I switched off the SUV's engine, reaching round and unlatching my seatbelt, letting it snap back into its holster. I breathed in for a moment, letting the stress of the working day just melt off me. I always made sure that I felt relaxed by the time I came home, because I didn't want my family greeted by "cranky dad" as Alfie, my 10 year old boy, used to call me before I started practising this small act everyday.
I smiled at these memories. He was such a wonderful boy, so cute and full of life. He was never hyper, but he always seemed brimming with energy. I don't think I ever wanted that boy to grow up; I loved him just as he was. He was so different from his sister.
Abigail. She was a beautiful young woman, having just turned 18 and about ready to leave high school. She was so excited, or as far I could tell, she was. She tended to keep to herself, seeming so sullen at times. But even though she was she so secretive, she would always sit around with Alfie and me. She never, or at least rarely spoke to us, but she still sat with us. I suppose that was one step up from the teenager who spent all their time in their room.
I figured it was since their mom left us, she had runaway with another man, both children had seemingly never gotten over this, they never forgave her, which is why she didn't get custody with them, they spent all the time with me, for which I was eternally grateful. Then again that had been over 4 years ago, Abigail had only started being like this only 3 years ago, which I thought was a while for her to start brooding over her mother, I couldn't figure it out.
I took another breath, leaving this thought behind in my car and unlatched the front door to the house. I heard the TV on in the living room; it was playing heavy metal music, which meant that Abigail was home. She always arrived home soonest. She didn't seem to have, or want, any friends, and it wasn't like she couldn't get any friends, she was beautiful!
Her long dark brown hair, and piercing blue eyes, which were a lot darker than my own blue eyes; a wonderful figure, which was not hard to see in the hugging clothes she always wore. I would have said that she was into the "goth scene" that a lot of teenagers were into, but she wasn't ever depressed, just a bit broody. She never wore jewellery or dark make-up and her clothes usually consisted of a long sleeved shirt and pleated skirt, which under normal circumstances would make me think that she was very popular with boys.
But she always spent her time at home. I know she didn't sneak out because she spent all her time in the lounge with either me and Alfie or just me, either watching TV or reading a book.
I walked into the lounge and saw Abigail sitting on one side on the sofa, her knees up against her ample chest, hugging them to her as though she was cold. As I closed the door her head snapped towards me, she smiled, I think, it was such a confused expression, almost as though she was happy to see me, but also unhappy that I was in the room with her.
"How was your day Abby?" I asked earnestly
"S'ok." She mumbled turning back to the TV, though I could see that she wasn't paying attention, her eyes were still looking at me through the corners of her eyes.
"It's getting close to the end of school. Are you excited?" This actually seemed to make her mood darken; she shrugged as a way of giving her answer. I tried to think of what would make her open up a bit more, and then I remembered that Alfie was spending tonight and the weekend at one of his friend's houses.
"I have an idea, Abby, since Alfie is spending the weekend away, why don't we rent some movies, get some pizza, even a little...wine." I said this in a roguish way, as though wine was being totally out of place. Even though Abigail was actually 18 now, and allowed to drink, she hadn't ever had any alcohol to drink. She turned towards me slowly, her mood lightening up, at what I don't know, I guessed it could have been the suggestion of wine, I didn't know what, but the fact she had lightened up encouraged me.
"Really? That sounds... cool. Thanks dad, that would be really nice." She gave a hint of a smile.
Later that evening there was a large pizza sitting in its box on the table, with a bottle of wine sitting uncorked next to it, red of course, it was the best to go with pizza, plus it was the favourable of both Abigail and I. The lights were turned down low, leaving the room dark except for the glow of the TV.
We were sitting on either side of the couch, sipping our wine, watching the movie, watching some new comedy, which wasn't great, and I was feeling a bit sleepy, as was, or so it seemed, was Abigail. Although she had barely drunk a glass of wine, she kept on looking at me with a sleepy expression on her face, another hint of her smile on her pretty face, it was the first time I had seen her smile like this in a long time. She took another sip of wine and then leaned forward placing her wine glass deliberately on the table, and then she turned towards me.
"Daddy, I'm cold, do you mind?" She nodded towards the spot next to me. I was a bit confused, since hadn't called me daddy in a long time. It sounded like she was trying to act like a little girl again, to sound irresistibly cute again. I nodded back and moved my arms so she could crawl into the crook in my arm, she moved over and snuggled into me, wrapping her arms around herself, I draped my arm over her shoulder and drew her in closer. I heard her sigh with relief, I shrugged this off and smiles, turning back to watch the TV.
