Where's Daddy?

Dalilah

"Dalilah! Come downstairs!" I could smell the eggs burning on the stove from the laundry room. I turned the washer on and walked back to the kitchen. I saw Dad sitting at my laptop again, not paying attention to the eggs. "Dad!" He whipped around in the bar stool.

"What? What's wrong?" I scraped the eggs out of the pan and into the trash. "Hey! Hey! Hey!" Dad ran over to me and stared into the trash can. "That was Dalilah's breakfast!"

"Well, Dad. You burnt it."

"Oh. I'm sorry. Do you want me to remake them?"

"No, Dad. I got it." Dad was already at the bar stool before I could crack another egg into the pan. As I washed my hands in the sink, I could hear the little pitters of Dalilah's feet coming down the stairs. She ran up to the stove and tried to peer at the eggs in the pan. "Hey, back away. You don't want to get burned do you?" I pushed Dalilah slightly back as I grabbed the spatula.

"I tought Grampa was makin' me breakfast?" I looked down to see her drooping face. I knelt next to her and saw chocolate on her cheek. "Well, Grandpa burned the eggs." I started to wipe her face with my apron. I watched as her lip started to tremble. "But don't worry! Grandpa will make breakfast tomorrow." She turned her face up. Her smile was just like Nixon's. Everytime she smiled I couldn't help but smile along. "Okay. Go sit with Grandpa, while I finish your eggs."

"Okay!" She skipped over to the high top table. "Grampa! Pick me up!"

"Oh, okay." I heard Dad grunt while trying to lift Dalilah into her chair. "Girl! You need to stop eating as much pancakes. You're killing Grandpa's back."

"Why do you think I wanted eggs?" Hearing her high pitch voice, made me laugh.

"Dalilah, when are you ever gonna go to kindergarten?" Dalilah liked having conversations while we ate at the table.

"Grampa! I only fou'!"

"When I was your age, I had a job already!"

"Grampa! Tat 'cause you old!" I couldn't help but laugh at the smart remarks she had. Everyday she reminded me of Nixon. I walked back over to the table with her glass of milk. I gently smacked her butt, which was resting on her ankles. "Ow, Mommy! Why'd you hit me!" I had to hush her screech to keep the neighbors from hearing.

"Ashlyn! Stop! You're gonna hurt her!" Dad yelled.

"Dad! Stop it! Everybody already thinks I killed Nixon. I don't need them thinking I abuse my daughter."

"Ashlyn. Stop saying that you didn't kill Nixon. None of us know! You may have."

"Dad! Why do we have to have these conversations everyday! Do you not trust your daughter!" By this point I was yelling.

"Ashlyn! I love you. And you know that! But by the way you have been acting it seems like you did!"

"How could you not believe me!" Dalilah was crying on her chair covering her ears.

"Honey, you need to calm down."

"No! No I don't! Why should I? My own father doesn't believe me!" I picked up Dalilah and started to walk out the door.

"Ashlyn! Get back here! Don't you take her. She doesn't need to listen to you complain!"

"You know what, Dad. I don't need this crap in my life! And neither does she! I'm sick of this happening everyday! I'll send someone to come get our stuff." I started to grab the doorknob.

"You bring her back here right now!" We were both enraged.

"We don't need this crap! I'm not a child! And you can say goodbye to your Granddaughter!" Dalilah stuck up her hand. "Bye, Grampa."

"No, Honey, your not leaving. It's okay."

"No it's not! Leave us alone!"

"Bye, Sweetheart!" I slammed the door behind me before he could finish.

As I buckled Dalilah in her seat, a tear hit my hand. I quickly wiped my eyes, but they were dry. I looked at Dalilah and she had tears running down her face. "Dalilah. Stop crying. It's alright. Okay?" She sniffled and nodded her head.

I dropped in the front seat and closed my door. I sighed and rubbed my face with my right hand. I looked through my fingers to see Dalilah gripping her Teddy. "Mommy?"

"Yes, Dalilah."

"Who's gonna make me breakfast tomowoah?" I chuckled slightly. I leaned my head against my seat and sighed. "I don't know, Dalilah. I don't even know where we are gonna have breakfast tomorrow." She pursed her lips and looked at her bare feet. I started to close my eyes because I was up all night talking to Ben. I heard Dalilah take a loud breath in. I jumped and turned to look at her. "Mommy! Teddy doesn't have any undies!" I smirked and tapped her leg with my hand.

"It's okay. Maybe Daddy has some for Teddy."