"Okay popcorn?"
"Check!"
"Alright does everyone have a bubbly, sugary beverage?"
"Got it!"
"Oh yeah! How about candy? Soph do you have the skittles?"
"I have the berry and the regular dad."
"Well that leaves blankets, pajamas, and fuzzy socks... Do we-"
"Yes dad we do now sit down before the movie starts." I roll my head back and dramatically pat the spot next to me. The movie room is in the basement and wasn't over the top like the rest of the house. Dad designed it because it was made for his sunday football games anyway. The walls are a nice yellow with warm deep wood and black accents. There are cut outs where the wall is colored cream to match the cream carpet. Lights are dramatically placed around the border of the room to add that special movie theater lighting. Two rows of recliner chairs and couches sit on the back wall while a projector screen stands in front of them. Dad put curtains up to frame the screen and had a projector placed at the top of the ceiling.
I sat on the chair in one of my dads old T-shirts that got ruined a few years ago with pink paint. I don't really remember much of my childhood but I do know that this shirt was apart of it. It was a normal grey undershirt that I am sure dad has worn on countless occasions before it got a hole in the armpit. I wore it when we first painted my room pink and ever since then it has been in my life. I remember Mom trying to get me to let go of it, even just to wash it. Mom and Dad both tried to get me different shits. Cleaner shirts. But I didn't want those. This shirt smells like memories and home. I am only allowed to wear it inside the house due to the fact that it is covered in so many stains but that's okay. It's mine. It's me. Everyone needs that shirt.
Dad sat down finally with huff and scooted closer to me laying his arm around the back of our seat to place his hand on mom's shoulder "nice shirt". I smiled and threw one of the many blankets we have stored down here over his lap and leaned against his side. "So what movie have we decided on?' mama asks while she stuffs her face with popcorn.
"Well I thought we could watch Saw II" my dad smiles while scrolling through the Ipad that was hooked up to be a remote.
"No!"
"Not a chance Caden!"
"Well how about Jeepers Creepers?" he suggests again.
"How about no horror movies or anything rated R yeah babe?" My mom pinches dad's arm and smiles sweetly at him. This is not the spot I was to be in... in between the two of them,,, while we argue over movies. Slowly I creep my body down in the seat while mom and dad have a weird smile stare off. This is too awkward. I think I might die.
"How about The Lion King?" I ask while halfway off the couch. Looking up I see them both looking down at me.
"I guess The Lion King could work." Mom smiles at me and reaches over to steal the Ipad from dad.
"Whatever you two girls are scaredy cats." Dad laughs and I slither back up to my spot and lean back against dad while laying my feet over moms lap.
................
"You need to tell her Cade. She needs to know sooner than later." Embry said quietly. Soph passed out a while ago with her head in my lap, legs over my wife's. We slowly moved on from the movie to the night time talk shows.
Taking a deep breath in I nod "I know Em, I just need time to explain things properly to her." closing my eyes for a second I have to decompress from all the stresses of the day. Work, Stein, Sophie, Sophia's future. It becomes a lot after a while.
"You know there is never a good time to tell her these things. I mean it's mid September and the second quarter begins in October. You need to tell her soon so I can take her shopping." Em carries on. Raising both of my hands to my face I rub off the day's stresses.
"What if she isn't ready? Sure she is only going half days and will have a personal bodyguard to keep her safe. But are we really sure she is ready for this?" Squeezing my eyes tighter I finally open them to see a soft blue glow on my wife's face. Looking to see my daughter I can tell she is in a peaceful sleep. I don't want that to be ruined my some social experience. My daughter gets enough of a social life now. She doesn't need the stress of being put in a situation that could turn ugly quickly.
"Caden, Sophia needs to be social with kids her age. Not businessmen, lawyers, and secretaries. She needs to expand her horizons. You can't keep her all to yourself. Sophia is only going to be gone from eight in the morning to noon. After that she'll be brought to your work and spend the rest of the day with you." She smiles at me and runs her hand up my arm in hopes to relax me. "See! Everything will be fine. She will do great. Tell her tomorrow yeah?" with that Embry lifts off Sophs legs and heads upstairs, most likely to our bedroom. She left without giving me any kind of wiggle room Groaning I lay my head back and look at the black ceiling.
Oh God what am I going to do?
Taking a deep breath I look back at my sleeping daughter. She has her hair in her face and a little bit of drool coming out of her mouth. Yep, she's definitely my daughter. Pushing her hair behind her ear I slowly Lift her head up and slide my way out from under her. Standing up and stretching I lean backward and I can feel that satisfying pop. Sighing I pick up the empty bowls of food and place them on the table. Grabbing Sophia's blanket I lean down and life up Soph into my arms. She wrapped her arms around my neck and I smile as l shut the lights off leaving the theater room.
"Dad?" Sophia whispers as I head up the stairs to our main floor.
"Yes baby?" I whisper back. Walking through the kitchen I head towards the stairs to the second floor.
"What are we doing for the holidays?" Well that's an odd question.
"Well I figured that grandma and grandpa will come here like usual." I told her while focusing on the steps in front of me so I don't trip. That would be a big Dad Fail.
"What about Al and Collin? Will they come back for the holidays?" she says with her eyes still closed. I wonder if she really knows what she is talking about right now?
"Well if Collin wants to come then he can. He is our family." I say while turning the corner and heading down the hallway towards her bedroom.
"And Albert?" I freeze for a moment. What do I say? Invite my ex best friend to our holidays? God I feel like I am dealing with an actual breakup.
"Uhm Sophie it's really late. Let's talk about this a different time. Alright?" I ask as I tap open her door with my foot. All I heard was silence and I lift up her blanket and lay her down in her bed. Nothing was said between us as I kiss her head and walk to her door to leave. As I am closing it behind me I her her tired voice call out.
"Albert is our family too."
