We were out of school for Thanksgiving break for the next few days. Mom and Dad still had to work, and Ricky hung around at home with his friends, but Dad was reluctant to leave me here unsupervised.
I spent most of the break resting and trying to keep my stress levels low. I also spent a lot of time talking to Prince on the phone, and we made plans to spend some time together over the break.
On Thanksgiving Day, my mom and I spent the morning preparing the feast while my dad watched football on TV. We made turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and green bean casserole, and it all smelled amazing.
When it was time to eat, we all sat down at the table, and my dad said a quick prayer before we dug in. The food was delicious, and we all ate until we were stuffed.
After dinner, my mom and I cleaned up while my dad went back to watching football. Ricky had gone out with his friends, and I was feeling a bit lonely. As I sat on the couch staring into space, I heard a knock at the door. I got up to answer it, and to my surprise, Prince was standing on the other side.
"Hey," he said, with a warm smile. I felt a sense of happiness wash over me as I looked at him.
"Hey," I replied, feeling grateful that he had come. He stepped inside, and I could see the confusion on my dad's face as he looked up from the TV.
"What are you doing here?" my dad asked, his tone sharp and unwelcoming. Prince looked at my dad with a mix of nervousness and determination.
"I came to see Jackie," he said, his voice firm and unwavering. My dad scoffed, turning back to the TV.
"Well, you can see her some other time. We're in the middle of something here," he said dismissively. I felt a sense of disappointment and frustration wash over me. I wanted to spend time with Prince, but my dad was making it impossible. Prince looked at me, a hint of sadness in his eyes.
"I'll call you later," he said softly, before turning and walking out the door. I felt tears prickling in my eyes as I watched him go. I knew that my dad was just trying to protect me, but it felt like he was ruining everything.
"Wait," I called after him. Prince turned around, looking at me with concern. I bit my lip, knowing that this was a risky move in front of my Dad, but I did it anyway. I grabbed Prince's hand softly, leaning in to peck him on cheek. "Happy Thanksgiving."
Prince smiled, his eyes lighting up with happiness. "Happy Thanksgiving," he replied, his voice full of warmth and affection. I felt a sense of happiness wash over me as I looked at him. It was a small moment, but it felt like a victory against my dad's overbearingness.
As Prince walked away, I turned to face my dad, feeling a sense of nervousness wash over me. I didn't know what to expect from him.
My dad looked at me with a mix of anger and disappointment, and I could feel his disapproval radiating off of him.
"What was that?" he asked, his voice sharp and accusatory.
I felt a sense of fear and uncertainty wash over me. I knew that I had just challenged my dad's authority, and I didn't know what the consequences would be.
"I just wanted to wish Prince a happy Thanksgiving," I said softly, trying to keep my voice steady.
My dad shook his head, his eyes flashing with anger. "You're not supposed to be seeing him right now, Jackie" he said sternly. "I thought we made that clear."
I felt a sense of frustration and anger rising up in me. "I know, but I just wanted to say hi. It's not like we were doing anything wrong," I said, feeling like my dad was being unreasonable.
