MISSING YOU; Bradley Simpson

22.

BRAD

After a very very long night, I wake up in the hotel room next to a sleeping Evelyn. I smile to myself and scoot closer to her. Like she senses my closeness, she turns on her side and rests her head on my chest, wrapping an arm around me and intertwining her leg with mine. I look to the corner of the room, seeing our daughter sleeping peacefully in her crib. I can't wait to finally become Evelyn's husband and the father to Faith she deserves to have. I've been away for too long, but now that I got Evelyn back and a beautiful present from her, I swear I will never leave.

"Good morning," Eve startles me with her hoarse voice.

"Morning," I smile and kiss the top of her head. She leans her head back and smiles sleepily at me.

"Is Faith up?" she asks, not opening her eyes.

"No," I shake my head.

Just as Evelyn opens her eyes, Faith starts waking up too. She opens her eyes slowly, looking at both of us. She throws the pacifier out of her mouth and wipes her eyes.

"Daddy?" she looks at me and I stand up from the bed, walking over to her crib.

"Yes, baby?" I smile, kneeling down next to her.

"I am hungry," she states and I chuckle, taking her out of the crib and walking back to the bed.

Evelyn prepares the food for Faith and hands the small bowl to me. I place the small girl on my lap and start feeding her, making airplane noises, which entertain the little girl. I always thought I wouldn't ever be a good dad, that I will turn out like my father, but that will never happen. As soon as Evelyn told me that I have a daughter, I knew I needed to show her and myself that not every father is like mine or Evelyn's. That there are good dads out there and I will be one of them. This is exactly what I'm doing. Showing both of them that I won't end up like that sperm donor of mine, because he isn't worth calling a dad. He always used me and my sister, Nat for his own benefit. As soon as he got what he wanted, he didn't care about us until something else came to his mind. And we couldn't do anything, but oblige, or else he would beat us. And my idiot ass was still afraid of him at 20 years old, that's why I used Evelyn. But it turns out it wasn't a bad thing, because I experienced what real love is, I have a beautiful daughter and Evelyn will soon be my wife.

—

"Well, that was a long night," Maggie chuckles, joining us all in the hotel's lobby to check out.

"It sure was," her new husband agrees.

"You two disappeared quickly," she eyes me and Evelyn suspiciously.

"Faith was tired," I answer.

"I'm never going to drink again," James whines, stepping into our circle with Kirstie. We all laugh and check out of the rooms.

Everyone sits in their own cars and we drive back to Birmingham. The wedding was in London. Both Maggie and George wanted it to be in Birmingham, but they couldn't find the perfect place for the ceremony and the party after, so they searched in London for a good place, and found one eventually.

"Did you buy your dress yet?" I ask my fiancée as she finishes buckling Faith up and sits in the passenger side.

"Nope," she shakes her head. "I will, though, soon."

"Can I see it?" I raise an eyebrow, looking at her amused. I already know her answer, I just want to see her reaction.

"No!" she quickly objects. "That won't give us any luck."

"That's bullshit," I laugh and start the car, following Connor. Behind me are the newly weds, and James and Kirstie.

I turn up the radio slightly to have some music playing in the background while Faith and Evelyn quietly stare out the window. A song that I know Eve loves comes up and her eyes light up. She starts humming, tapping her finger on her thigh along to the rythm. I put my free hand on her thigh, intertwining our fingers and smiling as I listen to her angelic voice singing the lyrics to the song. I don't know what it's called, but Eve's voice fits it better than the actually singer's. It's unbelievable how this girl is so talented in many ways. She's a writer, she can sing, even dance. I'm so damn lucky to call her mine.

—

EVELYN

I begin writing my new book while Brad and Faith watch a cartoon in the living room. Suddenly, the doorbell rings and my head shoots up. I look into the living room, where Brad looks at me with a raised eyebrow.

"Are you waiting for someone?" he asks.

"No," I shake my head, standing up from the kitchen table and walking over to the front door.

I open the door, finding myself face to face with none other than my father. His beard is long, just like his hair and he looks dirty. And smells like shit, might I add.

"Evelyn!" he squeals, opening his arms and walking towards me. I put my hand on his chest, scrunching my nose.

"What the hell happened to you?" I look him up and down. His clothes are ripped at some places and are really dirty. I've never seen him like this.

"I lost everything," his eyes tear up and mine widen. What does he mean by that?

"What?" I furrow my eyebrows. Brad appears behind me, putting a hand on my shoulder protectively as he stares at the man in our front door, not recognizing him. How could he recognizie him? He only saw my father once and he definitely looked different than this.

"My company, my family, my house. It's all gone," the man starts crying and my heart sinks. I hate him, I always did, but seeing him this miserable and vulnerable is breaking my heart. He's my father, after all.

"Come in," I step out of the way. I exchange glances with Brad before leading the man into my living room, where Faith is sitting, watching the TV. She looks up at her grandfather and a scared expression appears on her small face. I quickly pick her up and hand her to Brad, who hurries towards the small girl's bedroom.

I let my father sit on the living chair next to the couch and I start questioning him. "What happened?"

"I messed up," he shakes his head, disappointed in himself.