My eyes felt like they were bugged out of their sockets and I could feel my mouth hanging open in absolute shock as I took in the images that flickered on the screen of the laptop in front of me.
I put a hand to my temple and gently massaged my head as the images continued to unfold - one after the other. I checked the menu folder and there must have been over a hundred files in there! All of them with my name - Diane - on them.
I inhaled deeply. "That fucker!"
******
Later that night, I was lying in bed and feeling a lot more relaxed and at ease with things. I'd gone over to a friends place - but I'd kept my discovery a secret and just decompressed. While it was still shocking, I didn't bother to fume and fuss about it, If I'd learned one thing in my short life, it was that I did not always function best when reacting in anger.
******
THREE MONTHS EARLIER
I crawled out of my father's SUV and looked up at his house. In the eight years since my parents had gotten divorced, I could count on one hand the number of times I'd been there.
My father opened up the back of the SUV and began pulling out some of my luggage. "Look," he sighed as he placed two suitcases on the driveway and then scooped a bag over his shoulder. "It's like I said on the drive over, Diane," he hefted the suitcases back up and walked up to me. "The situation may not be ideal, but we have got to make the best of it."
I sighed and rolled my eyes beneath my sunglasses. "You're right," I cinched my purse up over my shoulder and started to head to the back of the SUV.
"Don't worry about that," my father called out. "I'll take care of it. C'mon inside," he gestured with his head.
I slowly followed my father up to the front door. It had only been a few weeks since my mom passed away. As it was, both she and my father agreed if anything were to happen to her, it would be better for me if I stayed with my mother's sister - Aunt Corinne. That went out the window the moment Aunt Corinne plunged a knife into the chest of her live-in boyfriend.
Even though I hadn't been overly thrilled about the idea of staying with my father, I had to admit I'd dodged a bit of a bullet there. Apparently Aunt Corinne had not been doing well the past few years - a lot of drinking and an abusive relationship - but my folks hadn't bothered to change my guardian in their wills. It may have been a little soon, but I mentally - and sarcastically - thanked my mom for keeping tabs on that and changing things accordingly.
Yeah. Not exactly daughter-of-the-year material here.
So, with my dad the only other option, I had to make the move to a different city, which required switching schools during the final semester of my senior year in high school. Needless to say I was looking as forward to this as getting an enema.
My father let me into his house - my house now I guess - and told me to make myself at home. He then went about retrieving the rest of my luggage. "Help yourself to anything in the kitchen you want," he called out as he headed out the front door.
I shuffled over to the kitchen and pulled the fridge door open. Nice! There was four bottles of white wine in there, along with a fair amount of beer. I noticed tonic water and coke in there too, so I skulked around, opening up cupboards looking for the liquor stash.
My father came back inside and noticed me. "Whatcha looking for?" he asked in a tone I took as more helpful than accusatory.
"Um, a glass," I said innocently. "I figured I'd have a glass of coke if that's okay."
"Of course it is," my father replied with a smile. "Glasses are in that cupboard over there. Ice is - obviously - in the freezer."
"Thanks," I called to him as he was heading back out the door again.
I grabbed a glass and decided to get some ice, so I pulled open the top freezer door. Bingo! There was a bottle of vodka in there. I smiled as I dug my hands into a container with ice cubes in it and deposited three into my glass.
I closed the freezer door, opened up the fridge, pulled a bottle of coke from the door and poured myself a glass. I took a sip as I walked over to the back sliding door and gazed out at my father's back yard. There was a nice deck - which I remembered from the few times I'd been there - as well as a barbeque. There was a new hot-tub though. I pursed my lips and nodded as I glanced over a bit to the left. I remembered this view - I could still see the lake not five blocks from my father's house. I had to admit I had fond memories of trips to the beach whenever I had visited my father.
"Okay," my father called from behind me as he closed the door and deposited two boxes onto the floor. "That's the last of it."
"You know, I could have helped you with that," I said as I shuffled back towards the living room.
"Don't worry about it," he replied with a wave of his hand. "Do you need a nickel tour or do you remember enough? I mean your last visit was about five years ago," he shrugged.
"I think I'm good," I said nonchalantly as I took a sip of my drink.
"Well," my father said with a chuckle as he scooped up some of my belongings. "C'mon let me show you where your room is."
I took another sip of my drink and began to follow my father. "I assume it's the same room I've always slept in," I said flatly.
"Actually no," he replied as he began heading up the stairs. "I thought you might need a little more room, so I cleared out my den."
"Holy shit," I giggled from behind my father and immediately winced as I was worried he'd chastise me for 'language'. Nothing happened so I continued. "You mean I'm getting your man-cave? I feel so honored!" I laughed.
"Well," he chuckled as he reached the top of the stairs and turned to face me. "At least we know you didn't just get your mother's blue eyes," he grinned at me. "You also seem to have gotten her gift of biting sarcasm."
"Sorry," I smiled as I made it to the top of the stairs. "I didn't mean to seem like an unappreciative brat," I sighed.
"Don't worry about it," he gestured with his head. "Second door on the left."
I pivoted and headed for the door and opened it up. "I remember not being allowed in here when I visited," I said as I glanced back at him.
"Those are standard man-cave rules," he chuckled.
I opened up the door. HOLY SHIT! My father had gone all out! There was a double bed with a duvet cover on it off to the right, along with a dresser and matching vanity set off to the left. Not to mention a couple of comfy looking chairs and more closet space than I'd seen in my life. "Nicely done," I complimented him as he moved past me and put the bags on the floor in the center of the room.
"So you approve?" he asked.
"Well," I sighed. "It's a bit harsh, but I think I can manage."