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trigger warnings: mentions of drug and alcohol abuse
When Odessa was little, her favorite thing was going to the beach with her father. Whether it was early in the morning or late at night, her dad would gather her up and they would go and just sit by the water. She could still remember the sound of her little giggle as he threw her into the water and the sound of his laugh when he sound lift her on his shoulders. Her favorite time was when it was completely dark and the moon would shine on the water like tiny little diamonds.
It was their cherished moment. Her father was the love of her life, like all fathers were to their daughters. He was the first man that introduced what love was to her. To understand what it felt to love somebody so much that you want to keep them hidden from the world because they were yours. But he was also the first man to introduce to her the feeling of completely pain when they leave. The feeling as if somebody's ripping you apart until you're nothing.
Her father was once her safe place. Now, he made it impossible for her to breath. "Dad?" She uttered the forbidden word.
Christian Beaumont stood in front of his daughter and ex wife with his ocean colored eyes filled with years and years of sadness and regret. He stood there with his hands in his pockets, standing in front of her like they just saw each other yesterday. No, it wasn't yesterday. It was three years ago when she fourteen years old.
"Christian?" Thalia spoke from behind her daughter. Her legs felt like they would come out from under her. She touched her chest and felt tears prick her eyes.
Christian suddenly looked overwhelmed. He opened his his mouth but couldn't seem to form words. "I. . . I. . ."
Odessa's anxiety had not settled, for she just got the worst news of her life. And now this, this was too much for her to handle. "Dad?" She repeated the uttered word. She dreamed of things like this. She dreamed of seeing him again, hearing his laugh and seeing his smile, but now that he was here, it felt more like a nightmare.
He looked at her again and only her. Tears filled her eyes that were the same shade of blue as his. His heart broke. "Odessa. . . I-I've missed you so much, sweetheart." He breathed out.
Odessa felt like she was locked in a room and the walls were closing in on her. "What—"
"I saw you, in the tournament. I came to watch you." Her father went on.
"You were there?" Thalia spoke with a crack in her voice.
Christian looked at his ex wife. "Oh, Thalia. You haven't changed." He spoke shakily. He looked between her and his daughter. "I-I missed both of you so much. I was watching from the hallway. I-I didn't say anything because I didn't want to ruin things."
