The Stepmom

CHAPTER 9

I walked in the house, barefooted, as it was approaching midnight. The night was especially cold, too cold for the satin mini dress I was wearing. I'd let London convince me that it was a good idea to go out in the tiniest dress in the world and sandals on the coldest day of the week. My toes were numb and so were my fingers which were wrapped around my heels as I swinged my arms hurrying towards the staircase. The faint cries I knew too well stopped me dead on my tracks. I turned to the direction of the source. Kaitlyn was curled up on the couch crying. It was finally happening, what I've been warning her about for months.

I walked up to her and she jumped upon hearing my footsteps.

"Sorry." I said before taking a seat next to her. I already had an idea what had happened so I didn't ask. I just did the only thing I could do, I hugged her. I told her that everything was going to be fine even though I knew nothing was. It was only going to get worse.
I'd told her a million times that this would happen but she never listened. They never listen. They always think I'm just a bitter daughter hating on my stepmother for no reason. I had a reason, a million reasons. Reasons that had nothing to do with the fact that my mother was once married to my father. They're divorced. It would be unreasonable for me to blame my dad for moving on, or the women who weren't even in the picture when they were together. It was not their fault that things never worked out for my parents.

"Nothing's okay Sky, I don't even know where he is." She said, still sobbing.

"It's not your fault he left. He only left because he hates himself for whatever he did." I explained.

"No it's my fault—"

"No it isn't, trust me. It isn't."

"You should've seen him Sky, he was so mad..."

"I know. But it's really not your fault. I love my dad alright, but I'm not going to defend him, not on this. Kaitlyn, my dad's a blackhole and you should leave before you get sucked in."

"Sky please..." She begged, tears still running down her cheeks.

"No! Listen, I know that you think it was a one time thing but it's not. It will happen again and it'll only get worse." I tried to reason with her but like all the others, she didn't listen.

"Skylar you don't understand, he didn't do anything to me." She said. I did understand. I lived here too. I've lived with this man my whole life. As much as he wasn't a bad father, he was a horrible husband. There was no point in denying that. My dad had issues and there was nothing anyone could do for him because he didn't want to accept that fact about himself.

"Yet!" I snapped. I was tired of having this conversation every year.

"Skylar—" She sobbed.

"Fine. If you want to see just how bad it can get, be my guest." I got up and ran to my room. I was angry. I was angry at my dad, at myself for not being able to convince Kaitlyn to leave and I was especially mad at Kaitlyn for not listening to me.

I didn't know how it is to be in Kaitlyn's shoes but I lived in that house too. I heard things and I saw things. Not being able to do anything about any of it was driving me nuts.

These women were all the same. They don't listen. They never listen. Why does it always have to take near-death experience to finally understand? Why couldn't they just take my word, his daughter, who has been living with him her whole life? Life with that man isn't sunshine and rainbows, nor heaven, it's hell.

I'd tried to talk to my father about his behavior but his issues were way beyond me. Nothing would ever change until he admits he has a problem. That way he could get help. It broke my heart to see him lose all these wonderful women. But I couldn't fix that for him. It was his job to try to fix it. If he didn't, he'd look back 80 years old and alone. I won't be here forever. I have a life too. A life outside these walls. I looked at the ceiling trying to steady my breathing as I layed on the bed. I wondered what it was going to take for my dad to finally get help. Losing Monica clearly wasn't enough.

I woke up after midnight and went downstairs. Kaitlyn was still curled up on the couch waiting for my dad who's probably about to jump off a cliff.

"He's not coming." I said. "Not for another day or two." Kaitlyn sighed, her eyes glistening under the moonlight. I caressed her back as I tried to convince her to go to bed. She finally gave in and I helped her up the stairs to the master bedroom.

"Please stay." She said and I got under the sheets with her. I held her until she fell asleep. I then decided to go find my dad.

He was at some local bar I've never been to. It was located on the east side of the city, an area I've never been to. I went in and sat next to him.

"I'll have what he's having." I told the bartender who was a woman not too older than me. She had fire-like red hair styled gingerly and luminous black eyes. She nodded with a friendly smile before turning away.

"She hates me, doesn't she?" My father asked, his voice laced with sadness.

"No, she's worried about you." I said. The bartender gave me my drink and then disappeared to the back. An older man appeared around the same time. He swayed from one end of the bar to the other, making drinks and passing them to  customers. His movements were swift and graceful. It was clear that he'd been doing this for a while. Unlike the redhead, he had a permanent frown on his face and his umber eyes glistened at every angle. I gulped down the bitter liquid, feeling my chest tightening. I was tired of having the same conversation with my father.

"You know I didn't mean to, right?" He said.

"I know." I said my eyes fixed on the liquid in front of me, my fingers playing on the edge of the glass. I hated seeing him like this.

"I'm sorry Skylar." He said sadly. His eyes were watery. I could tell that he wanted to cry.

"Stop apologizing, not to me. I'm not the one you're hurting Dad."

"Where is she now?" He asked after a long silence.

"She was sleeping when I left. We should go." I finished the rest of the drink and stood up. My father nodded and I turned towards the exit. He followed close behind me. "I think we should walk." I suggested and he locked the car. We walked down the pavement slowly. The cold breeze freezing my exposed ears. I shivered a bit. He took off his hooded jacket and gave it to me.

"Here." He said. I wore it and we continued walking in silence. After passing a few blocks I turned to him.

"Dad." I said. He turned to look at me. "Promise me you'll get help."

"Skylar I—"

"Dad please. You won't be doing it for me. Do it for yourself, for Kaitlyn." I begged and he sighed looking down. What was so wrong about admitting it? Why couldn't he just admit it and get help? "You love her, don't you?"

He nodded.

"Then do this one thing for her. Come on Dad you know I'm right." He furrowed his eyebrows and turned away from me. I sighed and said, "We should go back. We've wondered long enough." There was a hint of anger in my voice as I turned and started walking back. He followed close behind until we reached the parking lot. I had taken a cab there so I had to ride with him back to the house. There was a lot of tension between us. I was looking out the window the whole drive back. I didn't want to say anything to him. I was tired. I was tired of it all. He was a grown man. He's capable of making his own choices. If he wanted to ruin his life and Kaitlyn's like he had done before then that's his choice. I was done.

But Kaitlyn...

She made her choice too. It's all up to them now. Whatever happens from now on, I'm not getting involved.

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