Life, Love & The Forbidden

I Want

Sara had never seen her father happier then the moment she told him Michael had broke up with her. Frank tried to hide his joy but it shone from his being like a lighthouse illuminated in the night. At that moment, when he had what he had wanted for weeks, Frank Tancredi felt broken inside. The hurt and pain on his daughter's beautiful face tore him open. He had only ever seen it once before, when he had done the exact same thing to a beautiful young woman not dissimilar to Sara, and he had married her and they were happy.

Frank reached out a hand to Sara's juddering shoulders as she cried, his short stubby fingers stroking the soft material of her clothes slowly. There was an uncomfortable silence between them, neither knowing what to say to the other to make it right. Frank refused to give in and offer her what she wanted. He would not approve of a man loving his baby, as much as he tried. I just couldn't.

The age-old saying crossed Frank's mind and slipped through his lips as he comforted Sara. "I told you this would happen," he soothed pulling her into him in a protective hug. Sara grabbed at his jacket, burying her face into the expensive tailored material.

"I love him Dad," she sobbed, her tears soaking the material she clutched between her shaking hands. Frank tucked her head under his chin and gave her squeeze. Support was what she needed right now, even if Frank's anger threatened to erupt at her words. The fact that she still referred to Michael in the present tense didn't help him suppress it much either.

"Sara," he pulled back to look into her watery hazel eyes. "You can't keep pining for a guy who will never be good enough for you," he offered her a small smile. She sniffed and licked some salty tears from her lips, her breath hitching. "You'll meet someone else, your own age..." he emphasised with wide eyes and raised eyebrows.

Sara stared at him silently, his obvious attempts at subtlety wasted on her. "Thanks Dad," she flashed him a forced smile and wiped her face with her sleeve. "I think I'll go do some homework," she told him, moving out of his embrace and towards the vast staircase. Frank lowered his head as she went, silently congratulating himself for a victory that felt more like a defeat. He had won but Sara was miserable.

"Sara," he called softly as the ground beneath her feet changed from soft to hard on the lobby floor. Sara spun around slowly to face him with an expression of question. Frank gave her a smile and a nod. "Why don't you and your friend go out tonight? I'm sure there is a nice get together somewhere," he waved an unknowing hand and his face frowned him thought.

"A party?" Sara laughed weakly. Frank's eyes lit up and he pointed a crooked finger her way with a grin.

"Yes! A party," he said jokingly. "Go to a party, meet some new friends from school. You never know, you might meet a boy," he wigged an eyebrow and gave her a wink. Sara puffed out a short giggle.

"You're letting me go to a party?" she asked once more in a suspicious tone. Frank nodded and placed his hands in his pockets. His face was bright albeit weathered and he could hardly believe himself for what he had just said. Reluctantly he nodded again when Sara eyes narrowed and she scanned his face for an sign of a trap.

"Just get it organised, before I change my mind," he told her sternly. Sara turned and pounded up the stairs as fast as she could, bursting into her room and booting up her laptop. The climb had left her out of breath and for a small second she forgot all about Michael. She warmed inside and the numbness was gone. She plopped into her chair, wiping her hair from her eyes as she focused on the screen.

"OMG..." was her friend's reply as Sara told her what had just happened between her father and her. Sara smiled as she imagined her friend sitting, open mouthed in shock.