Sweet Escape

Chapter 3

Lydia's father, Bruce comes around once in a while. He is a traveling business man and barely comes home. Although his job is what helps pay the bills.
Lydia's mother, Tracey is a supervisor for lunch and recess at Lydia's school. So that way she can spend more time with her daughter.
"Haz I'm going to video chat daddy I want you to come." Lydia giggled skipping her way into the kitchen.
I followed her and watched as a man with a small scruffy beard and blue eyes appeared on an ipad.
"Hi daddy!" Lydia smiled
"Hey sweetie." he smiled back "where is mommy?"
"Oh she went wee wee. I think she's gonna be back soon. Oh and Haz is here." She looked up at me.
"Oh hi Haz." he waved.
I waved back even though I know he can't see me.
"Haz and I were having tea before."
"I was having tea also. They have really good tea in Australia."
"Isn't that where the Kangaroos live?" Lydia asked with excited wide eyes.
Kangaroos and foxes are her favorite animals of all time.
"Yes Kangaroos live in Australia. So do Koala bears."
"Why can't they live here?"
"Well they have family here."
"And you have family here in Louisiana but your in Australia."
"Hi Bruce!" Tracey said walking in after Lydia made a uncalled for comment.
"Hi! I miss you." Bruce said with a smile.
"Baby do you mind if I talk to daddy alone?" Tracey asked Lydia
"No I don't mind." she said hopping off the kitchen chair, shuffling her way into the living room.
As I sat next to her she started letting slow tears run down her cheeks.
I wiped them away and she explained to me why she was sad.
"Daddy always says how he is going to be home soon but he never does come home. I miss having him around. Remember when he played tea with me and you?"
I nodded my head in agreement. Bruce is a great father but it's difficult to continue being a father when you have business to deal with.
"Does he not love me?" She turned to look at me with a slightly pouted lip.

I took a notebook and crayon from the coffee table and wrote 'he loves you and your mother'
"Well it doesn't seem like it." she started crying a little more.
I starting writing 'He will come home soon don't worry'
"Baby are you crying?" Tracey came in looking worried.
"No." Lydia said sitting up straight
"Yes you are. I can tell by your wet, red eyes." she said sitting next to Lydia. "Now baby please tell me what's wrong."
"I'll tell you later mommy." Lydia said getting up from the couch and dragging herself to her bedroom.
I went up to her room and took out her letters and spelled out 'why didn't you tell your mom?'
Lydia reacted to me moving around the letters and read what I spelled out.
"Haz sometimes it's easier not to say anything at all. That way you don't hurt anyone." she looked down at the ground. "nothing is gonna change anyway. At least I know I have you to trust."
She ran up to me and I embraced her in my arms.
'You can always trust me'