BROOKLYN REACHED the door of The Brew, her eyes locked onto the familiar figure of her father,Chris, striding out with a steaming mug in hand and a look of deep contemplation etched on his face.He looked up just in time to see her, and their gazes held for a brief moment, the warmth of his eyes belying the chilly weather. Before she could process the oddity of the situation, she collided with him in a clumsy dance of surprise and laughter
"Dad,you're still in town," Brooklyn blurted out, her voice tinged with a mix of irritation and disbelief.
Chris's smile was forced, his eyes briefly darting over her shoulder before landing back on her. "Yeah, we had some things to take care of." His grip tightened on the coffee mug, his knuckles turning white
Brooklyn scoffed and said, "The Brew is my spot since i was eleven.You know that ?"
Chris cleared his throat, looking slightly uncomfortable. "I know, I know. It's just..." He trailed off, his eyes drifting back to the coffee shop. From the warm, inviting glow of the interior, a woman with cooper hair and a radiant smile emerged, holding a cup of tea in one hand and a bag of takeout in the other. She waved at them with a cheerfulness that seemed out of place amidst the tension.
"Brooklyn," Mary called out, her voice a melodic blend of sweetness and confidence. "It's been a while since we saw you."
Brooklyn's gaze flicked to the woman, and she felt a jolt of something unpleasant coil in her stomach. "Long enough for you to have a new kid," she said, the words spilling out before she could stop them.
Chris took a deep breath, setting his mug down on the windowsill of the coffee shop. "How about we have dinner tonight, just you and me?" he suggested, his voice carrying the weight of a peace offering. "We can catch up, talk about the things I missed."
Brooklyn says "Catch up ? Talk about the 18 years you missed"
Chris's smile faded, and he rubbed the back of his neck. "Look, I know it's not ideal, but I'm trying here." His eyes searched hers, pleading for understanding. "Let's just go to that Italian place around the corner, have some dinner, and talk."
Brooklyn's chest tightened, but she knew she couldn't refuse."Fine," she said with a sigh, "I'll be there at 5."
With that, she turned on her heel and began walking away, her boots scraping against the concrete as she put distance between herself and the scene she had just walked into. She didn't get far before she noticed a familiar figure in the distance, his lanky frame and mop of curly hair unmistakable even from afar. "Jason?" she called out.
