High Functioning Hopeless Romantic

Chapter 11

After convincing myself that it didn't matter if Sherlock Holmes didn't care about me (I had only known him for a couple weeks anyways), I grabbed my laptop and got back to work. It was only 6 o' clock, but I was already looking forward to diving under my covers and snoozing the night away. Suddenly the doorbell rang and I stomped to it, my mind automatically going back to the last time I was interrupted, which was by Sherlock. So naturally, I assumed it was Sherlock. "What the hell do you- DAD!" I flew into my father's arms, losing myself in his peppermint and cigar scent. "What are you doing here?"

He smiled down at my, his laugh lines cringing around his eyes and mouth. He had a light brown five o' clock shadow that was the same color as his full head of hair. "What? A father can't come to see his favorite daughter?"

"Funny, I'm your only daughter."

He laughed a deep throaty laugh and it flashed me back to simpler times - warm summer days by the river, late nights playing cards - but only for a moment. Then he settled down. "I'm sorry to drop by unexpectedly... But Mrs. Hudson told me about what happened the other night." He looked at me with a serious and expecting look, waiting for me to explain. I bit my lip nervously.

"Why don't you come in?" I offered. At that moment Mary came to my door and I thanked the heavens for this small save. I knew if I talked to my dad about what had happened he'd grab his guns and start the hunt for whoever did it. I wasn't ready for that.

"Hi, I'm Mary. You must be Mr. Caulfield," she said sweetly, reaching out her hand to take his.

"Yes I am, nice to meet you. Friend of my daughter's?"

"Yes sir."

"I'm very sorry about that," he teased, elbowing me slightly and laughing. Mary laughed along too and I knew right away they would get along just fine.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything," began Mary, "I just wanted to invite you up to a dinner that Mrs. Hudson made. You're welcome to come of course Mr. Caulfield."

"Call me William, and I'd be delighted to."

>><<

The flat smelled like roast and potatoes and a delicious mix of whatever else Mrs. Hudson was cooking. I entered behind Mary, trying to use her as a shield from Sherlock, and my father followed behind me. I looked around hesitantly once inside, but there was no sign of Sherlock. I breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe this wouldn't be the suckiest dinner ever. John approached the group of us from the kitchen and stuck out his hand towards my dad.

"John," he smiled warmly.

"William."

"William is that you?" hollered Mrs. Hudson from the kitchen. She came around the corner, wiped her hands on her apron, and gave my dad the biggest hug I had ever seen. At one point I thought her body was going to break from the force of it all. She pulled away from him and cupped his face with her hands. "Oh William, you've gotten fat."

My dad broke into laughter, leaning over pulling in Mrs. Hudson for a side hug. "You really haven't changed at all have you Martha?"

"Well how much can a person change in eight years?" she teased, hitting my dad's arm slightly.

He lost a little of his smile, looking down at her guiltily. "I know. It's just been a... busy couple eight years."