𝖫 𝖤 𝖬 • 𝖮 • 𝖭 𝖠 𝖣 𝖤

VI: Daddy Lessons

ac·count·a·bil·i·ty :

"You find the black tube inside her beauty case where she keeps your father's old prison letters. You desperately want to look like her. You look nothing like your mother. You look everything like your mother. Film star beauty. How to wear your mother's lipstick. You go to the bathroom to apply your mother's lipstick. Somewhere no one can find you. You must wear it like she wears disappointment on her face. Your mother is a woman and women like her cannot be contained. Mother dearest, let me inherit the earth. Teach me how to make him beg. Let me make up for the years he made you wait. Did he bend your reflection? Did he make you forget your own name? Did he convince you he was a god? Did you get on your knees daily? Do his eyes close like doors? Are you a slave to the back of his head?

Am I talking about your husband or your father?"

_ _ _

"Every time I see you, you get taller and taller!" Diana, Tayla's biological grandmother who is Ayla's great grandmother, said bending as a hyped Ayla ran into her arms.

"I'm gonna be as tall as my daddy!"

"I bet you will." Diana smiled and stood up engulfing Tayla in a warm hug. "She still obsessed with her father."

Tayla chuckled and shook her head, "Is she. She wants to tell everyone she loves her dad."

"Well that's good. A daughter's first love is her father and it's good she has that in her life." Diana smiled making Tayla smile slightly in return and turn her attention to her grandfather holding Ayla in his arms while walking up to them.

"There's my favorite great grandchild. I'll make sure to never tell your father this though." Clint spoke making Tayla laugh.

Growing up, Renee always made sure to keep Tayla's grandparents on her father side in the picture considering her dad just walked out on them plus they wanted to watch their first grandchild grow and not miss a moment of her life.

They were there when she graduated high school, college, when she got married to Chris, when she gave birth to Ayla, birthdays.

They were always there.

Her father just wasn't.

And Clint made sure to tell Tayla's biological father everything whenever he showed up and he always carried on like he didn't give a damn about his first child and her life now.

Tayla didn't mind though. She accepted the fact that he was always gonna remain a stranger for the rest of her life.

"Come on in. We just made spaghetti and I was just getting started on baking something sweet." Diana smiled ushering the other three into the house.

The smell of food, candles, and just...old people hit Tayla's nose as they walked in giving her a sense of comfort. The many nights she had slept over popped in her mind.

Including the one time back when her and Chris was engaged and they slept over due to a storm happening outside, it was too unsafe for them to drive back in, they ended up having sex in the guest room as quiet as possible to them only to find out the next morning, they weren't as quiet as they thought.

"Can I help?" Ayla questioned making sure to display her puppy dog eyes.

"Of course you can."

"Now tell me, where's the husband? I was expecting him here so we could discuss the playoffs. I don't know how that boy loves them Lakers." Her grandfather said taking a seat at the table along with Tayla while Diana and Ayla got started baking.