Luminous Nights

V. Family Matters

I felt the nice, warm water roll off my back in the shower. Prince always liked to stay by my side everywhere I went, including waiting outside the shower. I put my hand in front of me to get a good look at it. It had turned black and blue around the knuckles. I guess when you've never punched someone before, this sorta thing happens. How am I going to explain this to Dad later? Do I just casually tell him 'Oh yeah Dad, by the way I punched a man in the face that was trying to have his way with me, while I was walking around late at night.' Right, like that'll go over smoothly. I'm just thankful that that Corwin guy showed up at the last second. That was really convenient timing. I can't help but to think of him as a friend after last night. Maybe I'll send him a text soon?

My phone started ringing as soon as I hopped out of the shower. I looked at my phone, and Dad was calling. Wait, what time was it? Crap! That's why he's calling me, I'm late! I was supposed to be meeting him by now, but I overslept today after what had happened last night. I answered the phone. Oh great, here we go. "Violet! Where are ya?! Did something happen?! Are you sick?! Did you get stranded on the way over here?! I hope you're okay!" "Dad, I'm fine. I just lost track of time, that's all. I'm on my way now." I assured him over the phone. Dad wasn't always this overprotective. He used to be a bit more easy going when we were kids, but after Mom died, he changed. He had no choice but to stay strong for us. But, as much as he can drive me crazy sometimes, he's still been the best Dad to us. I finally made it onto the bus, and was on my way. The drive is about an hour from the town I currently live in, which is a small college town called Oakdale. Dad lives out in the country, so there's no bus stops nearby his place, so he has to pick me up at the nearest one. He had a hard time adjusting since I moved out just over a year ago. It was also an adjustment for me since I grew up in the country and had to get used to living downtown in my small apartment.

The bus began to pull over at its' stop and I looked out my window to see Dad waiting in his truck. That old, beat up truck of his that he's driven for as long as I can remember. You couldn't miss that rusty hunk of junk even a mile away. I stepped off the bus and saw Dad standing by his truck, with his arms crossed impatiently. "Hey Dad!" I told him as I waved and walked towards him. He raised one eyebrow at me "It's been eighty years. You're gonna just have to get my casket ready, 'cause I should be dead by now. Ya' know, since you took your sweet time and all..." I rolled my eyes at him and sighed. "Sorry Dad. I'll try and be a better kid I guess." He chuckled and put his arms out. "Well don't just stand there, give your old man a hug!" Dad smelled like spiced tobacco, cedar, and a hint of charred wood, all of which was a comfort scent. He's smelled like that for as long as I've known him. His rough, bushy mustache tickled the top of my head. "Dad, are you ever gonna shave that thing off of your face?" I teased him. "Hey now, don't ya be makin' fun of my pride and joy. I worked hard makin' her  look this good." We released each other and I started to throw my stuff in the truck. "You're calling your mustache a lady? That's a little...disturbing, Dad." "Ya know it!" He belly-laughed. We got in the truck and headed towards my childhood home. Dad wore his usual type of clothing: a rough pair of jeans, a flannel, and a pair of worn work boots. His short, brown hair was starting to turn gray at the roots, and he had more wrinkles around his face than I remembered, but his green eyes still had that same youthful sparkle that they've always had. He's also got a bit of a beer gut going on too, but I won't tell him that. It's been a little while since I've been back home, at least three months or so. Between work and school, I haven't made the time to come over here to visit them.

We started driving down the long driveway, canopied by lots of pine and cedar trees. I almost forgot how far out of town I used to live. Living out here definitely made my hobbies difficult, since our internet connection was never the greatest. It was already sunset when we pulled up to the house, which was also surrounded by many trees, just like the driveway. The house looked pretty much the same as it always has: a two story log home with a long, wooden porch. Dad was a creature of habit, so he never liked to update anything around the place. We both hopped out of the truck. "Welcome home!" Dad said as he grabbed my stuff for me. I decided to stay the night, since I was off school the next day for a holiday. We made our way inside. It was dark, with just a lamp that was turned on in the corner of the living room. Dad always preferred to keep most of the lights off in the house, to save on the electric bill. "Here's your stuff. I'll be making supper while you get settled in upstairs." He said with a cheeky grin on his face. "By 'making supper' you mean you're ordering pizza, aren't you?" I asked while walking up the stairs. "What can I say? Ya know your old man too well! Heh heh!" I heard his belly laugh all the way up the stairs. I went up the hallway and opened the first door on the left to my old bedroom. My room was painted a robin egg blue shade, which looked bare without all of my nerdy posters hanging all around. My bed was set up in the corner, with my nightstand right next to it, already made. Across the hallway was Emily, my younger sister's, room. Her room was decked out in all things pink and girly, the opposite of my style, that's for sure. I laid down on my bed and looked up at the ceiling. I closed my eyes and started reminiscing about all the good memories I had here. A comforting warmth surrounded me and I almost drifted off to sleep.

"Supper's here! Fresh and hot! Better hurry before it's all gone!" shouted my Dad up the stairs. I made my way downstairs, sat at the table with him, and began to chow down. "What happened there kiddo?" Dad asked while looking at my hand. I decided to bandage up my hand before coming over, just so he wouldn't notice the bruises. "Oh it's nothing. Prince just scratched me, that's all." I hoped that was a convincing lie, but I don't think he bought it. He raised an eyebrow and squinted at me. "I can tell your lyin' ya know. Now, what actually happened? Do I need to kick some ass?" "No, no ass kicking necessary, Dad..." He's not gonna let this up. I've gotta tell him. "Now, don't get upset. Let's just say that I was walking home from the store last night, and I may or may not have punched someone, in the face, who was trying to do something to me, possibly? But don't freak out!" Dad's face turned pale and he looked like I'd just broken his heart. "How can I not freak out?! Why didn't ya call me? This is a huge deal, Violet!" I tried reassuring him. "Dad, it's really okay! I had a friend that showed up and helped me. Everything was fine after that. You don't need to worry about me anymore. I'm a grown adult now." Dad had a gloomy expression on his face and looked at me. "I'm sorry honey, I don't mean to be such an overbearing father or nothin', but I just can't help but worry about ya. You're still my daughter and I just want to make sure you're safe at all times." We both stood up and I gave him a reassuring hug. "I'm sorry Dad." "It's alright honey." He chuckled and looked down at me. "You've got so much of your mother's personality. She would give me a heart attack with the stunts that she used to pull." He stared off in the distance, smiling warmly. "Troublemaker she was. Still don't know why a woman like that would fall for a simple, backwoods man like myself."

I began cleaning up the table, while Dad was telling me more stories about Mom. "Talking about her just reminded me about somethin'. I'll be right back." Dad left the kitchen and went upstairs. I wonder where he's going? That was really random. Oh well, I'm just relieved that he didn't panic too much about what happened yesterday. I thought he would try to find that man and kick his ass, or do worse, knowing how bad his temper was. Dad came back down the stairs and back into the kitchen. He was carrying a dark red box, and set it down on the table. "This is from Mom. She wanted you to open this after you turned twenty-one. I've got no idea what's inside it, but she specified to wait until after you were twenty-one. I actually forgot about it up until now." Curiously, I stared down at this box. "Wow, I wonder what's inside?" I reached to take the lid off this small box. Dad interrupted. "She also specified for ya to look at it by yourself. I guess it's a mother-daughter kinda thing. Probably somethin' personal. Why don't ya wait till later to open it?" I paused before opening it. "Thanks Dad, I will." I said, smiling.