Blooming

Chapter 22: Blooming

Chapter 22

Dad worked on my bedroom all day. I just hung around the house trying to keep my mind off Harry. I glanced at my phone, there was a message from Blue! My heart skipped a beat as I fumbled to open the message.

"Sorry about the other night." It read.

"I didnt know you picked him! Why did you leave? U cant just pick up and go everytime something bad happens." Why was she giving out to me? She kissed my guy! "Indigo is all right pretty much the same wont find anything for a while." She signed her name. I could sense the coldness in her writing it sent a chill in my heart. She hadnt even asked me where I was or any explanation. I was being selfish but she hadnt even said she missed me! I missed her. I decided not to text back. She had just admitted she had kissed Harry. Not that I cared I was moving on from that life now.

Dad still hadnt finished my room by the end of the day, I figured I would probably have to sleep on the floor. Dad sent me down to the chippie to get some chips. He really should have been fixing up the kitchen first but maybe this was another way in showing he was truly sorry and that he had changed. I still found it hard to beleive but Dad was slowly growing on me. I walked down the streetlit path just taking in this amazing town. It was just so breath taking! I soon smelt the waft of greasy chips hang in the air. We literally lived one minute from the chippie. I stood inside and went to the counter. The woman smiled widely at me. I took my order.

"New in town?" She asked.

"Yea! Small town huh?" I said making conversatiom.

"Small town with a big heart! So where are you living?" She was being fairly nosey.

"The council cottage."

"No way! That is the most disgusting hole in this town...well on the inside."

I agreed.

"And is the council helping you fix it up?" She asked.

"Nope."

Her face screwed up. She grabbed the phone and punched in a number. What was this strange woman doing?

"Richard you get down here right now!" She shouted down the phone. If I had been on the other end of that phone I would be down here by now. A few seconds later a large hairy man with food in his beard arrived drowsily at a door I hadnt noticed.

"What?" He asked rudely. I looked him up and down. He was wearing a dressing gown with what I presumed was nothing underneath. He went slightly red when he saw me and went behind the counter to hide.

"How can I help you?" He asked his voice was gruff and he lengthened the end word of his sentence. I found it hard not to let out a giggle at this strange creature.

"This here young girl is living in that grotty cottage and there is no council there helping fix it up!" She answered for me.

I stood back and watched them bicker. It was nothing like what mum and dad used to do it was just a small marital row. Well I assumed they were married. They whispered to eachother so I couldnt hear.

"Right we will send people out tomorrow. Im going back up." Richard left.

"Sorry about him, he is my husband! Can you imagine he used to be a real charmer. Those were the days." She looked list in thought.

"Thanks very much." I said.

"Oh honey it was nothing he should have been over there first thing this morning but you know men!" She wrapped up my chips in a brown bag and passed them to me. I shoved my hand in my pocket and searched for the tenner Dad had given me. The lady shook her head.

"Its on the house, its your first night!" I smiled greatfully.

"Thank you so much."

"Hey I never caught your name?"

"Poppy Bloom."

"Nice name Im just Grace." And grace she was. I left the chippy and walked home.

"Hey darling." Dad greeted me.

"Hey! Its an amazing night out there!"

"Yes it is! We could go down to harbour later? But now I want to eat Im starving!" I heard his stomach grumble and I laughed. We sat down to the table and I told Dad about Grace and Richard. He laughed at my explanation of Richard. I told him the council was coming tomorrow.

"Aw thats great we can spend the day together, get you enrolled in a school and look around a bit." I nodded that sounded like fun. I heard a knock on the door.

"I'll get it." I offered. I went to the door and a smiley blonde woman stood there with a casserole in her hands. Behind her stood Peter. He smiled wonkily. I let them in. Dad met us in the hall. The smiley blonde lady introduced herself as Holly. She gave us both a hug and welcomed us to Bloomigville. She told us if we ever needed anything just to knock. I brought Peter into the living room.

"Your mum is so nice."

"Too nice." He chuckled. "If I had a normal mum she would make me go to schoo but Mum understands! Shes an artist too."

"Wow really?"

He nodded, "what does your Dad do?"

I wasnt actually sure. I shrugged my shoulders.

"Not much." I answered. He laughed. We talked about our favourite movies.

"Aww that was pure rubbish!" He said when I talked about a movie I had watched back home. Home? I had thought of West Barron as home? Peter and Holly soon left. Peter told me he would call at nine for a run. He said he might make a late appearance at school tomorrow. Once they left Dad told me to grab my coat. We walked out into the chilly air. We raced eachother down to the harbour. I laughed when Dad got out of breath half way. I went back and he was heaving with his hands on his knees. I thumped his back. His eyes flashed with anger but then he just started to laugh. We walke down and I waited for the right time to ask him a pecifuc question.

The harbour was amazing. We walked around looking at all the boats. My favourite was a big blue boat with sails and the main sail said, "Im moving on." We sat up on the pier and looked out at the vast ocean.

"I always wanted to travel." Dad blurted. I didnt know what to say. I decided this was the time.

"Dad? How did you find me and how can I know youve changed?" I discarded my coat and rolled up my sleeve and showed him the big gash and bruise he had left from when he had dug his nails into my arm. He put his hand in my arm gently and traced the mark. He sighed deeply.

"I lied when I said I had changed last night in the car. I hadnt I just wantef you to come with me." I tore my arm away from him and got up to go.

He gently took my wrist not doing any harm to me.

"I never knew what an amazing girl you are Pops!" He winked.

"How do you know? Its only been one night." I shook myself away from his soft grasp.

"I can see it in your eyes, what youve been through. Your just so independent, never having a fit mother or father to care for you. I didnt sleep last night. I was thinking about you and I came to a conclusion. I am going to try to be the best father I possibly can, Poppy, you have to trust me through hardships ok? I wont hurt you and if I ever go back you have to know I love you. What I should have said is Im TRYING to change but there is a long road ahead. Im going to be there for you Poppy even when Im not here, even if I take a phase Im still here."

I sat there taking it all in. Then I grabbed him into a hug. He was always going to be my Daddy even through all the scars. I could tell he was on the path of change. We all need change and like the sail said, Im moving on.

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