One night was all it took: Season 3 "One second was all it took"

Dad?

I am staring at the wrinkles wrapped around his face. The crow's feet are darkened and deep on each side of his eyes.

The anger inside of me wants to pour out and plaster him against my bar wall. Every word coming from his mouth makes me cringe, not wanting to believe him. Every single person in my group of friends is staring at him in amazement and listening to his 'stories.' I feel disgusted.

"You ended up in Asia for the last however many years?" I yell and throw up my arms, scoffing. "You haven't tried contacting anyone of us in our family. I do not understand. You have been back in America for three years at the minimum and you have not tried finding me? You knew what damn town we lived in!"

Natalia slides her arm under my arm and loops around. She is forcing me closer to her while the anger inside of me builds. She is trying to pull me back, but it is not working.

"You died!" I yell as the tears want to trickle down my face. "We held your fucking funeral! And you somehow manage to show up now!"

He stares at me with terror, sadness, and regret built into his eyes. He slowly looks away, opening his mouth. "I..."

"You nothing!" I scream louder. "You don't get the right to talk!"

"Lace." Natalia softly says, trying to stop me from going crazy and killing the man who claims to be my 'Father'.

"No!" I argue, pushing away from her. "This feels like a sick and twisted nightmare!"

The anger pours from me like lava flowing from a volcano. Everyone in the group falls silent, turning their heads away from him and me.

The anger inside of me is causing me to grind my teeth. My fists are clenched so tightly that my fingernails are digging into my palms, slightly hurting me but I do not care.

He steps closer to me, quickly stopping while it is evident, he wants to extend his arm out. The expression on his face paints a sincere and regretful picture.

He is wearing an old ripped-up jacket, and worn-down boots that his toes are hanging out of. His pants look like they have not been washed in years. His long and dirty-looking beard waves every time he opens his mouth.

He returns his regretful and saddened-looking eyes to mine. "I understand..." He says and pauses. "If you want nothing to do with me, Lace."

"Don't call me Lace!" I interrupt in a rage of anger. I point my finger at him like a schoolteacher scolding a child. "You do NOT get the right to call me that!"

He gulps and slowly steps back. As he twiddles his fingers together it's obvious, I am in charge and anything I say, he will do or respond to.

He clears his throat and lowers his head. "I understand that I have been away from you and your mother for an exceptionally long time. I missed her funeral and I missed most of your life. I am not here to make amends..." He pauses, clearing his throat again.

"Unless that is something you want. I am only here to see how well my daughter has succeeded in life and how happy you are now. I have seen it and now I will leave you bye. I am grateful I even received five seconds of your time. I am sorry I interrupted your life."

As he stands up and turns around, I shake my head and scan everyone around me. All my friends are staring at me like I am the bad guy. I have not done anything wrong. He left me! He wanted to be homeless and forget about his family! I do not owe him anything.

Looking back up, I watch as he reaches for the door. "Wait!" I say in a muffled and angered tone.

He turns around. His saddened eyes stare at me with a tiny glimmer of hope hiding behind them.