Faults, Scars, and Guitar Strings

Chapter 29

Chapter 29

I was so scared and so nervous. My body went cold. My biological father. The one I haven't seen in years. The one no one knew about. The same father my family tried to hide and forget ever existed. The one I wish would have stayed out of my life. I never wanted to see him again. After everything my mom told me and everything I remembered, I never thought he would show up.

"What's wrong?" Dylan asked.

"I... I... um... that's..." I couldn't get it out. I didn't know how to explain it. How do I tell Dylan something like this? How can I possibly explain it?

"Who is it?" he asked.

"My father," I finally said.

"What's so scary about that?" he asked, completely confused.

"Not the one I live with," I said, "My biological father."

"Wait," he said, "I didn't realize there were two."

"No one does," I said, "It's not something I like to talk about. Nobody questions mine and my brother's different names. We didn't want anybody to know, especially not with my brother's fame. Even now that they know he's related to us they don't question it because they assume it's a maiden name or something."

"You have to answer that door sometime," he said.

"I don't want to," I said starting to tear up. All the memories were coming back. I couldn't handle it. Why is he even here?

"Why not?" he asked, "Want me to answer the door?"

"No," I said, "I'll answer it." I walked to the door and threw the door open, only looking at him. Benjamin Dane. My biological father.

"Mom, what's he doing here?" I asked.

"Kayla, I'll explain that later, but this is about you," my mom said.

"I don't think so," I said, "All I did was hide my boyfriend from you. You show up here with my FATHER! The only who hasn't seen me in years and somehow you think we should talk about me!"

"Kayla calm down!" she said.

"NO! I don't need to calm down!" I yelled, "He needs to tell me why he's here!"

"Kayla, I know it's been a long time, but allow me to explain. Let's go back to your house and we can all talk together. Please?" he asked.

"Why should I do what you say?" I asked, "I've never even gotten a birthday card from you. I've never even heard from you. I don't have to listen to anything you say. You may be biologically my father, but you are not my dad and you never will be."

"Kayla, please listen to him," My mom said.

"Fine," I said, "but Dylan's coming too."

"This isn't his business," mom said, "its family business."

"I need him there!" I said. Mom looked at me for a second before realizing why I wanted him there. She could tell how stressed and hurt I was. I was on the edge and my brain was going everywhere. I'm not sure I can handle something like this happening. My hands shook, my heart raced, and sweat dripped down my forehead. She knew I needed somebody, a friend, or in this case Dylan, to stand by me to calm me down.

"Okay, he can come with," she finally agreed.

"What?" Ben said, "Why did you agree to that? Do you want everyone to know our business?"

"Because you don't understand," my mom said, "you have no idea what's been happening with us. He comes with us."

"Fine, let's go," he said walking back to the car.