Wild Ride - The Alternative Version (Book 2)

Chapter 1~Uncle Eric And Aunt Stacy Arrive

When Abigail came back out of her room after storming off, it'd been an hour since I'd told her again that we could not go find her dad. She slowly trudged into the living room, where I was currently on my laptop, finishing up some things for work. After going to school in music, I became an employee at a record company nearby shortly after Abigail was born and I'd taken some time to myself. During that time, Eric and Stacy had helped me out with money, even though they were all the way in Maine still. I work in band management, but I do not tour. I made it perfectly clear that I couldn't tour with the band because I had to stay and take care of Abigail. I was strictly local, and thankfully my boss could work that out.

I looked up from my laptop at her, and she stopped a little ways away from me, beside the far end of the couch. She didn't say anything for a little while, and her eyes moved all around the room, starting up the ceiling and rolling down to the floor. I think by the look on the face, she was trying to find a way to say whatever she had on her mind. She seemed in kind of a neutral mood now compared to how frustrated she was an hour earlier. 

Leaning forward, I set my laptop down on the coffee table, keeping my eyes on her as she stared back at me, watching my movements. I motioned to her to come over here, and she moved forward and jumped up into my lap. 

With a quiet voice, she said, "Mommy, why don't you want me to meet Daddy?" 

I felt my heart drop a little. "It's not that I don't want you to, because I really wish you could, and that he could be with us as a family." I started to explain.

"Then why? Why don't I get to see him? And not just in a picture, in real life." She kept her voice free of whining, but I could see it in her face.

Sighing, I replied, "Well, it's just really complicated. It'd be easier for you to understand when you're a teenager." Abigail gave me a look, a look I once made myself whenever someone had told me I was too young for anything. It annoyed me and made me feel less superior, so understanding how she felt, I chose to try and elaborate a little more than that.

"Alright, look. Your father doesn't know that you exist, he doesn't even know who I am really, and I doubt that he'd remember me because it was so long ago that we saw each other. So, we can't just show up at his home and spring the news on him that he has a six-year-old little girl, because I don't know how he'd feel and I don't want you to get hurt." I explained a little better than what I originally offered. 

Her face fell. "Oh. So, he doesn't know that I'm even alive?" The way she said it made my heart break a little more.

"That would be the case, yes." I confirmed, and her face was taken over by a pout. I pulled her closer, wrapping my arms around her and the side of her head rested against my chest. "I know it sucks, baby girl, but there's not much we can do about it. If I could have things differently for you, I would."

Abigail didn't reply, but when I glanced down at the pouting little girl, I noticed for the first time in her hand a picture of Jimmy that I'd printed off the internet and given to her to have in small dimensions. She had others, this was just one of them. I couldn't help but feel bad for  her, all she wanted was to meet her father in person rather than only having pictures taken from the internet, but I was the only thing stopping her. Maybe I even felt a little guilty for that, but I still held true to my opinion of just showing up and announcing he's been a father for six years.

Then I remembered something that might cheer her up a little, so I said with a lighter tone, "Oh, I forgot to tell you, Uncle Eric and Aunt Stacy are coming up from Maine for a visit.

Right away her eyes lit up. "Really!? When will they be here!?" She asked excitedly, starting to bounce all over the place.

"They're flying in tomorrow, they'll be here after you get home from school." I told her, and she grinned happily.