Isabella woke up with feelings of dread and excitement. Today was the day they were celebrating Christmas but also the day Isabella was seeing her father. Isabella grabbed her phone and then scrolled on Instagram to distract herself. Beside her, She felt Patrick moving then an arm wrapped around her waist Pulling her closer to his body. "Mornin baby," Patrick said, His voice was even raspier. "Morning. We need to get ready." Isabella told him. "Mhh, Let me hold you for a little longer," Patrick said and buried his face in the crock of her neck. Isabella enjoyed the moment for a few more minutes but eventually wiggled out of Patrick's grip and got ready. She put on jeans and a green Adidas sweatshirt.
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Isabella and Patrick both got ready then went downstairs and saw Patrick's family eating breakfast. "Good morning, I didn't know if you guys were up. There are pancakes and bacon on the stove." Randi said.
After they ate breakfast Isabella went back upstairs to grab her parent's gifts and say goodbye to Patrick's family. Isabella had gotten her parents both the same gift that she hoped they would appreciate. Patrick drove them to her father's house and Isabella grew more nervous as they drove closer and closer. They pulled up and Isabella took a deep breath And got out of the car. Patrick holds her hand and squeezes it then knocks on her dad's door. The door opens and Isabella is surprised and confused to see a little girl no older than 7 opening the door.
"Oh, I'm sorry I must have the wrong house. Are your Parents home?" Isabella asks and the girl nods. "Ally! I told you not to open the door by yourself." A skinny woman wearing a long sleeve cardigan, and turtleneck scolds the girl. "Hi, can I help you?" The lady softly asks with a smile. "I'm so sorry to bother you, but I'm looking for a Mike Cooper. He lives here, or used to live here?" Isabella says and the lady's face drops. "I- uh- Who's asking?" The lady stutters. "I'm Isabella, I'm his-" A loud voice is heard. " Catherine! Who's at the door!" Isabella's face drops at the sound of his voice. Isabella looks at the lady who looks terrified. "Ally, go to your room. I'm sorry but you need to leave." The lady said and the little girl didn't move. Isabella looks at Patrick who looks just as confused as she does. "Maybe we should go," Patrick whispers and Isabella nods. They turn to leave but a voice stops them. "Well, Look who it is." Her dad said and she turned around. "Leaving so soon?" He asked. Isabella instantly knew this was a bad idea. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have come," Isabella said. "Don't be silly, come inside." He said tauntingly. Isabella looks at Patrick then walks inside the house and he follows. "Have a seat. Want anything to drink?" he said while opening the fridge which was stocked with beers and alcohol. Isabella watches as the lady named Catherine leads her little girl down the hall and then sits on one of the stools in the kitchen. "No thanks," Isabella says then she and Patrick sit on the couch the farthest away from the reclining chair that she assumed her father sat on the most. He grabs a beer and then sits on the recliner. "So, what brings you here?" Her father asks. "Well, we're here for Christmas and I thought I would visit," Isabella explained. "Going to see your whore of a mother too?" He asked then took a swig of beer. "I didn't know you had a new family," Isabella said not answering his question. "Hm, Yeah." He said then looked at Patrick. "Why are you with my daughter? Is she paying ya?" Patrick clenched his jaw at the comment. "Because I love her, she's the best thing that has ever happened to me and I am very lucky," Patrick replies. "Since it's Christmas I got you something." Isabella changed the subject and gave her dad the gift then sat back down next to Patrick.
Her father opened the gift and held it in his hand. It was a snow globe of Isabella's childhood home. Her mom and her dad had met at an antique store when they were both looking for snow globes as they both liked to collect them.
"It's a snow globe of our old house... I remember you telling me that you collected snow globes so I-" Isabella was in the middle of explaining when her dad threw the snow globe on the ground and it shattered everywhere. Isabella flinched and felt Patrick's arm wrap around her. "A snow globe?! That's what you get me? You are a greedy little bitch who keeps all the money to herself. I know how much money you make!" Her dad yelled. Isabella sat there with tears in her eyes, she felt like that scared little girl again. "We are leaving, let's go," Patrick said and stood up and Isabella followed him to the door. "Oh yeah just leave. You and your little boyfriend coming here and acting like you're better than me." He was still yelling but Isabella didn't listen.
As they walked to the door. Isabella looked down the hallway and saw the little girl peeking out of her room scared. Something clicked inside her. Isabella turned to the mom who looked terrified but was trying to hide it.
"I know what this man is doing to you. Let me help, you can leave right now with us. My mom used to wear turtlenecks and cardigans, anything to hide the bruises. I know ok, it doesn't have to be like this. I know you're scared of him but I can help you." Isabella tells her. "The hell you talking about? Get out of my house!" He stood up and yelled but Isabella was still looking at Catherine. "You don't know what you're talking about." She said with tears in her eyes. Isabella's father starts walking over to them and Patrick pulls Isabella closer to the door. "Izzy, we need to leave," Patrick whispered to her. Isabella gave one last pleading look to Catherine but Catherine shook her head no. With tears in her eyes, Isabella turns around and walks out with Patrick. "If you ever show up at my house ever again, I'll show you bruises!" He yelled as Isabella and Patrick got into the car.
