Fiction.

Chapter 25: Trust.

Chapter 25: Trust.

The calm water was soothingly rolling from the shore. I heard the wild life calling to me as the day wore out and the night called us to come and play. The sun was hidden behind the Ackers of trees that had bright green leaves fluttering carefully in the warm breezes. My gaze ran the tree line to see the sun’s orange rays falling low and the stars becoming more visible. My sight fell down to the end of the dock where Peasnie sat in a pair of shorts and an orange tank top, her hair was tied up into a clip. She sat by herself happily while I sat in a fold out chair with a bottle of beer in my hand. The guys were joking around and having a good time at the lake house. It’s nothing much but it’s a nice.

We got here yesterday and today we spent cleaning things up and lounging around, Peasnie went for a hike. The heat from the fire made the heat from the day worse. Lacy was sitting on a tree stump beside me with a beer as well. She too, stared at Peasnie carefully. Lacy and Peasnie aren’t the best of friends, I don't expect them too. I can see why they don’t like each other. In Lacy’s eyes Peasnie is this intrusive teenage girl who stole all the attention from her. And in Peasnie’s eyes Lacy is trying to replace her mom. She’s the evil step mom and she doesn’t like that. And I’m caught in the middle trying to satisfy both of the demanding attention needs.

I sighed heavily while I pet Pinkly happily. At least she wasn’t flipping out in my arms again. I pet the curly haired dog lightly as it sat in my lap. Lacy looked at me with doughy eyes and a slight frown. Her skin was brightened by the white tee shirt and the summery knee length skirt she was wearing. She raised an eye brow and examined my face.

“I don’t want her to think I’m the evil step mom.” Lacy’s voice was sympathetic and soft. I nodded slightly with a little amount of surprise.

“You’re not the evil step mom though.” I muttered with a gravely voice.

“She thinks I am though.” She hissed at me with a nasally voice. I shook my head.

“She’s not used too having girls around her that’s all.” I tried to make Lacy feel better but I knew she wasn’t going to buy it. Lacy shook her head and sighed.

“She’s taken to Val, Michelle and Gena like they’re her mother. I’m her step mom and she and I have nothing in common.” Lacy muttered back to me. I frowned sadly knowing it was true. They had absolutely nothing in common. Peasnie is a 90’s punk rocker while Lacy is a super model. Lacy is girly girl while Peasnie is a daddy’s girl who is a kick ass drummer. They have nothing to talk about.

She frowned slightly before tipping her head back and gulping down the last of the beer. She got up and walked down the dirt pathway to the docks. I watched as Peasnie became stiff and aware. Johnny came over to me and watched the girls carefully.

“Do you think they’ll ever accept each other?” He asked with a weary voice that sounded childish. I sighed heavily, letting my back sink into the chair further. I sipped the drink slowly, hesitated when they looked at each other carefully, I swear if I wasn’t here watching them they’d rip each other apart. I looked at Johnny with a truthful answer.

“They’re both very unpredictable, I don’t know.” I replied. I knew that if they didn’t get along that I’d need to get my priorities straightened out. I hate the idea of this but if they don’t start getting along I’m going to need to choose. You’d think it’d be easy peasy for this choice but in reality it’s not. I’m head over heels in love with Lacy, I’m going to ask her to marry me soon and I want to start a family with her. But Peasnie is my daughter. She’s my everything, if it weren’t for her I wouldn’t be in the place I am right now.

Parents teach their kids, molding them into adults and making them the best they can be but what most people don’t know is, kids teach their parents as well. Peasnie has taught me the true value of family, she’s taught me the value of hard work and how we take everyday things for granted. I didn’t like school before she was born but when she was with me I had to go to school. I did the best I could and that’s paid off so well.

“If it comes down to it, who would you choose?” Johnny asked quietly.

“Peasnie.” I replied truthfully. I was making the right decision on this. Girlfriends can be replaced, daughters can’t. They were talking for quit awhile before I got up from the chair and quietly made my way down to the end of the dock in a pair of board shorts and a tee shirt. I heard my name being called back to me; I turned to see everyone looking at me with wide eyes.

“Let them solve this themselves.” Michelle said to me, Brian nodded in agreement.

“I can’t just let them sit there and talk, I need to be apart of it too.” I replied.

“It’s their problem, let them solve it.” Gena added to Michelle’s statement. I shook my head and sighed.

“I can’t.” I replied before walking down to the end of the dock. Peasnie has gotten some colour on her skin but it didn’t hide the scars on her arms. I walked down to the bottom of the docks; they both faced me which forced a natural smile onto my face. I sat down between them happily, wrapping one arm around each of them.

“How are my two favourite girls?”I asked curiously. Peasnie smiled sweetly at me.

“Good, I was just talking to Lacy.” Peasnie replied with a upbeat tone. I felt my smile grow bigger as I raised both my eye brows in surprise; I was actually really surprised by this. I looked over at Lacy. I can actually see us starting to be a family. It’s amazing to know that in the end I won’t need to choose.

“What were you two talking about?” I questioned. Peasnie looked passed me with a shy smile.

“I’m going to let Lacy be my step mom. I may not like the idea but I’m willing to give her a chance.” Peasnie replied with a proud tone. I smiled widely and kissed the top of her head and chuckled lively. Was this actually happening? Did my daughter, the girl who hates my soon to be fiancée really just say that? I’m in shock; they’re actually going to try. I know this isn’t going to last but it’s nice to hear the verbal commitment.