Time and Time Again

Chapter 17

    I sat at the table that morning beside Hanna and Maggie. I scooped up the eggs and picked at the waffles in front of me. We leave tomorrow so my dad and Mya are throwing us a party. Which is nice. I am introducing him to Holden, too.

   My dad was very protective of me when it came to boys. In first grade, there was this boy named Frankie at my bus stop. When I was waiting for the bus, I talked to him. But my dad thought he was going to steal me away and we would get married at eight.  He stood right inbetween Frankie and me.

    "How are my eggs?" Mya asked pouring me some orange juice.

    "Great, I like them." I smiled and ate another bite of them.

    Hanna nudged me under the table and looked at me, then my phone, then me again. I looked at my phone and a message popped up from Holden. I snatched my iPhone off the table and unlocked the screen.

       'Hey Sara, I am all packed. What time do we leave 2morrow?' 

    I tapped the tiny letters on the screen. 'we leave at 7. Party tonight, be there. look good. I am introducing you to my dad. :)' I sent the text and kept my phone on my lap.

    I finished my breakfast and sat my plate and cup in the sink.

   "I'm going to go shower." I said to my dad who was reading the sports section of the newspaper.

   "Ok, when you are done I have something for you to wear." He said not looking up from the paper.

   I ran upstairs and grabbed a towel and washcloth. I stripped from my tank top and shorts and hopped into the white tub. I ran my watermelom and berry scent shampoo through my blonde hair. I rinsed it out and put conditioner in. I rinsed that out and washed my body.

   I shaved my legs and underarms and then turned the water off. I opened the curtain and grabbed my pink towel that sat on the sink. I dried off and pulled my hair up in the towel to dry. I grabbed my blue and green robe off the back of the door and swung it around my bare body. 

   I rushed downstairs to see my father holding a red, short dress. It was silk on the bottom layer, and a net looking floral layer over it. The top part of the dress was gorgeous. It had a ribbon going around the waist and and it tied in the back with a bow. Lace was around the neck of the dress. It was a low setting collar.

    I walked in awe over to him and hugged him. "Dad, how much did this cost you?"

   "Doesn't matter. It is yours and yours to keep." He kissed the top of my head as I released from the hug. I took the hanger and held it up to me.

   "Thank you." I looked at it for a minute or two and when I looked up I saw Mya behind him with a box. It was a blue velvet. "What's that?"

   "Yours." She said handing it to me and hugging my father's arm.

   I took it and opened it. A silver chain with a red S dangling from it sat in the box with a note that read:

           To my dearest stepdaughter, I love you and I hope we can be family. This necklace is a symbol of your maturity and also your youth. When you wear this, think of me, your father and this day. The day you have felt the most like family to me so far.

                                                                       Love, Mya

   "Thank you Mya." I lunged forward and hugged her. I wiped a tear from my cheek. "I love you, too."

   "Go get dressed and ready for your party. It starts in two hours." My father said.

   I hugged them both once again and ran upstairs to get into my new dress.