MIXED EMOTIONS

24. DADDY'S LITTLE GIRL

I tossed and turned most of the night. All I could think about was Kristian, Kristian, Kristian. How was I supposed to break up with Jayden. I was growing attached to him. I wanted to be with him. But I needed to stop being so in denial about my feelings for Kristian. 

When I looked at the alarm clock on my nightstand, it read. 8 A.M. I normally don't get up this early, but my body was not letting me sleep whatsoever. 

I got up, made the bed and ended up cleaning the whole room. When I was finished, it was 9 A.M. on the dot. Since both my mom and Charles were home and still asleep, I decided to make breakfast. My mother came downstairs on cue as I layed the towering stack of blueberry pancakes, eggs, bacon, grits and orange on the table. 

"Oooh! Smells so good in here! You cooked all of this?" She beamed. 

I smiled. "Yeah, and good morning to you too." 

"Sorry. Good Morning, sweety." She said kissing my cheek. She was in good mood this morning. It's been a while. Charles came behind her and wrapped his arms around her wait ans kissed her cheek. "Good morning, honey." Is it just me or are they acting really strange? As if my mother wasn't broken a couple weeks ago, cause Charles obviously wanted a divorce. Okay. 

We all sat down at the table, said grace and we all started digging in. I must say, I made a really good breakfast and I got praise for it. 

While my mother and I were cleaning up and washing dishes, I took advantage of her good mood to ask her the question that's been on my mind since this morning.

"So, um, are you and Charles back together? Or..." I trailed off. 

She sighed and didn't respond. So I tried a different approach. "Mom, I just want to know if everything's okay with you guys." 

"Chanel, I'll be fine. We'll be fine. We decided to go to marriage counseling, to see if it will help. In the meantime, there's nothing to worry about and stay out of grown folk's business." She laughed. and I did too. 

"Okay, ma. Whatever you say." She hugged me for what seemed like forever. When we pulled apart, she asked if I  wanted to go shopping with her. Which was something we never did together. But, of course I took up the offer. Shopping would get my mind off things. At least for a little while. 

                                                                                ~~~

I was dressed and ready to go shopping when the doorbell rung. I went downstairs and opened the door. 

It was my father. Lord knows I did not want to deal with him right now or anytime soon. "So, you don't know how to answer your phone when I call you anymore?" He said coming into the house. 

"Nope." I replied, popping the P. 

"What do you mean, 'nope'? Where have you been?" 

"I've been here. Why?" I shrugged. 

"Why? I'll tell you why. You have some apologizing to do. To me and to Melanie. I would not-" 

"Apologize to who?  For what?" I raised my voice, since he thought it was okay to raise his. 

"You're rude and disrespectful and I would not tolerate it!" He yelled. 

"I am NOT rude and disrespectful and I will NOT apologize for anything I didn't do!" I yelled back. And as soon as those words came out of my mouth, his hard hands her swept across my face. I held my face. The side of my face burned and I was pretty sure it was beet red and bruised.