Just A Boy (ON HOLD)

Chapter 17

***Chapter 17***

Time stood still.

Instantly my mind began to whirr. This couldn't be right, there was no way this man could be my dad. I half expected someone to jump out from behind him and shout 'surprise!'

He stared at me expectantly, like he was hoping me to suddenly scream for joy and give him a hug. I thought back to the photo that stood on my nightstand next to my bed. In a way it did make sense, he looked similar to my dad in the photo.

I mentally hit myself. Why was I thinking like that? This had to be some kind of joke. But that little voice in the back of my mind made me wonder if maybe he was telling the truth.

What if he was my dad? What if he was here to whisk me away and make up for all the years he had been gone? What if he was going to explain that the whole thing had been a mistake? What if he hadn't wanted to leave, but he'd been made to?

What if?

I knew I wasn't thinking rationally, but now wasn't the time to be rational.

"Would you like to come in?" Annie asked, while I stood frozen in the doorway staring at the man in front of me. His eyes flickered off me for a moment and rested on Annie behind me.

"Um, actually I'm fine." He turned to look at me again before speaking again. "I'm only in town for today and tomorrow, but it took me most of today to find you. Do you think we could maybe go out tomorrow, just for a catch up? It's been so long."

The hopeful look returned to eyes and I couldn't help but agree. If he was telling the truth this meant I had a chance to talk to the man who walked out on me and mom all those years ago. In a way I wanted to hear his side of the story, I wanted to know why he left us all alone.

"I'll come around one, is that okay?" he asked and when I nodded again he smiled softly before turning back out to his car. Before he got in he faced me and waved before driving off into the dark.

I stood staring out into nothing, not focused on anything. Annie placed a comforting hand on my shoulder and led me away from the door. Suddenly I felt exhausted and though I said nothing to her, Annie seemed to pick up on that. She took me to my room and gave me a small hug before leaving and shutting the door behind her.

I got in bed and pulled the covers up around me and made a cocoon of duvet. The bed was warm and made my brain feel slightly fuzzy. From downstairs I could hear the sounds of Chase leaving and then I heard Annie come upstairs and go into her room.

Later at night, when the house was silent, I heard the final footsteps come upstairs. They stopped outside my room and seemed to hesitate for minute as if the person was considering coming in before moving down the corridor.

Soon after that I fell asleep.

Saturday started off like any day. I woke up content in my bed before dragging myself from the warmth to open the curtains. I made my way to the kitchen as normal and poured myself a bowl of cereal.

Only Finn was in the kitchen as I sat down and he smiled at me reassuringly. I guessed someone filled him on what happened last night.

I looked into my Lucky Charms and watched the marshmallows as they coloured the milk. I only glanced up when someone new entered the kitchen.

"Finn dear, don't forget your father is coming home today so we'll be having supper together at 6 o'clock." Claire reminded Finn who nodded in comprehension.

I thought about my dad, who was coming around lunchtime and I was going to suggest we go to a small restaurant that was near the coffee shop so I could do my shift afterwards. I thought about what we might talk about, I thought about what it would be like to talk to my dad.