Tempting the Fates

Chapter 7

Dad returned an hour later, carrying a small purple gift bag. I plastered on a smile for him as I met him in the living room, which took more effort than I had expected. I'd finished crying twenty minutes before, so my eyes were no longer red and puffy, but I still felt like hell on the inside.

It was a little hard to look at him, knowing that his life was in my hands. Every breath he took weighed heavier on my heart. He had taken care of me every day of my life, but now it was my turn to take care of him, even if it meant giving up everything.

"Happy birthday!" He grinned, holding the bag out to me as I sat on the couch.

I took the gift from him and looked up expectantly. "Do you want me to open it now? My birthday isn't until tomorrow."

He smiled and flopped down into his recliner. "I know, but you know how bad I am at keeping secrets."

I winced at his words. He had always told me he was bad at keeping secrets, but I wasn't sure I believed that anymore. He knew not only about the existence of the Greek gods, but that my mother was one of them. I'm sure he felt like he was protecting me by keeping that one to himself, but it didn't matter anymore. I was a part of that world whether he wanted me to be or not.

I pulled away the floral tissue paper and saw a small, black box in the bag. I glanced to Dad, who looked quite pleased with himself. There was a satisfying creak as I opened the box. A gasp escaped me as I looked inside. There was a beautiful set of pear-shaped Morganite earrings with a matching necklace.

I recognized them immediately. He'd caught me staring at them in a jewelry store window display a few weeks ago when we were at the mall getting pretzels. Tears burned at my eyes again. My dad was the best man I would ever know, and I was going to miss him more than anything.

"Why are you crying?" He sounded worried. "Did I get the wrong ones?"

"No, no... they're beautiful, thank you." I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand. "You're just the best dad ever. I want you to know how much I love you, and that I'd never trade you for anyone."

His eyebrows crinkled and a small smile crept onto his mouth. I went over to him and threw my arms around his neck. We held each other for a long moment. He was the one person I had relied on in my life, the one person I loved and trusted above all others. I was going to miss him beyond words, and I hoped he would be okay without me. Almost as if he knew, he planted a kiss on the top of my head.

"I love you, kiddo."

Nothing I'd ever done in my life was ever going to be as hard as leaving my dad.

I couldn't stop watching the clock ticking on the wall as we spent the rest of the day together watching my favorite shows. I often found myself looking over at my dad, trying to memorize his face and the way he scrunched his nose when he laughed.

When my dad rose from his recliner around ten o'clock and yawned, my heart dropped. The moment had finally arrived where we had to say goodbye. For him, it was a simple goodnight. For me, it was the last memory I'd ever have of him. By morning I would likely be gone, all memories of me erased from his mind.

"Night, sweetie." He gave me a sleepy smile and headed down the hall to his room.

"Night, dad." I choked out after him. I watched him go with a deep sadness. We had spent nearly every day together since mom had left, and I wasn't sure how I would be able to go on without him. Surely there had to be a way for him to be with us in the Underworld. If I was Hades' wife, he had to be on my side...

After I packed a suitcase with a few things (my phone and laptop, my favorite books, some clothes, and a scrapbook I'd made) I went to bed. Even as I lay there, comfortable and warm, I couldn't sleep. How was I supposed to drift into some peaceful slumber knowing that I could be dragged to the Underworld at any moment?