Everyone in this story is 18+
My father worked for a pharmaceutical company, he earned a lot of money and we lived in a big house. Just me and him. My mother had left us before I was even old enough to remember. My whole life it had been just me and dad. We didn't exactly get on great but he was always there when it mattered. When I fell out of a tree when I was six, when I had my first period, he was even the one who took me to buy my first bra. He fulfilled all his parental responsibilities and was pleasant enough but there was always a distance between us. I think I reminded him of my mother, who he never got over. He became more distant as I got older and developed into a woman which kind of proved my theory. I'd seen pictures of my mum, we had the same hourglass figure, dark hair and brown eyes, from what I could tell I was the spitting image of her.
Most days he would come home, I'd cook us dinner and we would eat in relative silence. He'd ask how school was going or if I needed money for anything. I'd ask about his day and he'd give short vague answers and then we'd go about our evenings in different parts of the house. It was a quiet life. Until my father changed. He gave no signs that anything was different. The day it all started he went to work just like any other day. I had a shower and got dressed. School skirt, shirt and blazer over my plain white underwear and then I went to school. Most of my day was uneventful, until maths. I sat next to Josh, the most beautiful boy i'd ever met. I'd spent many evenings imagining giving my virginity to him in the comfort of my bed. I think Josh liked me as much as I liked him but we hadn't done anything more than kiss yet. We were still in the awkward phase of young love where we were testing out which boundaries we dared to push against. We were laughing and joking and flirting as we often did, he placed a hand on my thigh, just below the hem of my skirt. His touch made me blush and my mind flashed to the many fantasies i'd had of his hands much higher.
'What are you doing tonight Em?' He asked me, his beautiful mouth grinning at me.
'Nothing why?' I replied, knowing that I would say yes to whatever he was about to propose.
'My parents are away for the weekend, i'm having a few people over for drinks. Wanna come?'
'Yeah that sounds fun!' I answered, hoping I didn't sound too eager.
The rest of the class was spent making plans about who was going to make the playlist and who was going to bring the alcohol. By the end of the day a plan was fully formed and there was a buzz around the select group of people who were invited. It was to be a small group, me and Josh, five or six of our friends. All I had to do was go home, get changed and tell my dad I was staying over Laura's house.
As I walked through the door I was surprised to find my dad was already home, he normally came home after me and rarely finished early. I found him in his study. He smiled at me as I walked in, another unusual thing from him, and turned to look at me.
'Emily, I received some very good news today.' He was practically beaming.
'Oh yeah?'
'I'm being promoted to the leader of my division!'
'That's amazing! Well done dad.' I was genuinely happy for him. Despite his emotional distance he was a good man and he was good at his job. He deserved this. He reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a bottle of whiskey and two glasses.
'I know it's not cool to drink with your old man, but you're all I've got Em, I'd be honored if you'd share a toast with me.'
Whiskey was not my drink of choice but it was so refreshing to hear him talk so warmly to me that I'd have gargled bleach if he'd offered it.
'Of course dad, im so proud of you.' I said as I sat in the chair across from his desk. I watched as he poured two glasses and offered one to me. He raised his glass and I did the same as he said 'To the future.' I echoed the sentiment back and we both drank. The whiskey burned as it went down but the burning slowly made way for a comforting feeling of warmth. I made a mental note to give whiskey another chance some day. We sat and talked for a while, dad sounded so excited about the promotion and told me all about the new opportunities this would open for him. I listened and asked questions and chatted happily with him while we sipped our drinks until suddenly the mood shifted.
'Emily...' he mouthed words but couldn't seem to bring himself to say what he wanted to. He finished off his drink and looked straight at me, 'Emily, I know I haven't always been the best father.' I opened my mouth to interrupt but he carried on 'no I know I haven't. Youve never wanted for anything but a dad should be more than financial security. I've never been good at the emotional side of things. That was always your mothers area of expertise. But I want you to know that i've been seeing a counselor and things are going to change. I'm going to be better. You deserve better.' his voice was so sincere and I teared up.