Four Letter Word..

Chapter Twenty Four

The next morning I went into the Kitchen to find Penny and Kevin sat at the table. Stacey hadn't come down from her room yet leaving me to deal with her parents wrath "Morning" I greeted as pleasantly as I could muster. Kevin just waved from behind the Saturday morning paper. Penny however was giving me a hard stare before finally saying good morning "What would you like for Breakfast? You've got a busy day ahead of you" she asked as she stood up
"Toast is fine" I told her and she started getting stuff out to make pancakes with. Stacey walked into the Kitchen in her dressing gown "Hey" she sat down beside me "Has she had a go at you yet?" she whispered across at me
"Not yet... I asked for toast but she's making pancakes?" I whispered
"Well if pancakes are the punishment I think we've done pretty well" she told me as Penny placed a pile of pancakes on the table "I've been thinking about it and I've decided that after today you're both grounded for a week"
"What about cheer?" Stacey asked
"You can go to cheer... And Kat when you want to see your Mom I'll be the one coming with you" "But we're not grounded today?" I questioned her
"I'm not going to stop your Father from coming to see you. And I'm going to meet with Billy's Father" I parted my lips
"Why?" I asked her as Stacey put some pancakes onto a plate for me
"Because we need to come up with a way to stop you and Billy seeing each other" my heart started racing as I thought about Billy's Dad's threat about sending him away to a military school some place. That would definitely prevent us from seeing each other. I grabbed the syrup "Is this meeting already set up?" I asked Penny
"Not yet. Now hurry up and eat so I can get the place cleaned before your Dad arrives"

()()()()()()()

By the afternoon my Father had arrived. I thought he was coming alone but Carol's eldest Son Joe who I'd met previously had come along to "Please, come inside" Penny told them both as they stood on the door step. She took them through to the sitting room where Stacey and her Father were sat and everyone introduced themselves "How have things been kid?" My Dad asked me as Penny shot off to the Kitchen to make coffee "Things have been pretty good" I told him "I hope you're ok with Joe coming along, he was going to be on his own all weekend and let's just say he has a history of throwing huge parties when me and his Mother are out of town" I smirked as I looked over at him. Stacey was already chatting happily with him and asking him loads of questions... Just like the first time we met Billy. "So whats the plan?" I turned back to him "Well once Penny has finished being the perfect hostess I thought maybe we could go to the Diner in town and have lunch? There's someone I want you to meet" he raised an eyebrow "Just don't tell Penny we're meeting anyone" I informed him
"Now I'm intrigued kid" Penny re entered the room with a tray of coffee cups and I snuck upstairs to call Billy to meet us at the Diner in an hour.

()()()()()()()

Billy was already here when we arrived at the Diner. Joe had tagged along with us but I didn't mind so much, I don't think I trusted leaving him at home with Stacey anyway. Billy stood up when he saw us enter and I went over and hugged him "Dad, Joe this is my Boyfriend Billy" Billy smiled back at my Dad but his face fell slightly when he saw Joseph "Billy Hargrove, I wondered if I'd be seeing you. I think I have you to thank for reuniting me with my Daughter" Billy looked away from Joe to smile at my Father who hugged him unexpectedly. I narrowed my eyes at Joe, he was still giving Billy the stink eye so I didn't catch his attention. When we all sat down I sat next to Billy in the booth and my Dad sat opposite me leaving Joe to sit facing Billy. I cleared my throat as Billy handed out the menus "So you two know each other?" I questioned. They looked across at each other "We went to school together in Cali" Joe answered
"And why are you not pleased to see each other? Joe why didn't you mention you knew Billy?" We'd spoken about Billy on his front porch when we were smoking out there "Can we talk about this later Kat" Billy mumbled beside me as he stared down at the menu. I looked across at my Dad who was also looking down at the menu. He looked up at me and smiled "Have whatever you want guys. This is my treat" he told us and I smiled back at him.