His Daughter

Chapter 3

The morning went sluggishly as Greg was the last one to wake up. The bed was empty and long cold, indicating the girls must have gotten up a while ago. Greg groaned as he turned to his side, the bed creaking under the shift of his weight. He threw his arm over his eyes blocking the sun that was sipping through the windows. He laid there, listening to the chirping of birds and the rustling leaves of the nearby willows. It was indeed a nice morning, almost comically resembling those serene mornings in the old romance movies. The ones where the couple wakes up together after the successful confession, bathing in the golden light of the morning.

Greg sighed. It was a nice morning... but it was about turn sour as there was a one pressing issue occupying his mind. He had to talk with Gabbie about the conversation he had with Jenny last night. Now maybe, in other households, this could pass as a child misinterpreting a parent, but Gabbie didn't exactly have the record of being a perfect mother. Maybe it was just a misunderstanding... but maybe it wasn't and there was no other way to confirm his suspicion other than confrontation.

"God, please don't let all of the therapy go to waste..." Greg thought sombrely as he slid the slippers on his feet. He proceeded with a heavy heart down the corridor. If it really was not a misunderstanding... If it really wasn't just a child simplifying what she heard... Then It would mean that they were taking steps backwards instead of moving on... again.

Greg moved through the house, tired and really not up for the conversation. Truly he would rather do anything else, but Gabbie's relationship with Jenny was already rocky, so he could not have his child doubting her own mother's love for her... Even if Gabbie made it hard not to more often than not.

Greg's train of thought was suddenly interrupted by a loud bang coming from the kitchen. Startled by the noise and a string of swears following the crash, Greg marched briskly into the kitchen only to find Gabbie kneeling on the floor gathering what was left off of her favourite mug.

- Honey? You alright? - Greg asked from the doorway. Gabbie shot him a surprised look before smiling sheepishly.

- Yeah, yeah. Just dropped my cup. It was empty thankfully. - she joked, throwing the shards into the trash. Greg walked up to the old refrigerator seemingly disinterested as he begun to search for something quick to eat. He could hear Gabbie walk around the kitchen, probably making yet another coffee knowing her habits.

- You know where is Jenny? Shouldn't she have breakfast or something? - he asked calmly. Gabbie just shrugged as she begun to pour steaming liquid to a new cup.

- I don't know, exploring I guess? - she said not even raising her eyes from the cup as she took the first sip.

- Exploring? You mean you don't know where she is?- Greg did not like this one bit. They had been here less then 24h and he figured if the house itself was so rundown, the rest of the property would not be in a better shape. Gabbie did not seem to be bothered by the absence of their daughter, since she responded with

- Do you plan to hover over her until she is 30? Children learn from independence...- she explained calmly, but Greg could see the twingle of irritation sparkle in her eyes.

- Yes, older and healthier children, Gabbie. - Greg sighed, growing agitated with his wife's attitude. The woman shot him a glare before turning fully to him with her hands crossed on her chest. The coffee mug was steaming behind her making it look like Gabbie was beginning to steam with anger.

- Greg, you can't keep doing that. You can't just supervise her twenty for seven. I though the whole point of this getaway was to make her feel like the other kids for once.- She barked before muttering.

- I am sure she will be fine.- Greg was having none of that however, as he closed the fridge angrily.

- Yes, yes it was. But that doesn't mean we just let her go wherever she wants whenever she wants. Do I really need to explain to you why?