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SEVEN

"Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming, swimming, swimming. What do we do? We swim, swim."

-Dory, Finding Nemo

***

The next four days were good days. I was glad I had opened up to my dad and it seemed to help our communication a lot better. I told him about the last dream I had, the one he woke me up from and he took it well. I asked him how long it would take to start trusting other people and he didn't really know. He just said I would never know until I gave someone a chance. I did tell him I trusted him, and therefore trusted his judgments and he was grateful.

We decided to go into town to get my glasses. On the way there, I spotted a car repair shop with the name Ortega. I pointed it out to my dad and he said that it was Kellan's and Andrew's. There weren't many cars in the garages, just one on the lot. I frowned and wondered if they were working today because their Jeep had been gone for the past three days.

I began to unwillingly think about Andrew, how he was doing and what he thought of me after my freak episode. I genuinely wanted to make amends, I just wasn't sure how. I think my dad had felt partly responsible, since both times he left Andrew home with me, things went wrong. But both times were my fault and I wanted to make it right.

Finally after a short 20 minute drive we arrived at the eye doctor's office. I was in and out within 2 hours, my glasses ready right away and a pair of contacts that would be delivered next week. The glasses had thin frames, kind of larger square shape like the RayBand brand. I loved them, and I no longer had to squint. My dad was on the phone as we drove around town. He was talking about annual finance sheets so I assumed it was work related.

I had noticed lots of small lakes in the parks we passed, then we drove past a huge lake, with pelicans congregating in its waters. A sign said Windsor Lake. Was this the lake Andrew had mentioned to me? It looked like the biggest one to me. There were some kids playing in one section of it and some men far out on a boat fishing. I would have loved to come here and enjoy this lake, just as I enjoyed the one behind my house. I smiled to myself thinking maybe I'll go back there tonight, before the sun sets.

"I just have to stop at the shopping center really quick, you can shop around if you want while I go in this store."

We pulled into the parking lot and found a spot. He handed me $50, which I took without hesitation. I haven't been shopping is so long.

"We'll meet up back here ok?" Carlos said as we got out of the car.

"Yeah sure." I said and skimmed the few stores in the plaza.

There was a shoe store and a cosmetics shop that caught my interest. About 25 minutes later I returned to the car with some mascara, eyeliner, a few lip balms and a pair of sandals that I probably would never wear. Thankfully dad left the doors unlocked so I climbed in and waited. A few minutes later, a guy walked past the front of the car. He glanced at me, then doubled back in interest. I sighed heavily and sank a little lower in my seat. The man began walking in my direction, and from the corner of my eye I seen him smiling.  My heart started beating faster and harder and I quickly locked to doors with the auto button.

What did he think he was doing? I was getting more and more frustrated, my heart was beating too fast. When he was very close to the car I looked up at him, he was still smiling and he nodded his head. Was he trying to flirt??? I rolled my eyes and looked away, oh my gosh really? Where was my dad? I scooted up to look past the guy in the direction that my dad walked off to and sighed in huge relief, Carlos was coming back. The guy was bending down now, trying to catch eye contact, saying 'hey' over and over. Please get out of my face dude.

Finally my dad reached the car. I watched him walk up to the guy, tell him "back off!" then pushed him rather forcefully. He stood in front of me to block me from view, and watched as the pitiful man walked away.

"Sorry about that Ken, these young guys around here see a new pretty face and they can't control themselves." He sounded agitated when he got in the car, slamming the door behind him.

"It's fine dad."

He put his seatbelt on and started the engine. We were back home 15 minutes later. As we got out the car I noticed Kellan and Andrew's car still not parked out front. My dad hadn't talked about them since the day they were here. I hope their relationship hadn't suffered because of me, I thought as we went inside.

"Hey I have something for you." Carlos said.

He came to sit next to me on the sofa and placed a small white shopping bag on my lap. I smiled and grabbed the box underneath all the fancy paper covering it. It was an iPhone. The 5. The same one Andrew had, but in white. I gazed at the box in disbelief with my mouth open. I had waited for so long to get one when I was in high school but my mom couldn't afford it.

"Wow..." I finally said.

"Now we can text." He said happily, pulling out another iPhone from his pocket.

I laughed. "Wow dad, thanks so much for this."

I gave him a big hug and a kiss on the cheek.

"I figured this would be better so if I'm ever in a meeting or with a client, you can just shoot me a text and I can get back to you quickly."

"Yeah, absolutely!"

"Another thing, When I go back to work, there are going to be some nights when I come home really late, is that ok? Or you could always come with me if you don't want to stay home alone all the time by yourself."

"Um..." I wasn't too sure that I wanted to sit in an office all day either. "Um no its ok dad, I'll find things to do around here."

He didn't seem convinced. "I just don't like you being alone all the time, that's all. This community is very safe, but I still worry about you."

"Aw dad, really. Nothing has happened so far anyway. Plus, I have a phone now so I'll probably be talking to mom the whole time."

I smiled and waved my phone. He nodded slowly but his lips were in a hard line and his expression shifted to a sad frown.

"Kendra, I know I said it before, but I'm really sorry about what happened last week, with Drew. That was my fault I shouldn't have-"

"Oh it's cool. I'm over it."

"But I'm not."

I blinked and my shoulders slumped. I didn't like where this conversation was going.

"I'm trying Ken, I really am. I know this is still knew for us, but I'm trying to make the best decisions when it comes to you. I've never done this before."

"I understand." I said, in a small voice.

His soft brown eyes were pleading with mines, as if he were trying to convince me further.

"I just want you to trust me."

"I do." I replied, more confidently. "I trust you, I do."

"That won't ever happen again, alright?"

I nodded and looked down at the box in my hands, turning it over to read the back. "Thanks again dad, I really appreciate this."

"No problem at all. I love you Kendra."

"I love you too dad."

A/N

 ***This Update was quick and short, mostly to fill in info. I wanted it to be short so that it would be an easy read and not too long since there's nothing extremely exciting going on. But it's part of the progress so I couldn't leave it out!***   Thanks to everyone for reading and commenting, it means a lot to me!