{ chapter three: soft}

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3.

soft

{ Hazel } 

There he was right in front of me. Dad, silver haired and arms crossed, stood on the front steps to his beach home. There was an awkward silence between us - and Noel was still there still. 

There was a ping sound and both Dad and I looked to Noel who quickly took a look at his small phone. "Crap. Mike needs me back at the cafe. See ya, Grant." Noel gave a small wave to Dad and headed back to his pick-up truck. Just as he was about to open the front door and get in, he took one look at me and said, "Oh, and next time we meet, Hazel - make sure to dress appropriately." 

That son of a bitch 

I furrowed my eyebrows, thinking that if Dad wasn't here I'd probably be cursing with wild colors at Noel. But, being the lady I am, I didn't.

After Noel drove off, Dad went up the steps and opened the light blue door of his house. I went up the steps after him, but he stopped me before I entered the door. 

"Hazel ... wait." Dad finally said. His voice was hoarse.

I raised an eyebrow, "Yeah?" Dad removed his hand from the frame of the door, but I still didn't enter yet. Dad had some unfinished business to speak with me about.

"I...We're not the only ones living in the house." 

Wait ... who else was living in the house? Is Dad trying to say he .. got married again?! 

"W-what are you trying to say, Dad?" I clenched my fist nervously and bit my lip, honestly - I had no idea what Dad was going to say. When I was younger, Dad was the type of person you couldn't read. His expressions could mean one thing and what he says could mean another. In truth, he was a confusing person.

Dad sighed, "I told your mother, and from the way you were acting I'm sure she didn't tell you yet. So, I will tell you instead." He paused and took a deep breath. "Last year, I got engaged with a woman two years younger than me named Natalie Parsons." 

I shouldn't have been so stunned; but, I was. I knew it was coming, but I couldn't tell when he'd drop the big 'fiance' thing on me. A girl two years younger than him - just like Mom. 

Oh god, Hazel - do not compare Dad's new fiance with Mom. That is just horrible. 

"Also ..." Dad continued, "Her son, Bryce, is living with us as well." Dad then looked at me with questionable eyes, most likely because my mouth was wide open and my eyes were as well. 

Now, I could take the whole 'I have a fiance that lives with us' thing; but, after learning that there is another person who is a guy and will become your step-brother soon makes me think that I should go on the next plane back to Boston.

*~*

I went inside before Dad and waited as he pulled in my luggage one by one. I heard voices coming from the kitchen, but I didn't go there immediately; I didn't want to face my soon-to-be stepmom and stepbrother alone. 

We put the luggage right by the staircase and went into the kitchen. Standing at the sink was a woman who was old like Dad but not too old. Her hair was still brown (which I assumed was natural) but had specks of gray hairs in it like Dad's. Her eyes were a dark brown but were fading into a neutral color, which will most likely become more dull as she ages, and her face had laugh lines instead of frown lines.

She was drying off her hands with a kitchen rag just when she noticed my Dad and I enter. 

"Grant, finally you're home. The kitchen sink is at it - again." She said pointing to the faulty faucet which had water trickling from it's base and into the sink. Just as she put the rag down, she noticed my shy self clutching my left arm awkwardly and just standing there next to Dad. 

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