Matthew POV
This is outrageous! His mind was having a hard time believing his ears.
What did they say?
Pretend....
This was all just an act!
Hurting the woman he was beginning to care for was some joke!
No. This is where he draw the line. Standing straight and tall, he silently told them 'if you want to get to her, you must go through me first.'
One look, and Grace began to tear up. He wanted so much to believe that she was genuinely hurt about all this but overhearing them made it nearly impossible. Being this close to them was making him sick!
"What kind of parents are you? " He asked them both. This caused Grace to sob some more.
Adam turned towards him.... "You know nothing about us! I suggest you mind your own business if you know what is good for you boy!" He stormed out of the room, leaving Matthew and Grace alone in the kitchen.
One look at Grace and Matthew knew she was in no state of mind to have a conversation with. His business was with the father- he was the one who hurt Hailey.
Walking after him, he found him sitting on the bed of a pink coloured room. Walking into it, his eyes drifted from wall to wall. The room was covered with different boy bands photos and animals. It look like a teenaged girl's room.
"She must hate me." Adam spoke, causing Matthew to look his way.
"What?" Matthew asked, making sure he heard him right.
Adam raised his head and looked directly at him. "I said, she must hate me."
This caused Matthew to raise a confusing eyebrow at him. Why did he suddenly care what she thought? He didnt a few minutes ago.
"You see this?" Adam motioned around the room. "This is- was Hailey's room. I left it just as it is after she left, in hopes that if she does come back, she would not feel like we didn't care.... she would know that she is loved."
"She did come back. Today."
"Yes today, after seven or eight years.... You don't understand do you?She left a girl and came back a woman... She took it all away from me..."
"What did she take from you?" Matthew moved closer to where Adam was.
"She took time away from me. I could have seen her grow into the beautiful, intelligent, hardworking woman she is today.... I missed it all.Maybe that is why I was rude to you earlier. I felt like she had done so much for herself....without us. "
Recognition flooded Matthew's mind. This man was not cold hearted... this was a father who was grieving for his daughter.
"If you care for her so much, why did you treat her like that?" Matthew moved closer, sitting next to Adam on the bed.
"I had to... if I accepted her with open arms, she would have stayed. I know my daughter. She would not leave me like she did before.I could not let her stay..."
"Why? If she wants to stay I don't see why not?"
"Don't you see? If she stays, it would be like she is taking a step backwards. All this time away, building herself into what she is today would all be a waste. I could not let that happen. If me being the bad guy would help my daughter then so be it." Adam turned to look Matthew directly in the eyes. "Maybe deep down, that is why I never stopped her from leaving....I had faith that she would make herself someone better...."
"Someone better? Maybe to the eye. But emotionally, she needs you. You may not see it because with time she has learned to become hard and hide her pain..." Matthew paused. Did he really know her so well? "But everyone needs their parents. If not as a parent then as a friend."
"I think it is too late for me son." Adam patted Matthew's back and stood. "Now go on, leave."
"No. " Matthew stood as well. "Not before you say goodbye. A goodbye that would mean the world to her."
Adam sighed. "I would not know where to begin....It has been so long..."
"Just go with your heart." Matthew encouraged.
***
Hailey POV
Her eyes opened wide was she saw movement near the doorway of the house. She could not believe her eyes.... Her father and Matthew were talking and laughing with one another as if they were old friends.
What the hell?...
Her eyes narrowed on her father. They were coming towards her. As if her feet controled itself, she stepped out of the vehicle and stood frozen in place. Her father turned his attention to her, her heart beating so fast and hard, it threatened to burst out of her chest.
Oh God, was he going to shout at her again? Did he have more hurtful things to say? Her mind asked so many questions as she looked at him taking slow steps towards her. Matthew stopped and nod at him, silently telling him to go on...
Now he stood in front of her, so close she could feel his warmth. Looking up at him she wondered, how had they drifted so far? They were once so close and now....
This caused a pain to shoot through her heart, causing her to look away as tears began rolling down her face. He did not deserve to see her cry.
Suddenly she felt his hands on her cheeks, pulling her face to look at him once again. When she did, her cautious eyes met his tender, sorrowful ones.
As he opened his mouth to speak, her eyes closed quickly. What more could he possibly say to hurt her more?
"I'm sorry Baby."
Her eyes shot open to look at him. Did she hear correctly? Did he say....sorry?
"I-I" She began to speak but nothing else came out. Her shoulders began shaking as she began crying once again, unable to hold it back.
His arms came around her pulling her to him, into his warm embrace.
"I'm sorry daddy! I'm so sorry!"
___
Hey guys, I really wanted to leave this chapter a happy ending. I know lots of things are yet to be solved and differences between the characters to be mended but finally we see sun rise.
Also I would like to dedicate this chapter to one of the strongest men I know. My daddy. You have and will always hold a special place in my heart....Even if we don't see eyes to eye at times, I would always have your back just like I know you would always have mine... :D
I hope you are enjoying so far.
Don't forget to vote and comment.
Thanks for reading.
XOXO
Mel.
