suite ties || zack martin

Mom and Dad on Deck

ALTHOUGH Moseby wasn't biologically related to Freya, they always felt like a tightly knit niece and uncle. But he never minded. Seeing as he truly cared for the girl, he would even forget that they weren't true family.

It just so happened that today was Moseby's birthday. The two often celebrated their birthdays together, along with Freya's dad, before he got his most recent job. Ever since he got that corporate job, he was spending less and less time with her. Practically shoving her away.

Freya loved her father and she knew he wasn't intentionally forgetting her but she hated it. A few months before she started attending Seven Seas High, every night, when he would get home from work, it didn't feel like she was home with her parents. It felt like when you go over to a random distant relatives house for the holidays and you didn't know anybody but, somehow, they all knew you. She didn't feel like a priority to him. So as the years passed, and her father got busier and busier, Freya and Moseby grew even closer, if that was even possible. Moseby gave her what she was lacking when her father was away, so she clung to him.

— — — — — ☆ — — — — —

"Good morning, Moseby!" Freya smiled, jogging into the lobby where Moseby resided. In her hands, she held a beautifully decorated gift box. It was an unsaid tradition between the two of them to give fancy, overly decorated wrapping on their birthday presents. One year, they had put a lot of effort in the wrapping and ever since then, they continued that.

"Oh, Freya! Morning." Moseby looked up from the front desk with a smile as he watched the girl pause right before him.

"Happy birthday!" She grinned, placing the gift on his desk in front of him. "Go ahead! Open it." Moseby quickly but carefully opened the beautiful box, revealing pocket handkerchiefs. Most of Freya's presents to him were handkerchief themed and he loved it every single.

"Aw! Pocket hankies? You shouldn't have!" Moseby said, giving her a hug.

"Not just pocket hankies, custom pocket hankies!" Freya corrected. "I got them to match a few of your most worn blazers."

"Thank you, Freya. You truly are the highlight of all my birthdays!" Moseby smiled gratefully, using one of the handkerchiefs to wipe a tear. "They're already coming in handy!"

"Did dad call?" Freya asked.

"Oh, no. But he did send me a postcard. With 'talk soon' scribbled on it." Moseby frowned. "But its the thought that counts, I guess." Freya gently patted his shoulder for a minute. She was normally the only one who remembered his birthday. He was very grateful for her, though.

"Oh! Since Carey and Kurt are on the boat, I have to give them the bill."

"Oh yeah, Zack told me about he and his dad's guys weekend. Wait, what bill?" Freya questioned.

"All of the boys damages. Mostly Zack." He answered.

"That's makes a lot of sense." She nodded.

— — — — — ☆ — — — — —

Freya followed Moseby down the stairs onto the sky deck where she found Zack, Cody, their mom Carey, and another man, who she assumed was their dad.

"Hey babe!" Zack yelled to her, waving. "Come meet my dad!"

"Ahh, Carey, Kurt, what a lovely family tableau!" Moseby exclaimed with smile as he and Freya walked down the stairs.

"Mr. Moseby, it's so good to see you!" Carey smiled, holding out her arms to hug him as he got off the stairs.

"Here's your bill." He interrupted, putting the bill in front of her.