This Too Shall Pass

Chapter 17

I sit on the couch watching Divergent with a half asleep Annabelle resting on my shoulder. She looks peaceful and happy, something I haven't seen in 5 months since Annabelle's pregnancy started. Mark strokes her hair slowly. Amy is snuggled up next to me with her arm around me. I feel like a part of this family.

I've made friends at my new school. Ren, Clara, Dan, and Kaitlyn. Baby Tim is on the way, Bambi and Bean are doing just fine, Daddy is coming home in a month. I can't process that. One month until he comes home! I've been living in LA for 8 months now, that's insane!

I smile as I think about seeing Daddy's smile again, how he will dye his hair back to green and grow it out, how he will engulf me in his hug that feels as though I am back in my room curled up under the blankets, warm and safe. How he will laugh with me again and I'll sit behind the camera when he records again. How he'll keep teaching me Irish and how to play the drums. How I'll wake up to him yelling again, and coming home to see him standing at the kitchen counter, scrolling through Twitter or Instagram and look up just to ask me how my day was. How he'll listen to my problems and offer his shoulder for me to cry on.

I really, really, miss him.

Pretty soon my eyelids feel heavy and I lean against Amy, who smiles sweetly at me.

Then I kind of drift into darkness. A sweet, dreamless, sleep.

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Mark shakes me awake, I am on the couch covered by a blanket that smells like Amy.

"Claire, get ready... we're going somewhere in an hour!"

I rub my eyes groggily but slowly sit up, groaning as the cold air hits my body. Mark chuckles and lends me a hand off the couch. He smiles and puts his hands on my shoulders, just looking at me.

"Is my hair really that bad?" I say with a bored attitude. He chuckles and shakes his head.

"You're fine, just go eat some breakfast, I brought you some clothes so ya can just change down here instead of going up 2 flights of stairs to your room." He then sighs and hugs me tightly. I am confused at first but then ease into the scent of his cologne and the warmth of his body. I've begun to think of Mark as my father. He slowly steps back from the embrace and I reluctantly do the same, I turn to see a pile of clothes. Just a simple black hoodie with the words 'I AM FREAKING COLD!!!' In white lettering, blue skinny jeans, and a new bra, underwear, socks, and a pad.

How does he know I'm on mine? Damn he's good.

-TIMESKIP BROUGHT TO YOU BY MY BROTHER WHO IS BANGING ON A WALL-

When I get upstairs, Amy is setting some pancakes onto the table. Mark comes up behind her and hugs her from the back, she breathes in slowly and Mark buries his face into her neck. It's adorable how much they love each other.

They kind of remind me of Signe and Daddy....

I miss them...