ER [wlw]

Chapter 17

I take in a deep breath and lay my phone on my lap, having just sent Ramona a text letting her know I made it to my father's house.

I press the button on the call box of the gate. The gate that leads to a place I once called home.

After a few seconds of silence it crackles and then my father's flat voice comes through clear as day. "Who is this?" He tone not kind in the slightest.

"It's Emma." I reply, trying to keep my voice steady and even.

There's a long pause on the other end of the line, and when he finally speaks, he no sounds confused. "Emma? One second."

The speaker goes silent, then the gate starts to open. I'm honestly surprised he's being... welcoming? I don't know if that's the right word. I'm just surprised he didn't tell me to go away or something. But honestly that would be a little too mean of him, he was cold but he didn't mistreat me. It's hard to explain.

I pull into the drive way and park before getting out. By the time I reach the front door it already opened and he's standing there. Different from what I remember him.

His hair, now a mix of longer blonde and white strands, frames his face, while his neatly trimmed beard is as well-kept as ever. His wrinkled features reflect his age, but it's his eyes that catch my attention. Those once cold blue eyes seem brighter now as they meet mine. His thin lips, however, remain in a tight, flat line, never betraying his stoic expression.

"Come in , we can talk in the living room." His voice a bit awkward as he steps out of the way of the door frame.

"Right..." I reply as I walk in, matching his awkwardness but in a taunting way. Being awkward with your daughter is insane to me. It's like I'm a stranger or something, but honestly at this point I am.

The house really looks no different than how I remember. But as I'm walking down the hall to the living room, a picture happens to catch my attention.

It's a picture of my mother and father on their wedding. It wasn't there when I was younger, I know for a fact. I'm surprised Amber lets that slide and speaking of her, I hope she's not here.

When so reach the living room I take a seat on the couch near a recliner I know is my dad's. He always sat in a recliner, of course it was different from the one here now but still. I doubt things have changed.

Other than the one picture I see no more. None of me, none of his wife, and none of my little brother or sister. Whatever I have, I wouldn't know. But if my math is right they would around the same age as Bellamy.

He walks into the living room and as I suspected, he takes a seat in the recliner.

"I didn't expect to see you but... I'm glad you're here." A small weird smile. That's definitely not what I expecting him to say. That's probably the nicest thing he's ever said.

I'm sure my concern shows on my face as I curl my lip at him. "I didn't come to catch up, I just came for answers. I found out mom actually died giving birth to me. I just wanna know why you lied about it?" I cross my arms. Yea, it is a mental defense mechanism.

He doesn't reply right away, clasping his hand together as he leans up, and the silence stretches on, unbearable. I almost think he's not gonna give me answer and tell me to leave. But then he sighs, a deep, weary sound. "Emma... I didn't want you to blame yourself."

I scoff as my eyes start to burn. "But you blame me don't you? You-You hate me because I took her away from you." A tear falls that I quickly wipe.

I remember what Rani said, I do but I just can't get the negative thought that it is my fault out of my head. I don't even think I can be mad at him for hating me for it. I understand why he would see it that way.