Family

Struggles

A month later Tim is still fighting to keep the kids away from his ex Dylan is ok but Alyssa has began to act out (Gabby is Alyssas friend)
Alyssa:hey Gabby
Gabby:hey how was your weekend
Alyssa:fine i guess same old thing dad breathing down my neck and my mom being a horrible parent so
Gabby:what about your step mom
Alyssa:Lucys awesome but dads being extra strict lately and she sides with him alot
Teacher:girls your late to class
Alyssa:i don't care
Teacher:young lady that tone is inappropriate
Alyssa:boohoo
Gabby:i think im gonna get to class
Teacher:Alyssa go to class or i will be forced to call your father
Alyssa:im not going
Teacher:fine then we are calling your dad lets go
She calls him and Tim drives to the school
Tim:hi
Teacher:hi Mr.Bradford
Tim:whats going on
T:she's refusing to go to class and giving me attitude for asking her to do so
Tim looks at Alyssa
Tim:and why are you not going to class
Alyssa:i don't feel like it and yall can't make me so
Tim:i will take care of this Alyssa get up lets go
Alyssa and Tim walk to his truck once they are in she gets her phone out and Tim reaches over and takes it
Alyssa:hey give that back
Tim:no you don't want to go to class you don't get a phone
Alyssa:you suck
Tim:good to know
Alyssa:i seriously can't stand you
Tim:yeah well i can't stand this attitude of yours lately so it looks like neither of us are happy now huh
They get home and shes still fighting with him over her phone
Tim:your not getting it back so stop
Alyssa:i was wrong about you your just like mom a horrible parent and a horrible person
Tim:enough to your room now and don't think about coming back out until you can talk normally to me
She goes to her room a few hours later Tim is in the kitchen cooking dinner when Lucy walks up behind him and grabs his waist and lays her head on his back
Lucy:your quiet today you ok
Tim:just thinking baby
Lucy:is this about what Alyssa said earlier
Tim:you heard that huh
Lucy:yeah
Tim:i know its not personal shes angry i get it but its hard to ignore the things she says sometimes
Lucy:im sorry
Tim:i just wish i could get all this stuff figured out maybe then i could have my happy daughter back shes only 11 and already so angry
Lucy:she will get through it you know why
Tim:no
Lucy:because she has you and your a great dad
Tim:lately it feels like im failing at everything being a dad a husband a cop i feel stuck in a bad place that i can't get out of
Lucy:how long have you felt this way babe
Tim:i don't know a few weeks maybe i don't really remember when it started
Lucy:im sorry babe
Tim:i think what makes this thing with Alyssa so hard is i see so much of me when i was her age in her angry just wanting to take the pain out anyway i could
Lucy:you are so incredibly strong babe you went through alot if stuff a kid shouldn't have to
Tim:im gonna go to bed soon both of the kids went to sleep early and i need to rest my head all this is giving me a headache
Lucy:mind if i join you
Tim:of course not come on
They lay down cuddled into eachother
The next morning they are in the kitchen its Saturday morning
Lucy:hey morning handsome
Tim:morning are you cooking breakfast
Lucy:i am
Tim:thats my job
Lucy:you needed the rest i figured i would let you sleep in
Tim:thank you the kids up yet
Lucy:yeah Dylan is in the living room and Alyssa went back into her room
Tim:im gonna go talk to her
Lucy:you sure
Tim:yeah
He walks to her room and knocks on the room door
Alyssa:who is it
Tim:dad
Alyssa:I don't want to talk to you
Tim:Lyssa please open the door babygirl
She opens it and lets him in
Tim:thank you
Alyssa:i only opened it cause you would of kicked it in if i didn't
Tim:no i wouldn't have
Alyssa:what do you want
Tim:baby can we talk about why your feeling however you are or just how your feeling
Alyssa:you wouldn't understand
Tim:try me
He sits next to her
Alyssa:i guess im just confused
Tim:what do you mean sweetheart
Alyssa:i hate mom but i also love her and i miss the old her the one that would read me books and hold me and sing to me when i was scared i miss her i wish she never turned into this awful person i just can't help but wonder if maybe it was my fault she is the way she is
Tim:oh baby it wasn't your fault your mom she just Isn't hanging out with the best people i don't want you to ever think that anything she does is because of you your perfect and you are the best part of me always will be you hear me
Alyssa:yeah its stupid i miss someone who is horrible to me
Tim:its not stupid at all shes your mom
Alyssa:im really sorry about everything i said yesterday and about school i wont disappoint you again
Tim:its ok and i know you wont i do think that maybe we find someone for you to talk to though
Alyssa:you mean a shrink
Tim:they aren't all bad babygirl
Alyssa:can i think about it
Tim:yeah Lucy made breakfast you hungry
Alyssa:yeah
Tim:alright come on
Alyssa:piggy back ride
Tim:really
Alyssa:please daddy she gives him a pouty lip
Tim:ok come on hop up
He carries her down the stairs
Lucy:look at you two goofballs
Tim:where do you want to sit baby
Alyssa:table please
Tim:ok
He sits her down next to the table
Alyssa:thank you dad
Tim:your welcome here eat up Dylan come eat buddy
Dylan:ok
Tim goes back in the kitchen to Lucy
Tim:thank you
Lucy:for what
Tim:being amazing i just i have felt so far away the last few days but you have stuck by me thank you
Lucy:hey this ring and band on my finger mean something yeah
Tim:yeah
Lucy:and what did we say when we put them on
Tim:for the bad and the good in sickness and in health till death do us part
Lucy:and i meant everything
Tim:me too i love you