My Sister's Boyfriend

Chapter 4: I Miss You

I froze, hearing the sound of loud sobs through the door of Mom's room. Scared, I tentatively knocked on the door. Mom answered with a choked "Come in."

I pushed the door open, my heart sinking. Mom was lying face down on her bed, her face buried in her pillow as she sobbed her eyes out. I quietly sat down on the bed beside her, my head whirling with panicked thoughts.

Had she finally realised the truth about Dad ?

See, my Dad had supposedly been on a 'business trip' for the past year. He claimed that he was opening another branch of his construction company there. And we all believed him. Because Dad and I were really close, I was miserable everyday after he told us he was travelling for a while, up until the night before he was supposed to leave...

I sat up in bed, sleeplessly rubbing my eyes. Although I was beat, I couldn't fall asleep. How could I, when Dad was leaving tomorrow ? What I really should've been doing is savouring the last moments I had with him. I got out of bed and tiptoed across the hallway and down the stairs. The house was dark, except for a light in Dad's study. As I got closer to it, I realised that he was speaking to someone. Mom, maybe ? No, it couldn't be Mom. I had heard her snoring when I passed their bedroom on the way down. So he must be on the phone or something.

"Don't worry, sweetie. I'll be with you tomorrow. Just get through this one last night."

I froze, my heart pounding. Who was 'sweetie' ?

"I know it's hard. But it's just one final night. Anyway, I have to go, I want to get some sleep in so I actually have some energy tomorrow. Good night, I love you."

That's when I snapped out of my trance, wrenched the office door open and stormed in, screaming "I LOVE YOU ?!"

Dad's phone clattered to the floor. All he could do was just stare at me in a mixture of shock and terror, speechless. I strode over to him, slamming my hands down on his desk. "HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO MOM ?! AND HERE I WAS, THINKING THAT-"

"Amber, shhhhh ! Your mother will hear !" He whispers, his eyes wide and terrified.

"Oh, will she ?" My voice has gotten quieter now, colder, as I hissed "You know what, maybe I should go and tell her right now ! Yeah, that's an amazing idea !" I turned on my heel, fully intending on going up there and waking Mom up and telling her everything.

Dad grabbed my hand, pulling me back. "Amber, please don't. For me."

"Oh, for you ?! Wow, you sure know how to pick your words. And here I was, wondering how you always manage to make everyone do what you want ! Guess I got my answer."

"Amber, I'm sorry. I really am."

"Wow, because sorry really is going to help. You have a 6 year old daughter. You have a 12 year old son who hero-worships you. And you have two teenage daughters who really need their father around. And yet you're going to leave us just for some woman."

"Amber, I really am going to open a new branch in Amsterdam."

"Yes, that really completely justifies your side-activities." I snarled. "Even if you couldn't care less about us, you could at least think of Mom. Mom, who you've been with since sophomore year of high school. Mom, who always showers and changes before you get home. Mom, who smiles just at the sound of your voice. Wow Dad, good work." I shook my head in disbelief, hot tears seeping through my eyelids and leaving a warm trail down my face.