California Kisses

California Kisses - Chapter 2

"Oh hey Sophie." I say almost groaning.

" I know you were expecting your father but a client called in last minute and he just couldn't back out. Plus he didn't want you getting lost while taking a cab so he sent me. I hope that's okay. But I believe he will be home soon, but let's get going."

So my father is a lawyer at a top agency law firm and he usually stays after hours because clients call last minute. I remember when I was younger he would always be late to my school plays or dance recitals and trust me that hasn't changed one bit. But this seriously was just low. How do I even know if this is his fiancé, this women may just be trying to kidnap me, I don't know that. How could he be so inconsiderate?!

"Okay well Ashley, my driver is parked right outside so just follow me and we will be home in no time." She exclaimed.

She then rolls up the billboard and throws it into the trash and struts down the airport as if she was walking a runway. Her heels making clicking noises as she walks and me running right behind her trying to keep up while pulling two enormous suitcases of clothing. This couldn't get anymore impossible.

I push open the heavy doors and feel a huge gust of wind and rain hitting my face wetting me from head to toe. I thought California was supposed to be all fun with summer all year round and NO rain. I already had enough of that in Britain. This was probably the only positive aspect of the situation, I guess not anymore.

"Just hand your bags over to Tim and he will put them in the trunk," she says, " Tim is my driver by the way."

Wait a minute, when I heard this women was rich, I thought maybe like a house on the beach kind of rich. But no, she was loaded. It wasn't too obvious from the outside, but once I took a step into the car, it felt like stepping into your favorite childhood princess book. I mean, inside there was everything and everything. She had the walls even painted pink, who actually has the time for that.

"So Ashley, I've heard so many great things about you!" She says in a cheery voice.

" Oh really, my dad can sure over exaggerate some times." I reply shutting the door behind me. I was soaked now, my bottom was practically glued to the leather seat, it felt disgusting!

For the rest of the car ride, it was a mixture of awkward silences and small talk. Both which were very uncomfortable, for the both of us I could tell. Half the time she was starring directly at me, I mean she wasn't even trying to hide it. She kept her eyes glued to me as if she was searching for something. I don't blame her in a way, I have a three inch scar running from my right ear all the way to my lip. It usually attracts attention but usually people follow up with questions as to how I got the scar.

This scar was much more than just a personal injury. It was the whole reason of my parents' divorce. When I was 7 my father was driving me to my swimming class and there was an accident. It was in the midst of December when a blizzard had hit and roads were covered in snow and the winds were making it impossible to drive. My mother was stuck at work late because the exit was closed off by snow, so my father had to drive me. He was impaired at the time which made it so much more difficult to see and I was only 7 and had no idea. At the stop light, he drove past them and crashed into a pole which broke all the windows. Luckily, he only broke his arm, compared to the damage that could've happened, and I was stuck in a coma for a month and the glass cut my face which explains the scar.

That story was basically engraved into my head. While I was growing up, children used to always wonder which drove me completely nuts. There was even a point where I just had a letter written about my story and would hand it out if anyone felt like questioning me.

But besides that, my mother was very angry and never fully forgave my father. They didn't separate right there, they tried to get over it but it was no use, the next five years were purely spent with arguments and yelling which later finally, they chose it was over.

Now I'm 16 and haven't seen or spoken to my father in the last four years, except for short phone calls or video chats, and this women was not part of the arrangement, it was my father that was supposed to be here, not her.

So finally the torturous car ride was over and the car was coming to a stop, just as the rain was as well. I tug open the door and you would not believe what I was seeing. I mean, this "home" was nothing that I was used to, or had ever even seen in Britain... It was extraordinary!