The daughter nobody wanted

Chapter 03

Aubrey has officially seen another side of family that she's never really been exposed to. These things are suppose to only happen in movies.
"No!" Skyler calls out when Miles won in a card came against them. Aubrey laughs awkwardly and watch Skyler jump up. She grabs Miles from behind and drag him away. He shouts in laughter. She throws him on the couch and starts hitting him playfully with a pillow. He grabs a pillow to defend himself hitting her back.
"Pillow fight!" Maya shouts and run after them. Aubrey laughs and just watch them having fun.
"Aubrey, come help!" Skyler calls for her. She shakes her head excusable, but Skyler refuses by running to her and dragging her after her. Maya pushes a pillow into Aubrey's arms hitting her with one. Aubrey screams with a giggle and hit her back playfully. They go on trying to avoid hitting each other's heads.

Still laughing, Aubrey sits next to Skyler on the sofa. She slowly calms down and look at Aubrey.
"I hadn't had this much fun in a long time. Thank you, Skyler," Aubrey giggles and look down.
"It's only a pleasure," Skyler smiles at her. "Your parents must be worried sick. Don't you want to call them at least?"
"No, they don't care," she shakes her head and look at Skyler.
"That might be how you feel, but your dad might be driving around worrying whether you're save or not or hoping you'd come home. Just call him and tell him you're with me. I don't want to be charged with kidnap."
"Okay," she nods her head with a sigh. Skyler takes out her phone and hand it Aubrey. She phones her dad's number and put it on loud speaker.
"Hello?" His voice picks up.
"Hey dad, it's me," Aubrey breathes heavily.
"Dammit Aubrey, where are you?" He asks angrily. "Are you out of your mind leaving without saying a word? I'm coming to get you. Where are you?"
"Dad, I'm okay," she says looking at Skyler with a little smile. "I met a woman today. She's so nice. Is it okay if I stay with her for the night? We can talk in the morning."
"No, I'm coming to get you. Send me your address," he says. Skyler shows her to give her the phone. Aubrey gives her the phone and fold her arms unhappily.
"Hello?" Skyler speaks over the phone.
"Who's this?"
"I'm Skyler. Listen, you can come to my house and see that she is okay, but she's still going to choose for herself whether she wants to go home or stay here," Skyler speaks over the phone. "I really don't mind having her with me. I enjoy her company."
"She's my daughter and as far as I'm concerned, I'm the parent so I choose what happens," he says. Skyler sighs and get up from the sofa taking phone off loud speaker and putting it to her ear.
"Listen, I know I'm not suppose to say this to you, but until your fiancé can't make peace with how your daughter looks, you can't force your daughter into that emotional abuse," Skyler says and inhales deeply. "Even if it sounds like nothing, to her it's a huge deal. We're women and in case you haven't notice, women are extremely sensitive."
"I know that," he replies annoyed. "I know that. Can I just come get my daughter?"
"Sure," she sighs unhappily. "I'll send you my address."
"Okay. Bye," he says and hang up the phone rudely. Skyler lick her lips and turn to Aubrey that sits there disappointed.
"I will talk to him," Skyler assures her with a smile. She remains quiet and just stare ahead of her.

Angrily Raymond knocks on the door. Skyler pulls it open about to give him one of her most sarcastic smiles, but the view of him strucks her like thunder. He froze and just stare at her. They stare intensely at each other before she broke the stare and run her hand over her face looking at him.
"I'm Skyler," she introduce herself.
"Raymond," he replies. "Where's Aubrey?"
"Come in," she smiles and step out of the way. "We just had dinner so excuse my messy kitchen."
"Sure," he nods. Aubrey walks down looking helpless at her father.
"Should I leave you two?" Skyler asks them.
"No, stay," Aubrey replies. Her hands are shaky and her eyes teary. "I'm sorry dad for leaving without telling you, but I'm not sorry for ending up here. I made a friend."
Raymond takes a step closer and grab his daughter into his embrace. He kiss her hair and hold her tight against his chest.
"I'm sorry about everything," he says and pull away to look at her. "Sorry I didn't fight harder for you or stood up for you. Whatever your heart desires, my angel, I'm okay with that."
"You're not punishing me?" She asks horrified. He shakes his head with a smile. She sighs relieve and look at Skyler. "Can I sleep over tonight?"
"Of course. Second room on the right in front of the bathroom," she smiles at the girl. Aubrey nods happily and grab her luggage by the wall and run up with them. Skyler giggles softly and look at Raymond.
"Wow, when I saw her this morning, she looked dead," Raymond says. "I can see she laughed."
"She was devastated when I saw her walking by my house," Skyler sighs and folds her arms. "Poor girl."
"Thank you for taking her in. I don't want to know what could've happen if you didn't," he says and look at her as well. She smiles happily and fill her lungs with fresh air. "Anyway, I'll come get her in the morning."
"Come get her when your fiancé is okay with her," Skyler says giving him a serious look. Her glares at her and raise an eyebrow. "That girl has been through a lot. I can see that. So spare her the trauma and sort out your things with that woman. She will be Aubrey's stepmom, but until then she must be able to set an example and have respect for your kid."
"Okay," he sighs and watch Aubrey run down again.