Runaway

"So?"

"You should've told me first, come in, I made dinner. I also need to talk to you." He slides his arm around my waist, way lower than any dad should touch his daughter. I try to shift away, pulls me right back in. He tightens his grip, like a snake constricting it's prey.

   "Uh, what about? I was gonna go to sleep cause.. I was, uh, tired." I make another attempt to escape from his grasp, breaking free this time. "I'm not hungry either so I think I'm just gonna head to bed—"

"I said I needed to talk to you. Sit down." The sudden change in his voice makes me flinch, I oblige, my buzzed out body finds its way over to the dinner table.

"Your grandmother is dropping by tomorrow. Your mother will be staying for a couple of days too." His eyes are glued to the plate of food. He stabs the steak, red juices flowing out of it.

What? I've never heard anything about either of my grandparents. Mom and Dad always brush off my attempts to bring up the topic, had me thinking they were dead.

"Uh, what for? I thought they were dead, you and Mom never speak of them."

"Well, I didn't think we'd ever have to bring up the topic. We both swore to never speak of each others parents again." He puts his fork and knife down, picking up the glass filled with an amber-colored liquid. "You see, Maple, they never liked the idea of me and Cordelia getting together. Went as far as to try and stop the wedding mid-vows."

   "So did they like, have a change of heart? Why is Grandma suddenly coming here? What about Grandpa?"

   "Cordelia's father died not long after we got married. As for your grandmother, your guess is as good as mine. Maybe ask your mother when she's here, she might know. That's all I wanted to say, you can go to your room now. Goodnight."

   "Uh yeah, goodnight Dad."