My Missing Piece (Angie Miller)

Chapter 8

A/N: Thank you to everyone that has read, shared and voted on this story! :) This is kind of a filler chapter...I promise next one will be worth the wait!

Honestly one of my biggest fears for when I'm older is that I will turn out like my dad...and I never want that to happen.

Chapter 8:

"The old man still like he always was, but I love him anyway. If I've learned one thing from him it's my kids will never have to say. Walk a little straighter Daddy, you're swaying side to side, your footsteps make me dizzy and no matter how I try, I keep tripping and stumbling if you'd look down here you'd see. Walk a little straighter Daddy you're leading me." -Billy Currington

I put the last bag into the trunk of my car and turned to look at my mother.

"You know how I feel about this." She said disapprovingly.

I sighed, ever since I told her I was going up to see dad, she was trying to convince me of reasons not to. "I know Mom. I told you everything will be fine. If not I will leave and come back here."

She crossed her arms. "You don't have to bring TJ."

I turned around and shut the trunk. "He wants to see Lilly and Katie."

She sighed. "Just be careful, okay."

I stepped forward and hugged her. "I always am."

She squeezed me tight and put her head on my chest. I was at least a foot taller than her.

"Alright, I'm going to go Mom." I gently grabbed her shoulders and pushed her back.

"You better call me when you get there, and I'm serious Austin." She gave me a pointed look.

I nodded. "I know. I will!"

"Daddy! You comin'?" TJ yelled out the window.

I twisted my body to look at him. "Yeah, in a minute."

I looked back at Mom. "I promise to call you."

She nodded, and opened her arms for another hug.

I stepped back and walked around the car to the driver's side.

"Tell Jake I said bye." She nodded and I climbed into the car.

I groaned. Why does Mom have to have such a small car?

I plugged in the GPS, and put my phone in the cup holder. I backed out of the driveway.

"Daddy, where we goin'?" I looked in the rearview mirror. TJ was swinging his feet with his coloring book on his lap. I looked back at the road.

"I told you T, we're going to Papa's." It was weird calling him that.

"Oh." I looked in the mirror. "How much longer?"

I groaned. I knew there was a reason I hated road trips with him."A long time!"

"Okay." He picked up a crayon and started coloring.

I stopped in Virginia and Pennsylvania to get gas. TJ was long asleep by the time I stopped the second time. I pulled into the parking spot, and grabbed my phone. It was about 3pm, I could make it to New York in two hours depending on traffic.

I went around to the back seat and opened the door. I unbuckled TJ and picked him up. He jumped, and lifted his head.

"Shh, it's okay." He put his head down on my shoulder and went back to sleep. I pushed the door shut with my side and walked into the store. I really hope he didn't have to go to the bathroom. I didn't want to have to stop again. I walked to the coolers in the back of the store. I pulled out my phone. I had text Angie earlier and told her I had left and wouldn't be able to text.