Broken Hart

'Do It For Your Daughter'

"You okay, pumpkin?" He reaches over to stroke my thigh as he shoots me a glance.

I sigh, bringing my head round to look at him, "I'm okay I think." I watch dad's face fall as he looks back out over the road. "Are you?"

His face suddenly brightens as his head nods, "Of course sweetheart, don't worry about me okay?"

I frown shifting in my seat to face him, "Dad talk to me. Is it because he was friends with mum?"

He grimaces at the thought, making me let out a sigh as I take his spare hand, "Dad, we both don't want to go, let's get through it together and then it's over with okay? Isn't that what you said to me?" I squeeze his hand trying not to let the tears get the better of me as he doesn't answer, "Us against the world remember?"

His hand grips mine as he sits up taking a deep breath before putting on a smile, "Right.. Us against the world pumpkin."

I don't take my eyes off him as a tear manages to escape, he rarely ever gets upset but when he does you know it really hurts.

I let go of his hand and sit back in my seat, "I saw Billy today!"

"How'd that go?"

I don't answer knowing he's not in the mood and this conversation isn't going to end anywhere good.

"Sweetheart?"

"Hm?" I look at him again.

"How did it go?"

I shrug, my attention turning back to my window, "I don't really know I think he seems nice, he didn't recognise me though." I let out a chuckle to keep myself from crying.

"I'm sure with a little getting to know each other he'll figure it out."

I bite my lip, feeling the tears forcing their way out my eyes, finding it harder to keep them back, "Dad?"

"Yes honey?"

"Can you talk to me? Please.. I'm also struggling with this, but normally we can hide it. Why're you so upset this time?"

I hear a breath escape his mouth as he slips his hand back into mine, "I'm sorry Brie, I just get a bad feeling from these people. I don't want you to be uncomfortable and I'm tired of the lies. Every fucking month we have to do this and I'm fed up and I'm sure you are too. You were glad she left, we were horrible to you, and no I'm not okay without her. But it's not like we can say that  because they aren't my friends they're hers."

I nod along just allowing him to let out everything on his mind, the slight raise in his voice tenses my body but I don't let go of his hand. "I agree dad it's stupid and painful every time, but we're not horrible people. So we're gonna keep doing it, because that's who we are. Billy and his dad are family to mum, we don't have to be so formal this time. They know the truth. Our job this time is to just show up and reconnect. That's it."

He flashes me a small yet emotional smile, "God Brie. I love you.."

I giggle as his hand squeezes mine, "I love you too dad. Talking helps right?"

"I'm not agreeing nor disagreeing because I don't like talking."

I laugh raising my eyebrows as I push myself up in my chair, "Because you know I'm right.." My lips curl into a small grin causing my dad to roll his eyes.

"Not agreeing nor disagreeing."

I can't help but smile at how immature my dad is, because of how obvious it is that I got my everything from him.