Running to Willow

Chapter 3: Bye Bye Daddy

The trip and the Dad's reaction to it was never mentioned or spoke of the next following days. As long as Robert's family was home to support him every night, he was okay. But, of course, there came a time when Faith's parents bumped heads again. The job as President of Melior was getting heavy. A tragic hurricane had hit on its South side of Melior, out of danger of the Pollocks, but the massive storm caused enough chaos for people to be mad. Angry letters were sent to the President each day about how he should be doing his job and how severe the damage is. Robert was working so much that no one in the Pollock's house knew when he left and when he returned. Faith began to worry that he had been taken. "Is Daddy disappeared?" she asked. As her dad vanished without seeming to come home for weeks at a time tantrums to have her dad with her became more frequent. People were starting protesting against the new President of Melior for not doing anything about the hurricane unaware of his hard work. Faith's dad, to prevent these protests was forced to go to the office even more after this. Now Faith would cry on the nightly. Nicole hated to see her daughter cry, but Robert had agreed to pay for Faith's preschool so Nicole feared one more argument would make him not pay. Faith had her tryout to get into Taught Toddlers on her 4th birthday exactly and was so excited to meet other children and be taught by a teacher other than her mom. Faith was still nervous walking into the tryout area though.
"You will do great," her mom whispered in her ear as she embraced her in a hug.
Trying not to get her hopes up Faith talked in full sentences, spelled, and demonstrated her math capabilities. However, when they asked for a complete sentence answer about her parents and their jobs Faith could easily answer about her mother, "She takes care of me as a job," but talking about her dad was difficult. "He is the President. I don't see him. Wish I did." Faith's sentences began to be shaky, and her grammar got mixed up with her emotions "Love him. Come home." Once the first tear slid down her cheek the rest would not be stopped. Hearing and knowing Faith's cry Nicole sprinted into the tryout room.
    "Honey, what is wrong?"
    "N-n-nothing!" She whimpered through her tears.
    "You may leave now, Pollocks. We will consider your daughter for Taught Toddlers." the booming voice coming from around the room echoed. As Faith and her mom walked out of the preschool, the Mom commented, "I didn't realize people watched through the cameras and talked through the microphones. I assumed someone would be there with you. There was no one to comfort you was there?" Faith shook her head. The Mom turned the car on, and they drove off. "You can tell me now, what happened if you want to..." the Mom said.
    "Asked about dad," Faith replied. The Mom nodded, it was what she assumed. "Miss him so much!" Faith yelled letting another rainstorm on tears shower down her face.
    "I do too." Mom said glumly. Without Robert home soon Faith would have a tear stained face all the time. Taught Toddlers wouldn't accept that. It will be lucky if she gets in after what just happened Nicole thought. With a sharp turn, Nicole pulled into the 7 Domum Lane driveway. As she stopped the car Faith's mom pulled Faith into her arms. "It will get better." Yet another memory Faith would remember no matter how old.
    After tucking Faith into bed and soothing her out of crying, Nicole settled herself down on the couch, determined not to fall asleep and ready for a long night. Hours passed of waiting and waiting until the door was opened by a man even Nicole hadn't seen in days. His face was dark, wrinkled and sagging. Lack of sleep had his eyelids squinted and legs shaky. His back hunched as he put his suitcase down and made his way over to the couch. He collapsed, head on Nicole's lap. He did not react to her presence. Nicole let her husband sleep a while as she watched the nightly news to get some idea of what Robert had to deal with at work that day. More protests, more screaming, more stomping, more rallying. At two in the morning, Robert woke up.
    "Thank you," he whispered weakly, "so there must be a reason you stayed up all night."
    "I wanted to talk to you," said Nicole. "We need you home more often."
    "I want to be home more often, don't you see that?!"
    "I know, but it is worse than you thought. I miss you of course, but Faith cries every night."
    The Dad's face became soft, "What should I do?"
    "Quit your job!" said the Mom irritated
    "What?!" screamed the Dad shocked. "And why in the world would I do that?"
    "Because your family misses you, that is why!"
    "Nicole, I will be home sooner than you think."
    "What I thought was I would still get to see you every night, not at two in the morning after five days! You will ask to get a smaller job in the government."
    "You don't control me! I can do what I want!"
    "And be a self-centered person who only cares about work not family, fine!"
    "That is not me."
    "Then why don't you care that our daughter has breakdowns every day because you are not here?"
    Faith awoke upstairs, again, struggling to understand, but knowing her parents were yelling. "I do care..." the Dad whimpered.
    "Then why can't you quit your job for your daughter?" the Mom asked, lowering her voice.
    "It doesn't work like that," Robert mumbled.
    "Honey, you're overreacting! Family or job?!" the Mom said frustrated.
    "Job."
    The Mom paced around the couch. Both of them were standing up now. "I can't live like this if this is you."
    "Will you let me explain?!"
    "Your a cold, selfish, ugly, work-loving idiot!"
    The Dad scoffed, "Well, last time I checked I used to be the idiot you were in love with!"
    "I made a mistake. Robert, don't you get it! When you have a family that is your priority!"
    "The only reason I said job was because if you don't work, you can't have a family! You can't afford one!"
    "Your lying! You're just in love with your boss. You're in love with the publicity and the people! It's all you crave, support, yet you deny some from your family! It is why you are so messed up right now! You are not getting the good support you put over everything else! I have known you too long Robert. If this isn't fixed soon, I am leaving." With the baby, she thought.