The Eighth

One

I have never been very lucky in life. Growing up I had zero luxuries. My mum wasn't the best role model. Whether she was just shooting up in a corner or ignoring me I learnt pretty quickly how to look after myself. Being the product of a one night stand I have never known my dad and never really wanted to. When Police Chief Rogers told me he had found my father I didn't want to believe it. I didn't want to believe that a different life was possible.

We arrived back at the hotel suite at roughly two in the morning. I was so tired I hardly even had the brain power to realise we were staying in the Penthouse of the Waldorf Astoria. I've never even been to this part of the city. Brooklyn and Queens is my stomping grounds. I slept in the most luxurious bed until three in the afternoon.

I walk out of my room and into the Penthouse lounge room. Todd is working on his laptop with his phone pressed to his ear.

"So I thought tomorrow I'd spend the day with Macy showing me around New York." Todd says into his phone. "Our flight is tomorrow evening we won't be in San Fran until ten-thirty." He explains to the person on the phone. "I've already arranged for James to be waiting with the car. How are the boys? Did Kingsley finish his biology assignment?"

I smile as I hear him talk. He seems like a family guy.

"You tell the twins if their room is not clean they'll have me to deal with." He says sternly, "yes honey I know I'm not as scary as you." He says quietly and I can't help but chuckle. Todd hears me and turns to face me. "One second." He mouths to me with a smile. "Ok honey I should go...I love you too."

"Hey." I say when Todd hangs up the phone and I walk further into the lounge room.

"Hi Macy. Did you sleep well?"

"Hell yes! That bed is insanely comfortable!"

"I'm glad to hear it." Todd says flashing me another teeth glistening smile. "So, you can order any room service you like or we could go down to the restaurant?" He offers. I notice him ring his hands together like he is nervous.

"Actually I was just going to split." I say honestly. "I mean thanks for bailing me out and all but I'm better off on my own."

"You have no family." Todd points out the obvious.

"So what? The family I did have for the last sixteen years wasn't the best but I managed."

"Ok how is this fair? I find out I have daughter, I fly to New York, I save my daughter from a life in the foster system and you expect me to just walk away?" Todd narrows his eyes at me.

"I said thank you." I mutter.

"I'm not letting you just wander off and ruin your life Macy-"

"I never said-"

"I'm not finished." He snaps, "you are my daughter and that means something to me. My family is my world Macy." I blink back tears as Todd talks. No one has ever cared about me before. I sit down across from him and he smiles at me. "So you never answered my question. Room service or restaurant?"

"Ah I don't have clothes." I say pointing to my NYPD sweats.

"Oh right." Todd says and I notice him blush. "Right well I can organise clothes for you but for now lets get room service.

Todd orders us hamburgers and loaded fries. It doesn't take long for our room service to arrive. I dig into my hamburger and I'm half done when Todd clears his throat.

"Sorry." I sputter with my mouth full.

"Hey don't apologise. I like that my daughter can eat." Todd laughs.

"Well this is the best..." I trail off stopping myself from revealing the fact that I haven't eaten more than an apple in four days.

"The best?"

"The best burger ever." I say my mouth still full.

"I have to agree with you."

"So how exactly is this going to work?" I ask suddenly.

"How is what going to work?"

"This whole father, daughter thing."

"Well I'm your father and your my daughter so I thought we might start with you moving in with me." He says and I notice him smirking at me.

"But you have a family."

"That is true but you are my family too Macy."

"Chief said you have like a tonne of kids." I say taking another bite of my burger.

"That is one way of putting it." Todd laughs.

"Jennifer, my wife and I started dating thirteen years ago and got married twelve years ago." Todd starts as I continue to eat. "Jennifer was married before but her husband passed away, he was in the army."

"Sad." I add and he nods.

"He was actually a good friend of mine. Jen had three sons with Paul. I love her sons like they are my own, Ethan is twenty, Hugh is seventeen and Kingsley is fifteen. They are good kids. Jen and I also had four boys together, our twins Jackson and Maverick are eleven, Reuben is nine and our littlest Arlo is five."

"Wow seven kids."

"That would make you the eighth." Todd smiles stealing some fries off my plate.

"Are you sure you want me in your life?"I ask quietly and Todd stares at me mouth open.

"Yes Macy. Yes. Of course I do."

"But what about your wife? I mean it isn't what she signed up for. Hell I'm not what you signed up for. You had a one night stand on your guys weekend and it turned into a baby."

"Macy, you are my daughter. That is all there is too it. Jennifer will love you. She has always wanted a girl and the boys well... I'm sure they will love you too."

Todd made it clear for me not to bring up that subject again and instead we went on to talk about his boys. He told me about how Hugh is a football star while Ethan and Kingsley are more into Baseball. Apparently Reuben is an amazing swimmer and the twins are pranksters. I can't wait to meet Arlo he sounds awesome.

I'm not sure about this having a family thing but I should at least give it a chance. After dinner Todd and I sit back on the couch watching Todd favourite TV series The Office. Eventually I leave a sleeping Todd on the couch and head off to bed. My dreams are filled with past memories and hopes for the future. I'm going from living with a mum who ignored me to living with two parents and seven boys! My life is about to be very different.

...

Vote. Comment. Share.

Thanks for reading!

Hey so an update! Wooo!
I'm going to update 'The Eighth' every Thursday :)

check out my profile @JessicaMorel0 for more stories. I have quite a few completed ones, others that are updating regularly and others that are coming soon :)