To Keep Her Safe is All I Know

Chapter 11

Melanie was working later than usual - although now, it was more unusual for Melanie to get out of work on time. Nevertheless, she was still in work by the time Sadie got out of school, so Chris went to get her, preparing for an awkward evening. It was John's weekend with Sadie, and since Melanie was working later, John would be getting Sadie from Chris. John couldn't get Sadie from school because he had a late appointment - Chris didn't even want to know what that appointment was for - so he would be getting Sadie from Chris in a couple of hours. Chris hadn't seen or even spoken to John since September, but despite how awkward and tense Chris knew it was going to be, he was curious about seeing John. He was curious to see the mental state that John was in.     

Melanie was always talking about how she thought that Sadie deserved to have as normal a relationship with her father as possible, and that's why she always let Sadie go with John despite whatever mental state he appeared to be in. Chris agreed that Sadie should have a good relationship with her own father, but he was definitely more willing to keep Sadie himself tonight if he felt necessary. Sadie was a girl today though, so maybe it wouldn't be so bad tonight. He wasn't quite sure.     

Sadie was playing Guitar Hero Live, and was actually playing along to 'Break the Cycle'. Chris stood near her and put his hands over her ears over swear words - even though she knew what they all were - because he knew that that's what Melanie would have done. 

"Can someone tell me who the -- I am?"

"Why do you do that?" Sadie asks.

"Because there was a swear word there and I know that that's what your mom would have wanted me to do."

"You're actually taking parenting advice from my mom?"

Chris scoffs, "First of all, I am no parent. Second of all, does your mom think I should take parenting advice from her?"

"Yes."

Chris rolls his eyes, "Of course she does."

"She says you don't like kids though."

"Hey, I never said that. If I didn't like kids, how would you and I have as much fun as we do when we're together? I just don't want any kids of my own."

"Why?"

"It's hard to explain, kiddo. I'm away a lot, which wouldn't be fair to the kid or whoever it is that's taking care of the baby. Plus there's things like helping out with homework and cooking for another person and responsibility and eeehhhh..."

"You do all those things for me though."

"That's different."

"How is it different?"

"You're Sadie. You're pretty independent. Besides, we've already established that I'm like an uncle or a big brother to you." Chris says before ruffling Sadie's hair, then standing and walking off to the kitchen.

"Yeah...but sometimes you're kind of like another dad to me..." Sadie says, sheepishly.

Chris opens the fridge, not quite able to hear Sadie over the sound of the music coming from the video game.

"What was that?" Chris asks.

Chris then hears the sound of a car door shutting from outside, then he grabs a Coke, shuts the fridge and walks back out into the living room.

"Your dad is here, kiddo."

"Oh. Okay." Sadie says, grabbing the remote and pausing the game. She then takes the remote control guitar off as there's a knock on the door.