Not My Parent's Favorite

Chapter 13

 Mari

I came home and noticed there was an eerie stillness in the house. Chills crawled across my skin as something was about to reveal itself in a manner I expected. I heard Father off in the distance, his deep voice echoing down the hallway. 

He was upset, but what about? I walked as softly as I could towards my room.

I waited in the hallway, without movement waiting for Father to leave the sitting area and walk into his office just across the way. I could hear him pacing back and forth, talking to someone on the phone. I decided to turn around and go the long way around to my room, through the courtyard, however as soon as I turned around I came face to face with Emma. 

She was holding a tray with Father's drink - Whiskey, straight. She startled me as I wasn't expecting anyone to be standing behind me.

Emma gave me a small smile as I stepped to the side to allow her to proceed while I scurried back down the hallway and out the side door. When I got to my room I entered quickly and noticed a small envelope on my desk with my name on it. I figured Mother had left me a note or some sweet gesture; I opened it and it was a small unsigned note that read:

Your Fathers Knows.

I flipped the note over and there was no indication of who this could have been from or who was warning me. As I stared at the writing of the three little words, I was startled by the strong knocking on my door. I knew instantly who it was.

"Mari! Open this door immediately!" Father shouted from the other side. I scramble to put the note in my desk drawer and place my messenger bag atop my desk.

I opened the door to see Father with a furious look. "Yes Father?" I said calmly to throw him off the scent of whatever accusation he was about to bestow upon my head.

"What have you done?" He asked.

"Excuse me?" I askes quizzingly.

"Did you write a story about us again?" He asked, scanning my face for any sign of weakness.

"No, why would I? It was a disaster before. Don't you remember?" I was being honest, it was a total disaster, something we've bounced from but dare to speak of.

"Yes, I can recall."

"Why do you ask?" I said sitting down at my desk and pulling out my laptop. He waited until I turned on to see what I would work on.

Little did he know, I learned a lot from my last fiasco in writing a story about this family. I learned to cover my tracks. I went to the app which I had designed to look like the university app that I was supposedly attending. I opened up another page which had a few paintings that I was 'researching'.

"I've gotten word that there is an online story that is similar to our family." He said standing off to the side, examining me again to see if I would flinch. I wasn't new to this game, I practiced this many times.

I didn't even bother to acknowledge his answer as I pulled out my notebook with pages of notes and drawings; I flipped the pages until I got to a clean sheet and began writing my notes.

"Interesting. And you thought it was me, again?" I finally turned towards him to see him looking directly at my notebook.

"Yes. I did assume it was you."

"I'm sure there are other people who are fascinated with our family who can create a story just as well, Father." He looked at me and expected me to break. "I learned my lesson long ago."

I went back to my laptop and began searching online for paintings and other pieces of artwork as he watched closely.

"Is there something you are looking for, Father?" I asked, turning towards him.