but my father stopped cooking when he became an alcoholic. Maybe it was a sign that he'd given up drinking?

"Well, I decided to let him stay for dinner. We ate, and he told me everything about his life since he left, and I told him everything about mine. I told him about how you love skiing, and how well you do in school. I told him about me being a lawyer. Lots of stuff. He listened well. After dinner, he told me he should I go... and I felt sad"

Woah! Back up! My own mother felt sad about my dad having to leave! She relished in the times my dad used to be away from home. Did my mom have feelings for him again! Nope, it couldn't be that.

"I asked him where he'd be staying, and he told me he didn't know yet. So I told him he could stay with us for a bit"

"Well, nearly a month later, and he's still here!" I muttered.

"Has he done anything to hurt you so far? At all?" My mom said, a twinkle in her eye.

'No, he hasn't" I said, sinking in my chair, defeated. I had to say something else to my mom. "Mom, do you have any feelings for him!?"

"I don't know sweetie. All I can say is I'm very conflicted" I gave her a once over. She seemed so much happier now. Had my dad really done this to her? Was he the reason she got out of her dark clothes and in to these embarrasing, but funny, clothes? She seemed so much more relaxed now, then before he showed up. I still wasn't a fan of the arragment though. But if my mom could forgive him, maybe I could.