My Secret

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

I frowned as I walked up to my house and realized that mom's car wasnt in the driveway yet. Thats funny, I thought, it was well pass 9 already. I hoped dad wouldn't be mad at me for coming home a little late.

"Daddy?" I called out as I stepped inside. All the lights were off except for a glimmer in the kitchen and I realized that he had light up candles. I entered the kitchen and turned on the light, "Dad?" I frowned when I saw him at the dinner table, candles were lit, there was plates with food untouched in front of him, what the hell?

He smiled sadly "Oh, hey there sweetie, I didn't hear you" he sat up. 

"What happened? Why are you sitting here by yourself in the dark?" I asked walking up to the table. He had set up two plates but neither was touched.

"No reason," he shrugged standing up and blowing out the candles.

"Where's mom? I thought you guys were having dinner?" I asked confused. It looked wonderful! He had even taken the liberty of bringing out the cheesecake which looked marvelous. He had a little banner on the ceiling which said 'Welcome Home'.

"Mom called, she said she was back in town but that she would go out to dinner with a couple of her friends" he replied a little quietly.

My mouth popped open, "She didn't come home to eat dinner?" I repeated.

He shrugged "No, its okay I guess, she needs time with her friends" he said picking up the plates.

My heart immediately clenched, "But dad..." I stared at him, he looked upset, and of course how could he not be? He had freaking cooked dinner for her and she didn't even bother to show up? "How was studying with Carly?" he tried changing the subject.

I felt my blood boil a little, that was so typical of mom! Dad tries to do something nice for her and she blows him off and decides to go with her friends instead? She hadn't seen us in a week! And it sucked because he had been so excited too! "You didn't even eat dad!" I frowned.

"I wasn't very hungry," he said grabbing the other plate and about to toss it back to the pans. I grabbed his arm, "Let's eat together, I'll eat with you" I said before I could stop myself. I gulped immediately, shit why had I said that?

He stopped and flickered his eyes to me, "You want to?" he asked giving me a hint of a smile.

I sighed inwardly, I shouldn't really eat, but God he looked so upset, I hated to see the sad eyes, how he tried to hide it, I put a smile on my face "Yes daddy, of course I do! I want to try your food" I said swallowing my panic. I would just run tomorrow for sure!

Ten miles, my inner voice snapped.

Dad's face transformed, he got a huge smile on his face and grabbed the plates heating up the food, "That's great! You can tell me how it tastes" he said making me sigh, the calories would be worth it. I realized I would do anything to make him smile, dad was just a great human, when did mom stop realizing it?

Great, I thought, how many calories are in lasagna? Oh shit, I groaned internally, I would have to eat some cheesecake! Would he believe me if I excused myself from dessert? I could always say it was too late right?

We sat together and ate, and I had to admit, it tasted so wonderful! It was the first proper meal I had eaten in the whole week, come to think, this was the first thing I ate other than a salad or a fruit. Like I had predicted, dad made me had two servings, he said it looked like I hadn't eaten in days, which made me laugh, if only he knew how right he was.