Thank you very much for reading this work of mine, I hope you enjoy it. All characters are above 18 years of age.
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Amy Scott sat alone at home, sipping on a glass of red wine. On the TV some random action movie was playing but she paid little attention to it. She rolled her shoulders, having just come home from overtime at her work once again. The apartment had felt as empty as always the past two months after she kicked Bradley out. She took a big gulp of wine as she unwittingly reminded herself of her ex-boyfriend, annoying her. She stretched out in the couch, trying to tell herself that she was happier now than when he had been here. She knew full well it was a lie, a way to escape the pain of finding those messages on his phone and then catching him in the act, in their apartment. She had thrown out the mattress along with the rest of his stuff, screaming at him to never show his face in front of her again. She groaned, covering her eyes with a hand, trying not to think about her situation.
Two months ago she had been dating her boyfriend since college, waiting for him to pop the question. Instead, she found him cheating on her, and when she found out that he had been doing it for more than a year, she lost all patience. Now she sat here, alone, a young woman in her prime but betrayed by the man she thought she loved. Sure, at 23 years of age she had more time, but she doubted she would get into the dating game again anytime soon. Though she would likely have takers, there was little doubt of that. Guys seemed to flock to her large breasts and the firm ass she kept in shape thanks to working out. Bradley had always said that her blue eyes were like a deep ocean, her amber hair the colour of a vibrant autumn. She took another gulp of wine, angered at him entering her thoughts again.
There was a sudden knock on the door and Amy stood up, putting down the glass of wine on the table, the action movie still running. Confused she went to open the door and she froze in shock when she saw the one who had knocked. Soaked from the downpouring rain and with two bags at his side her father stood. Matthew Scott, the tall teddy bear of a man with a bushy moustache who always had a smile on his face now looked like his heart had been broken. His shoulders were slumped and she thought that the droplets running down his face was not just from the rain.
"Dad?! What's going on?" She was utterly shocked, she had never seen her father with such an expression before.
Matthew smiled sadly as he looked at her. "Hey, sweetpea. Can I come in?"
Amy stepped out of the way, grabbing his shoulder to guide him inside. "Just get in here already, I can't have you catching a cold like this." She closed the door to her apartment behind him as the large man began to take off his coat. Amy was nearly in panic mode, needing to figure out why her father of all people had suddenly showed up on her doorstep.
"Dad, something happened, didn't it? Where's mom?" As she finished the sentence she could see her father's eyes darken, and a sniffle came from him. Amy immediately regretted her words and went to hug him, wanting to comfort him like he had done so many times as she grew up. She had always been a daddy's girl, and now she figured he needed someone to hold him like he used to.
"I-I'm sorry, sweetpea. I won't stay long." He hugged her back tightly, and she could feel his entire body shaking. She brought a hand up to his head and patted it gently.
"It's alright, daddy. You're no trouble. Please, you need to get out of those clothes, it's cold outside." She felt her father release the hug and he nodded towards her, his expression still very sad.
"Thank you, sweetpea. I'll change in the bathroom." She saw him step away, dripping water onto the floor as he went but she didn't mind. What was important right now was making sure her daddy was okay. Amy went into the kitchen and pulled out some instant hot chocolate and quickly made two cups for them and went to sit down in the couch while she waited for her father.
Some minutes later Matthew emerged from the bathroom, now dressed in clean clothes and his face dry. He smiled softly as he sat down next to her in the couch, his posture still very slouched. Amy pushed one of the cups towards him as she grasped her own.
"Daddy, please tell me what's going on. I'm getting more worried by the second." She took a careful sip of the steaming hot beverage, looking at her father intently. He was a large man with hairy arms and a proud moustache on his lip that apparently made up for his lack of hair on top of his scalp. His eyes were the same deep blue as hers, but now they were more like mist on a unruly sea. She saw him take a deep breath before he answered her, his voice incredibly pained.
"It's over between me and your mother. She was cheating on me."
Amy nearly threw her cup to the floor in anger. "Mom did? Are you sure?" She tried to keep her voice level, though her entire body burned with fury.
Matthew nodded. "Yes. I saw her with a young man... in our bed. She thought I was out of town, but I came back because I forgot something. That's when I saw her." Those deep blue eyes were welling up with tears now, dripping into the hot chocolate.
Amy put down the cup, afraid of what she might do if it stayed in her hand. "When did you see this? Surely there's something you can do?"
Matthew shook his head. "I caught her this afternoon. The moment she left with her lover to go somewhere I walked in and packed all of my things I care about. Then I came here."
Amy gritted her teeth. "Dad, this is serious, you should do something, take out a divorce, claim she cheated on you!"
Her father shook his head again, a sad chuckle escaping his mouth. "Truth is, I had suspected it. She kept up appearances, but when you moved out, there was no affection left. I think she got bored of me years ago." He took a sip of the chocolate. "But I don't want to hurt her. She hurt me, yes, but that's because I wasn't enough for her anymore. And that's on me."
Amy couldn't believe what she was hearing. Sure, her dad was the sweetest, gentlest guy she knew, but for him to accept the blame? Like he was the one at fault? That was outrageous. "Dad, pardon my french, but that's bullshit. You were faithful to her for more than 25 years, and instead of addressing any complaints she had, she abandoned you and left you in the dark. That's not love. That's pure selfishness."
Her father took another sip and closed his eyes. "Amy, don't hate your mother. If anything, we were both at fault."
Amy stood up, now furious. "Bullshit! The only one at fault here is her. And I am a grown woman now, I can do what I want." With those words she took out her phone and dialed the number to the woman she now just wanted to strangle for hurting her daddy.
"Sweetpea, don't do this, please."
Amy held up a finger as she waited to get connected and after a few beeps she were. "Hey mom. Am I interrupting something?" In the background she could hear another man's voice before her mother responded.
"Not at all. Is there anything you need?"
Amy took a deep breath. "If you ever come near daddy again I will wreck you. You selfish bitch, you have no idea what you have done. Go ahead, get fucked by those young gigolos you find while you think about how you broke the one who loved you. I hope it was worth it."
The voice on the other end was suddenly frantic. "Amy what are you talking about?"
Amy did not relent. "You cheated on daddy. He caught you. Now, he doesn't want to do anything drastic, but I sure as hell will. If you even think about coming after us, I suggest you think twice. I hope you have a nice life, Grace. Those gigolos better have been worth it." She hung up, tossing the phone onto the couch.
Her father sat dumbfounded, his fingers locked around the cup. "Sweetpea, that was..."
Amy interrupted him, her eyes still filled with anger. "I did what needed to be done. Daddy, you need to realise your own value. You were wasted on that bitch, and you will find someone who appreciates you for who you are."
Matthew looked at her sternly. "Amy, do not speak about your mother that way."
Amy sat back down, grasping her father's hand. "I do not see her as a mother any longer. Not after she hurt the person I love the most in the whole world. She fucked up, daddy. And you are free now."
Her father began to tear up again, his voice shaky. "I-I don't know if I will make it. She's been the only woman in my life for a quarter century. And I don't know if I want to risk feeling like this again."
Amy leaned in and gave her large father a big hug, wrapping her arms around him. "Just take it slow, daddy. You can stay here as long as you like. You don't have to hurry."
Her father put down the cup and embraced her right back. "Thank you, sweetpea. Just until I get back on my feet. Can I take the couch?"
Amy nodded, still hugging him tightly. "Don't worry about it, daddy. There's room for you, especially after I kicked out Bradley."
Matthew broke the hug, leaning back into the couch. "It's been a long day. Mind if I retire early?"
Amy smiled and stood up. "I'll get you some sheets and blankets. We can talk more in the morning."
"Thank you, sweetpea. I love you."
Amy smiled warmly at her father as she took out the blankets and pillows. "I love you too, daddy. Now get some rest." She gave him a kiss on the cheek as she put them down and walked back into her bedroom. She was still burning with anger regarding her mother for hurting a wonderful man like her father, and she was determined to help him get back up on his feet. As she closed her eyes and went to sleep she just thought of her daddy, smiling like he used to.
Amy awoke feeling slightly groggy. She was glad that it was a saturday and that the office had not requested her to come in, not yet at least. She got out of her bed and walked into the kitchen, yawning softly.
"Good morning, sweetpea." Her father was standing with his back to her, and the smell of scrambled eggs was wafting through the air.
