for, liar

Chapter 11

I climb out of my seat and run after mom, followed by Maddy struggling to catch up after shoveling half a pancake down her throat. Dad rolls down the window of the truck and smiles. My mother's face burns, changing a few shades of red.

"Surprise!" He yells and jumps out of the driver's side onto the pavement.

My step mom is nowhere to be seen, which is unusual because she despises my father going anywhere without her, especially to my mother's house. He runs around and drops the back of the UHaul down. The entire back of the truck is filled with furniture I've never seen before. Brand new furniture.

"What is all this?" I ask and cross my arms.

Maddy's face lights up. She looks at my dad and then back at me.

"Is that a couch? We needed a couch!" She squeals and runs over to hug him.

He beams and embraces her tightly. He wants me to do the same but I can't. Why would he think this is okay? I told him that I wanted to work for the things I have, not just be handed them like I'm charity.

"Yep. It's all for you girls." He says and looks at me, still smiling.

I cross my arms tighter and look at my mother. The redness in her face still has yet to subside. Any second this ticking time bomb of a woman is going to blow.

"This is amazing Mr. Taylor. Thank you so much!" Maddy exclaims, not helping the situation whatsoever.

I know she couldn't possibly have any idea how my mother and I are feeling right now, though our faces are a huge giveaway. I glare at her in time for her side glance. Her smile fades and she clears her throat awkwardly. The tension between us only grows.

Dad walks over and throws his arm over my neck. He hugs my neck a little too tight and I grunt trying to break away.

"I'm just proud of you, kiddo. You deserve it. I couldn't let you move into your apartment without the essentials." He states.

I move from his grasp and shake my head.

"We won't be accepting any of this. I was serious about working for this stuff, dad. You gotta let me grow up at some point."

I'm grateful for my father. He has always put an effort into our relationship even if I would continue to wreck it. He's been a great provider and I know he cares for me but I need him to understand that if he was going to do all of this, it shouldn't have been in front of my mother. I know he probably doesn't have to spare my mom's feelings, it would just be easier for all of us to deal with if he did.

"It's a graduation gift, Bree. It's also a great start to being an adult who owns her own place." He explains and walks over to pull the truck door back down.

"I understand that but I would feel much better if I earned these items instead of being handed them."

He looks visibly frustrated, but I'm determined to get it through his thick skull that I am trying my best to be independent here. I've been saving up for this since high school.

"You earned these by being a fantastic daughter, keeping up with your grades, following curfew, and graduating from college. Let me do this one last thing for you. Please."

I've never heard my father beg for anything besides the night he finally left my mom. He had never looked more distraught in his entire life when I told him I was staying. This type of begging is different. He really wants to take care of me and I would probably be an awful person to not give him this one selfless wish. I'm going to hear it from mom but I'll just have to deal with that later.

"Okay, fine. We need to get going. We're past schedule already."

I don't even have to turn around to see the look of pure disgust on my mother's face. I quickly grab Maddy's arm and walk her to her car. She's silently ecstatic as she runs around and climbs in the driver's seat. I shut the door, lean my head back, and groan loudly.

"I know you're frustrated but do you think your dad can take me in?" She asks and cranks up the car.

I cross my arms and look at her.

"You're 22 and we just bought a place."

"Not as his daughter! That man is fine, especially when he's so giving."

I burst into laughter and hit her arm.

"You are literally disgusting. Drive."

Maddy chuckles and pulls out onto the road. I take one last glance at my former home before we turn out of the neighborhood and hit the highway. I've never felt more free in my entire life.

She rolls all of the windows down, blasting "Party in the USA" like every American during the summer. Her dancing makes me want to knock her lights out though I can't help but laugh and sing along. Dad follows right behind us in the UHaul with mom keeping up behind him. We get there in almost no time and pull into the lot right next to our new place. We somehow managed to get on the first floor so moving furniture won't be too much of a hassle. Dad starts to unload the truck as Maddy and I get our keys and head to open the door. We've seen it a few times before and today I can finally let it sink in how real this is about to be. I'm in awe that a small, in serious need of a paint job, over humidified, two bedroom apartment could make me feel the happiest I've felt in a really long time. Maddy squeals at the top of her lungs, knocking me out of my trance. She wraps her arms tightly around my torso and squeezes me with all of her strength. It's a lot for a five foot four, 120 pound former cheerleader.

"We did it! We did it! Oh my God, I can't believe we did this. It...smells absolutely horrific in here."

I giggle and wipe my slightly teary eyes confused as to if it's the dust, smell, or my excitement. Maybe a combination of all of the above.

"That's why I bought Febreeze and a shit ton of candles." I say and open up the bedroom door to look around.

"Good call. You'd think they would've done a better job cleaning when the last people moved out." Maddy mutters.

"They said it was a last minute call and I took the opportunity as soon as I saw that it was the bottom floor. You're welcome."

Maddy bumps me with her hip and jogs out of the door to get some boxes from her car. I follow out behind her as my mom pulls up and pops the trunk to get a few of my things. I walked over to her and hugged her before she could give me another glare.

"Please don't be mad. This is supposed to be a happy day." I tell her quietly.

She lets out a deep breath and pulls away from my embrace.

"I am not angry. I just wish he would listen for once about what someone wants instead of acting out on his own selfish reasons like always."

I put my hands on both of her shoulders and force eye contact.

"Thank you for understanding and actually listening to me. Him or anyone else is never going to take that away from you. I love you and I'm so thankful for everything you've done. Let's make this a great day."

She contemplates responding for a few seconds, instead just nodding and grabbing one of my many boxes from the trunk. I smile and let out a deep breath, triumphant that maybe I can make my parents get along for an hour.

:Revised