Who Knew

6

Once again, my dad came home later. Accept this time, it was later than usual. When I heard the door open, I checked the time to see that it was almost midnight. There was absolutely no way he could have been working. My dad was with a woman. This woman must have been special to him. 

I woke up a little later than the previous day. Doing my hair took up most of my time. Now that it was done for the week, I didn't have to worry about it. I came down the steps to the kitchen. My dad was pouring himself some coffee.

"Hey daddy. How are you? Haven't seen you since yesterday."

He cleared his throat. "Yeah I worked late and then went out last night."

"Oh that's nice. You had fun?" I sat down with my breakfast pretending to be cheerful. Though I was far from it.

"Yeah how was your first day back at school?"

I observed his strange behavior. He stood drinking his coffee with his back facing me. His plate had no food on it.

I got up from my chair. "Daddy are you alright?" I stood beside him.

"Yeah. Finish your breakfast. I am going to take you to school today."

I glimpsed at the clock on the stove.  "Take me to school? Do you have time for that?"

"Yes. I am going to work later." He poured himself another coffee.

"Okay," I said.

I finished my food and cleaned my plate. My dad waited downstairs for me to grab my things.

The drive was short and quiet. I planned to prove my suspicion. My dad had to admit what was going on.

He pulled up at the school. "Miesha."   My dad spoke for the first time since we had been in the car.

"Yeah," I answered.

"No matter what changes happen. I will always love you. Our relationship is solid and will be strong as it always been."

"Daddy I love you too. Now what is going on? You're acting unusual."

"I just want you to remember what I said."

"Okay." I gave him a strange expression as I opened the door.  

"Have a good day. I will be home on time, so I can cook."

"Alright." I closed the door and immediately rushed to Ranea's locker.

"Ranea," I said out of breathe. 

"Miesha are you okay?" She put a hand on my shoulder while I caught my breathe.

"Yes I am alright. I rushed over here to tell you that my dad is seeing a woman."

"So he told you?"

"Not really. But he was acting strange."

"Strange how?"

I explained to her about the two cups of coffee, him not sitting at the table, and what he said in the car.

Her eyes widened. "Wow. Maybe it is a woman."

That irked me. Women weren't to be trusted. I didn't understand how my dad kept dating these women. My mom scarred him. Now these other woman were trying to hurt him too. Every time he tried to date a woman, it didn't work out. 

"I can the worry in your eyes. You dad is a smart man. He knows what's he is doing."

"Right," I said in a sarcastic tone.

Ranea placed her hands on my shoulders looking me directly in the eye. "Miesha, if your dad is dating a woman, you have to accept it. Your mom is gone. Every woman is not like your mom. Just like every man is not my dad."