The Baron and his Lady

Six: Friend

"You okay sweetie?" I heard my dad's voice, he was standing by door. His face showed deep sadness. We are so alike.

"I'll be.." I said as I rose from the chair.

"Listen, if you wanna go home I'd understand. I know you're mom don't want you here with me." Dad held my chin gently, so that he can see my face.

I tried to smile, "And she doesn't like your project. But I'm staying, Dad."

"I knew you'd say that, you are my girl after all." He draw me close and kissed my forehead. If only I could stay in his arms forever, I wouldn't feel any sadness anymore.

"I don't know about you Dad but, I think we gotta eat something.."

He laughed, it was a carefree sound. "And that is why you're my girl! Always hungry like Daddy!" He tousled my hair and led me out. We closed the study and he let keep the keys. I truly feel like a guardian now.

Kitchen
"Oh, good. You're back," Louie was in the kitchen making spaghetti.

"I didn't know you can cook.." I said as I slid into a chair. The Kelly's made good renovation here, there was a stove and oven.

"You don't know a lot of things about me," again with those commercial smiles, "You'll be surprised if you try and find out."

Gosh, he's flirting with me isn't he? Can I remind him I'm still 17?

"I supposed I could try." I didn't want to be rude, but Dad will be here. He'll cut it out.

"Wanna bet?" He said.

Oh, he did not cut it out. Time to bring the trump card.

"What will Dad say, huh?"

That got to him, I knew because he stiffened. He gave a nervous laugh.

"I was just joking kiddo." He said this without facing me, now he calls me a kid. Ha! Coward.

Dad arrived with the soda and ice. He chopped it expertly. You'd think he used to be a bartender but really he's just good at cutting ice.

"Where'd you get the ice Dad?"

"The fridge..." he pointed behind me. Of course, there's electricity here so why not appliances?

"Wow. I did not expect that." I popped the soda and filled my glass, I was thirsty. "I mean, no one uses the house but they add all these stuff."

"You can talk to Tristane more about that, he did promise to call on you." Patrick teased like an old geezer. I rolled my eyes at him.

"You make it sound like he's a morning caller and I am a lady." I downed my soda, I reached for another one but Dad stopped me.

"But you are a lady, you have the face and the humour for it.." his hand held the soda bottle, clearly he's not gonna give it to me unless I have food first. "You just don't act like one sometimes."

"Dad please, we aren't of noble birth. How am I gonna get a rich husband?" I tried to play it out with him, like we used to do. Before their divorce.

"Not of noble birth—" he acted hurt, his hands on his chest. "My dear child, you do not know how noble you are."

"I mean literally." I began playing with my glass, the ice was melting.

He smiled, "No we aren't. Emotionally, you are very noble my dear. You are my princess, that makes you a royalty."

As if on cue, Louie carried the spaghetti on the table. "And here your majesty, is your dinner." That got us laughing.

We shared the food and realised we were all starving. It took several minutes before we began talking again.