Deliver Me To Evil

Family Reunion... Almost

My dad guides my mom and I to the dinner table. My mom hasn't stopped staring at him, and touching his arms and face, as if she is still trying to decide whether or not he is actually here.

I, however am just waiting for him to disappear again.

"I can't tell you how much I missed you guys. I thought about you all every day while I was away." My dad says.

My mom finally breaks out of her daze. "And where was that?" She asks him. She stares hard into his face, daring him to lie to her. I shift my gaze from her face to his, wondering if he will actually say where he went this time.

 "I..." He sighs. "You know that I can't tell you that. I'm so sorry, but it's not my jurisdiction to say. I am really sorry, my love... I've missed you so much." He grabs hold of my hands, and I had to consciously tell myself not to pull away." He gazes into my eyes for a moment, but his face changes to confusion.

"What, what is it, dad?" I ask.

"It's, um... Nothing, I just... uh, wh-where's Luke?" My dad responds. He lets go of my hands and his eyes sweep the room, as if my big brother were hiding in a corner as my dad was earlier.

"He went to a party last night." I reply. "I think he stayed the night. He wasn't at school."  My father smiled.

 "I see. Well make sure he is alright. Tell him to come home soon. Tell him I miss him."

What? He isn't mad? Usually he would flip out if Luke even left the toilet seat up, but now it's okay for him to sneak out, go to a party AND skip school? Something is wrong here...

"You aren't angry?" I give my mother a quick glance. She looks livid. My dad looks from my confused face to my mom's angry one, and stumbles his words.

"I- well, of course, but I have been away so long... He may not take too kindly for me to yell at him when I have been away... Um... He- he will be punished of course... I am angry that he disobeyed your mother... uh, but I do miss him..." He nervously trails off. What is his problem?

"I'll text him..." I say. Mom gives me a curt nod and stares again at my father.

"Billitrix, will you go to your room, please? I would like to speak to your father." I nod and rise out of my seat. My father raises his arms to embrace me. He give me a hug and a kiss on my forehead. As I walk to my room, a thought entered my mind that felt like it wasn't my own, 'That is not my father'.

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 I text my brother's phone.

"Hey, where r u?" I hesitate a moment and type,

"Luke, dad's home...something's wrong... answer quick, k?"

I sit on my bed and group text Dan and Le-Ann.

Me-"hey guys."

Dan- "Hey, Billi, what's up?"

Me- "something big. so...guess what?"

Le-"Hey, what?"

Me- "My dad's home."

Dan- "Really?? That's great!"

Le- "Wow Billi, im so happy for you!!"

Me- "yeah, thx... "

Le- Billi, what's the matter?"

Dan- "you aren't happy?"

Me- "yeah, of course, but... idk something's... off..."

Dan- "Wdym?"

Me- "like... idk, he seems... different... he isn't acting right.

Le- "well, maybe something happened to him?"

Le- "you should ask."

Dan- "well he was away for a long time... maybe he changed?"

Me- "a few months isn't going to change someone so much. like, I told him Luke has been out since last night, and he SMILED"

Le- "woah... that's not him at all... I've seen him yell at luke for close to nothing."

Dan- "well maybe he just misses you guys."

Me- " Idk, but imma go to bed. ill ttyl."

Le- "K, night. lysm! "

Dan- "good night. txt if you need anything."

Me- Thx, guys. night."

Luke- "I'm omw."

Me- "you're in trouble, jsyk."

Luke- "k. thanx."

  

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