nevertheless~

part 77

HARDIN'S POV

"And we are going there, after all this? Have you lost it Adam", she scolds her brother as she pulls aside on the road, and parks.

"Where else can we go? Do you want to go to that hell hole, alone? God knows what she might do. We've never seen her go this batshit insane about anything. Just because you declined marrying Zed, because you are with Hardin, she picked a knife at you. What do you think she'll do knowing that we've done so much damage to her.", he explains.

"I haven't spoken to dad in 5 years, Adam. I can't go to his house.", she says hesitantly

"Tessa, he's not mad at you anymore. I know it's been 5 years, but he's better. He understands why you left and he's actually happy that you did. He sees it now and he did the same thing frankly, so come on. Don't be like this", her brother takes her hand in his and tells her. Consoling her more than convincing her.

"We don't have many options. My hand's  bleeding, I need first aid and I need it now. Can you please drive to your fathers. I don't think it'll be that bad if he understands you. I mean, he can't be worse than whatever this was.", I say and her hands without another word return to the steering wheel and we move.

Thank god.

We park outside an equally stunning looking house that blows my winds away. How do these people here manage to live in these houses and still be of such shallow character? We get down and Tessa manages to take her bag from my grip, without even as much a word to me and we go to their door, where the siblings stand and give each other quiet looks. I know it's going to be hard for them to do, but I'm not exactly sure of anyone's character in this small town.

"Aren't you nervous?", Tessa asks and for a second I feel like she's speaking to me, but then I realize the question was for Adam.

"No. I've known for some time. He didn't want to tell you because he knew you'd want to take care of him, you'd basically throw away your whole life to come and be with him.", he explains as he rings the doorbell and after a heartbeat, a man opens the door, who looks like he couldn't be above the age of 50. For a 50 year old man, he looks pretty decent.

"Tessie", the words fall from his lips, as he embraces his daughter in his arms, and I have to momentarily hold myself back from letting him touch her, remembering that he's her father and also that he cut ties off with her when she was young.

"Hi dad", she says, nuzzling her face in his chest, feeling the comfort of a father for the first time in a long time.

"You're a sight for old sore eyes, my girl", he says and kisses the top of her head, and I see the beginnings of what look like tears in the corners of his eyes, seeing his little girl finally come home to him after such a long time. I can understand his pain to an extent, where pushing away Tessa hurt him so much that finally having her with him seems unbelievable.

"Dad", Adam clears his throat, breaking them apart as Richards eyes fly to me.

"Come in, I'm sorry. I just...ugh", he looks around to finish his sentence as his face reads that he's overjoyed with love.

"I'm Richard", he pushes his hands towards me to shake it, introducing his name and I absentmindedly push the bleeding hand out.

"I'm Hardin", I say and he looks down to my bleeding hand, his eyes widening.

"What happened? Dear god", he exclaims.

"If it were any other case, this would sound a lot more funny and alarming, but your wife happened", I joke as I also explain my pain. Around here, apart from Tessa he seems to be the one with coins in his brain.