Psalms 42 || Tori Kelly

Just Being Dad

continued

Irie packed a duffel bag as her father stood at her door with his arms folded, pissed. "So, you're just going to leave? Not say, hey dad I'm going to Vegas with my friends for a week, you're just gone?" André fumed. The twenty-one-year-old rolled her eyes as she continued to throw things into her bag.

"Yes! I was just going to be gone because it seems like you don't care anyway, so why mention it? Mommy won't care!" Irie fought back, zipping up a portion of the duffel bag and moving to find pajamas.

"What are you talking about? I've cared about everything you've ever brought to me!" André replied, leaning against his daughter's door. With great force, Irie threw down a few t-shirts.

"Then why haven't we reschedule dinner with Reggie? We were supposed to talk a long time ago, but every time I bring it up, it's a bad time. And I've been respectful of everything that has come up, but I'm over it! Reggie and I had something important we wanted to tell you and Mommy, but the time is coming closer, and honestly, it just needs to be said," Irie prompted. André's heart raced at the possibilities of things that could come out of his daughter's mouth at that given moment. And even though pregnancy was a very low chance, André couldn't help but silently hyperventilate at the thought of another child coming into his home out of wedlock or with financial support. However, he let Irie continue before drawing too many conclusions. "Reggie and I are getting married this summer after graduation, and we're moving to Pheonix with his Aunt and Uncle," Irie announced. André went silent, trying to let that process, but it wasn't sinking well.

"You're what? When was this decided?" He asked. Irie took a minute to open her bedroom side table and pull out the engagement ring she had been hiding.

"He asked me in September. I just haven't said anything, because we wanted to tell you together. But, since that isn't looking like an option, there you go," she muttered, slipping her ring on and continuing to pack. André folded out of the doorway and started to move up the stairs.

With his face flushed and eyes wide, André sat at the island, quietly as Tori made dinner. The occupied mom, turned around, not having heard her husband sit down, and jumped. "Dré! you scared me," she breathed, holding her chest. When he didn't react, Tori took a closer look at her husband, noticing his confused and airy disposition. "Baby, what's wrong?" she asked, turning back to her vegetables, as their oldest came up the stairs with her bag. "Where you going, babe?" Tori asked. With a groan and almost evil glance to her father, Irie dropped her bag and moved to her purse.

"Vegas. Kya, Reggie, Kya's cousin, Max, and I are going for a week," she said, driving her hand into the bag and snatching her keys from the bottom.

"Oh, okay. Well, text me when you get there. You know the rules, be safe," Tori reminded, going back to what she was doing.

"See! Mommy! A good parent. Bye," Irie responded, before shuffling out of the house. Silence filled the air once more before Tori glanced back to see her husband glaring at her.

"I'm sorry, did I miss something?" Tori asked, turning off the eye under her cooked rice.

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe, just the fact that our daughter is getting married and moving to Pheonix this summer!" André yelled as if this was somehow Tori's fault.

"Uhh, okay. I'm still not understanding the anger," she replied. "She's grown. I'm happy for she and Reggie. I just wish I could've got to hear it from her and her excitement and not you and whatever this is," the singer mumbled.

"Whatever this is?" André freaked, throwing his arms around and hopping from the stool. "Are you not listening? Irie is moving to Pheonix this summer with Reggie!" He yelled with even more emphasis.