Out-Brake

Chapter 7: Letting Go of the Past

Cecilia's POV

I wonder what dad wants to talk about...

I hope everything is okay...

Did he find out that I was the one who ate the last bit of his favourite cookies... If he did I'll just blame it on Caleb somehow. I shall use my puppy dog eyes, dad can't resist those... Mwahahahahaha

Those where the only thoughts in my mind as I walk towards  the kitchen door which is connected to the garage after I parked my car. 

Okay, that's a lie.. I'm also thinking about the fact that I really want to eat some pizza at the moment but I will have to do that later.

I walk into the kitchen but find it empty so I follow the voices seemingly coming from the living room and find Caleb, Chase and dad watching CSI Miami. Once they realised that I'm here, they turn off the TV. Caleb and Chase give me excited looks while dad gives me a rather nervous one. In return, I give them a very confused one.

"Cecilia!! Finally!!" Caleb exclaims happily. This just keeps getting weirder...

"What's going on?" I question, still feeling very confused.

"You may want to sit down for this" Dad says, smiling while gesturing to the free seat between Chase and Caleb which I take. Dad is about to continue talking but Caleb interrupts.

"Where's Lily?" Caleb asks trying to be casual about it. I hear Chase chuckling beside me and I see a smile on dad's face. Yup, we all know about your little crush Caleb. Which reminds me that I have to tell Chase about Operation Laleb.

"Well Romeo, your Juliet had to go home because she has work tomorrow" I say as Caleb looks away but before he does, I catch a hint of a blush on his face. I shake my head as I hear Caleb mutter a faint 'oh'. 

"So dad.. what's up?" I question while looking at him as he sits across from me on the single armchair.

"Cecilia, I had a long and serious conversation with Caleb and Chase while you were gone about The Championships." Dad starts, getting serious. They were talking about The Championships? I look at Caleb and Chase who also have serious looks on their faces. "and after a lot of talking they opened my eyes to the fact that you are an adult now. You are no longer my little girl who used to sit on my desk in the garage and watch me work, who pouted when I didn't put Oreos in her lunch box, who needed help tying her shoe lace, who I would tell night time stories to about a brave girl who grew up to be the best racer in America. They opened my eyes to the fact that I have to let you make mistakes then learn from them, that I have to let you pursue your dreams, that I have to let you go." Dad smiles with tears in his eyes. 

I was speechless with tears in my own eyes that I soon couldn't hold back and let them run down my cheeks. I was about to say something but dad continued. 

"I couldn't let you go because I was scared. I was scared that I would lose you like I lost your mother all those years ago. You remind me so much of her with your looks and personality, she was the kindest, most caring, most passionate and loving woman I ever had the honour to know. The fact that she chose me, a weird mechanic to be her forever was the biggest honour of my life. Believe it or not even though its been over twenty years, I am still in love with your mother so much as if she was still here and if she was, she would tell me to let you go because that would be the right thing to do. I guess by accepting your choice to join The Championships, I would accept that you are all grown up now and that your mother is gone. In a way it would give me closure." Dad says as he is in deep thought, probably thinking of mom as more tears slip from his and my eyes.