Cowgirl Up 2 (Sequel) ✔️

Chapter Nine

Beautiful picture by DeeDotson 😍

Friday.
I just had to get through a day of some chores and then the girls and I were having a 'girls night'.
Hayley, Noah, Adina, Peyton and I.
I'd been a little uncomfortable originally bringing the two new girl's into our already established circle.
But with them dating Blayze and Codie's friends, we began to get to know them better and I've found them to be great girl's.
Plus, Adina and I have our impending pregnancies to embrace and share together.
As per usual, I helped Grandma with the breakfast prep and taking the food, dishes, cutlery and utensil's out to the out dining room for Grandpa, Uncle Lukas, Blayze, the hands and I to eat our first meal of the day.
Once the food was done, Mum dragged me through to the home dining room, a carefully blank expression on her tanned face.
"What's up?"
I asked curiously.
Since when does she act so sneaky?
"I checked the post box in town on my way back from visiting Paul yesterday."
Mum explained.
Hang on!
"Oh my god! What happened with Paul? I didn't get to talk to you last night..."
I felt my eyes widen!
Mum shook her head.
"That can wait."
"But Mu-"
"This is from your Dad."
Her words were like magic, snapping me out of my trance.
A lump automatically formed in my throat as I turned my head to look where she was pointing.
A card and a small, wrapped up parcel were sat atop the dining table.
I could see little else but the package and the envelope glaring back at me.
It's from my Dad?
A.K.A James the sperm donor?
I can't even remember the last time I received anything remotely like a parcel from him.
"I'll leave ya to it."
I barely heard Mum.
Her voice sounded far away.
I just couldn't take my eyes off the small parcel on the table.
Why has he sent me something now?
Was he trying to play games with me?
"Do you want me here or do you want to be alone?"
Blayze's voice broke through my tunnel like trance.
I turned around to find him standing just inside the archway.
"It's a card and a parcel from my Sperm Donor."
I whispered, my voice shaking a little even to my own ear's.
Yes, even still I struggled to say the words My Father.
That was because James Oakley hadn't acted much like one, since before my first birthday when he skipped town.
Blayze didn't say anything, just came forward and dragged out a chair to take a seat.
I took it to mean he was here for the 'big reveal'.
"I don't know if I can even look."
I whispered, avoiding looking at the looming parcel and envelope.
Blayze shrugged.
"It's up to you."
His casualness somewhat frustrated me.
I'd almost closed the gap between the envelope and the parcel before I caught myself.
Wait!
What am I doing?
"You haven't received anything from him before right?"
Blayze quietly asked from behind me.
"Not since he dropped off Nugget without seeing me when I was about to be three year's old."
I whispered, my vision swimming a little as I looked at the light brown parcel and bright white envelope.
"Well I don't think it's another pony."
Hardy ha ha.
"Stuff it."
I grumbled and grabbed the parcel.
I'd been taught for many year's to always read the card or letter first.
In this case, the card could be dangerous.
What could James Oakley possibly even put into a card or a letter to his eighteen year old daughter?
A daughter he's seen in eighteen years, enough times to probably be counted on two hands, maybe even one.
Blayze didn't question my tactic and just waited in silence as I ripped the brown paper.
Underneath was a rectangular jewellery box.
Uh oh...
I paused, with my hand hovering over the lid.
"C'mon ya can't stop now."
Blayze urged.
I guess he too is curious.
Biting my lower lip, I cautiously lifted the lid.
I don't know what I'd been expecting.
But what glinted back at me was a gold chain with a gold 18 charm hanging off.
He remembered my eighteenth birthday?
How had he remembered not one other birthday?
Well eighteen is a start isn't it?
The grouchy little voice in my head retorted.
"You gonna open the envelope?"
Blayze prompted.
The uncomfortable feeling of tear's burned at the back's of my eyes.
I abandoned the gift and the unopened envelope and walked the few step's over to Blayze.
"I really don't think I can."
I whispered, struggling to hold the tear's in.
He placed his arm's around me, pulling me gently into his body.
"Well, I'll read it for you if you'd like, but I do think it's something you need to do when you're ready."
He was right.
It's my Dad.
If he wants to try to apologise for the last eighteen year's, it's my business to read it.
But it was more likely it just said 'Happy Birthday'.
There probably wasn't even a 'Love Dad'.
I wrapped my arm's around Blayze's shoulder's and leaned down so that I could bury my face into the side of his neck.
He rubbed my back lightly, blissfully remaining silent and just being there.