Dear California Summer

Time To Catch Up, I Guess...

I followed him to a huge room with two walls that were made out of glass. Like the whole wall was a window. Both of them. I thought those only existed in movies. The room overlooked the beach. It had a door in the window that led to stairs. The stairs went straight to the beach. It was amazing. The other two walls were painted a dark maroon color. My favorite. There was a huge bed on one wall that met the window wall. It was really pretty. The closet was on the other wall. Walk-in. Of course. There was a dresser inside the closet. There was a counter built on the wall with three tall, black, leather stool chairs pushed in under it. And a huge circle bamboo chair with a black cushion in it by the window.

"I hope you like it. I kinda had this room for you since I got the house." He said as he set all my stuff down with my suitcases. He stood up straight and looked at me. I was shocked. This is crazy. I looked at him trying to figure out what to say.

"Uhm. Yeah, I love it. Thanks. But, you really didn't have to do all this." I said as I put my backpack and bag down on the bed. I turned and looked at him face to face for the first time since I arrived. I smiled at him and turned around again. I started unpacking my backpack.

"I know. I just needed something to keep me busy when I moved in." He said after a second.

"Oh. Well, thanks." I said. I didn't want to talk to him right now. But, I don't think I can get out of it. He obviously wants to talk.

"Yeah. You're welcome, Carter. I can help you unpack, if you want."

"Alright. Sure." I said not trying to be mean. I picked up one of my big suitcases and unzipped it. It had my shirts and dresses in it. "These all get hung up. I don't like wrinkles." I told him. I've always been like that.

"Yeah, I remember." He said, mostly to himself. He walked over to the closet and grabbed a bunch of hangers, came back, set them on the bed and started hanging up my clothes. I opened the other suitcase which was full of my shorts, jeans, leggings, and skirts. I took the suitcase to the closet and starting putting everything in different drawers. When I got done, I grabbed the smaller suitcase and took it to the closet. It had my swimsuits and socks and underwear and bras and all that fun stuff. I emptied that one and put both empty suitcases in the back of the closet. By then my dad had finished too so I took that suitcase and put it with the rest.

"So, I see you brought your guitar." My dad said as I walked out of the closet and closed the door. I looked at the center of the room and my guitar case was laying in the middle of the floor. I walked over to it and picked it up.

"Yeah. I thought I might want it while I'm here so I decided to bring it along." I said while I moved it to the corner of the room by the bed.

"You still play?"

"Yeah. Pretty often actually. I've gotten a lot better than I was." I said, smiling to myself, remembering when he taught me to play on a small children's guitar. I was 7. I kept messing up and I started crying. My dad put down his guitar, picked me up and put me in his lap. He told me to calm down. Said "It takes time. You won't be perfect right away. You have to practice. Don't worry, baby girl. You can do this. I know you can." And he was right.

"That's good. You always loved to play. Do you still play piano?" He asked with a smile on his face. I missed that smile.

"Yeah. I do." I said, smiling.

"Good. I couldn't imaging you ever quitting. You loved to sit at the grand in the living room and play for hours. Me and your mother had to Pull you away from that at bedtime." He said with a small laugh.

"Yeah. I remember getting in trouble once when I was little and you and mom grounded me from the piano for a week. I was so mad." I said laughing. This was actually kinda nice. But, that doesn't change anything. He still left us. Mom. Me. I'm not forgiving he that easy. I can't.

"I remember that. You stomped all the way up the main stairs to your room. You didn't talk to me or your mom for a whole day." He said laughing with me.

I walked over to the bed and pulled out my chargers and plugged them in. I needed to charge my laptop and my phone. I pulled out my song book and put it in the bamboo chair. I went back to the bed and dug through my backpack for my pen. When I finally found it, I put it with my song book. My dad noticed I had it. I could tell.

"Do you still use that to write?" He asked after a second. I hesitated for a second.

"Yeah." That's all I could say.

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Do you mind if I read some? Only if that's okay with you." I thought about it for a minute.

"Yeah. Go for it. I have to get something out of my car. I'll be right back." I said, walking out of the room. I walked down stairs and out the front door. I went to my car and opened the back door. I left my birthday bags in here. I grabbed them and went back inside, after locking my car. I went back to my room and saw my dad sitting in one of the chairs that were under the counter. I took the bags, I went outside to get, into the closet and unpacked them.

"These are amazing. Looks like your writing got better too." He said when I came out of the closet and closed the door. He had a huge smile on his face. He closed the book and put it back where I had it. "Are you tired?" He asked me.

"No, not really. I drank way too much coffee on the drive here to be tired." I said with a laugh. But, it was true. I was wide awake. There is no way I was going to go to sleep now.

"Well, do you want something to eat?"

"Yes, I always want food." I said and we both laughed. I followed him to the kitchen. It was huge and beautiful. Just like everything else in this house. He opened the fridge and pulled out 3 different kinds of cheese and butter. He closed the fridge and went to a shelf. He pulled out a loaf of bread. "Grilled cheese?" I asked.

"Yup. Is that still your favorite snack?" He asked me with a smile. I smiled and nodded my head. "Good cause I bought a lot of cheese." He said with a laugh. I laughed along with him as he started cooking.

We sat down at the table and ate our sandwiches. We talked, just catching up. He asked about school, if I had a job, boys, friends. Everything. I told him.

We went back up to my room when we got done eating. I grabbed my phone off the charger. I unlocked it and opened my messages. I clicked on Mommy<3.

To: Mommy<3

I got here about an hour ago. It's nice. Dad is here. He helped me unpack. We both ate. Just checking in.

I put my phone in my pocket and turned to look at my dad. He was looking out the window, at the view. I walked over to him. I looked out too. It was breathtaking. I looked up at my dad. He was smiling. Just watching the waves hit the shore.

"I could stand here, looking out at this view for hours." He said not taking his eyes off the view.

"Yeah. It's beautiful." I said looking at him and then back to the window.

"You know, I missed you, Carter."He said, only this time he looked at me. He wasn't smiling anymore. He looked very serious. I couldn't look at him. Not without the threatening tears pouring over. I just continued to look out the window.

"I. I missed you too, dad." I said softly. I wasn't even sure if he heard me or not. But, I'm pretty sure he did because his smile was back. I was still mad at him. I was still hurt. I was still upset. But, it's true. I did miss him. What little girl wouldn't miss her dad?

I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. I grabbed it and unlocked it.

From: Mommy<3

Okay good. I miss you already, baby. Be safe while you're there. Keep in touch. I love you Carter. Xoxo Mom.

I smiled to myself and responded.

To: Mommy<3

I love you too. I miss you too. And I will. Xoxo Carter :)

I pressed the home button and looked at the time. It was 6 in the morning. I had to be at the airport by 7. I needed a shower.

"Dad. Can I take a shower? I need to get ready to go pick up Ethan and Sarah from the airport in an hour." I asked, walking to the closet.