Authors Note: Hi there! I've been reading from this website for years now and I decided to give a try at writing my own little story as a sort of thanks haha.
My favorite author on here for a long time now has been VanillaExtract (check them out if it's what you're into and haven't read their stuff before!), so I would say this is really a homage to their stories. It's pretty inspired by their works, though I'm nowhere near their talent! It's been a while since they've published a story like this, so I thought I'd try and write a little something to placate my own desires haha.
It's a bit of a slowburn, so bare with it and please let me know what you think so I can get some tips if I ever decide to write something again. Thank you and please enjoy!
I brushed my hair as quickly as I could in the mirror. Or at least I tried to, as the course curls refused to give way to any sort of comb whatsoever. I grunted in frustration and settled for wetting my hands with some water and trying to tussle it out. I wanted to look my best, professional even, but I'd already been at the mirror fiddling with my appearance for just over an hour now and I knew my daughter and ex-wife would be knocking at my door any minute. I hadn't seen her in almost three years now, at least not in person as per my ex-wife's orders. It could have been another three years of not seeing her if not for the fact that she just finished her first year in college and was lucky enough to get an internship in the city, where even more luckily, I lived. Instead of having to commute for over an hour they thought it best for her to stay with me during her summer break.
So, there I was, picking out the few stray locks out of my head, contemplating every little detail I could to make sure my daughter, Evie, would be happy staying here. I had sent her the occasional cards and letters over the years, and she had replied to each one of them, though each return letter could put an infantryman to sleep with their formality. Each one signed
Sincerely, Evie
was a dagger to my heart and I was terrified that she actually hated me. This was probably my one and only chance to try and turn things around and hopefully have a future with my daughter.
It was the knock at the door that brought me out of my worried trance, and I composed myself one last time before going to answer it. Shit, I could barely control the shaking in my hands as I turned the knob, shivering as I opened it and was met with a cold chill, despite the summer heat.
"Mat."
"Allison. How are you?" I asked my ex-wife.
"Not very good. I'm here talking to you after all." She grunted, pulling out a cigarette from the box she had in hand.
"Could you please not do that here?"
She only rolled her eyes as she lit the cigarette, at least having the courtesy to blow the puff of smoke away from my face.
"It's the only way I can deal with seeing you, you're lucky Evie was the one who suggested this whole arrangement in the first place." She took a drag and exhaled another ring of smoke. "You remembered you were taking Evie today, right? Is that why you look half decent?" she smirked taking another puff.
I sighed and looked around to see where Evie was but was interrupted by Allison who stuck a finger at my chest, "Remember to keep your fucking hands to yourself, you got it? If I so much as hear you touched a hair on her head, she'll be back with me and I'll be here to cut off your dick."
"Allison, you know it isn't like that. I would never do anything to Evie. Ever. Christ, she's my daughter!"
"Yeah, I remember you saying the same thing about your students. Ohhh, they're like my children." she offered a bitter laugh as she puffed a ring of smoke at my face this time.
"We all know how that turned out."
I wanted to protest but after three years there was no use in trying to get her to understand. She didn't believe me then so there was no point getting angry and arguing about it now.
"Mom, it's alright." Evie, piped up from behind her rolling along a suitcase. "I'll be okay."
I could only blink and stare at the stranger in my driveway. When had Evie grown into such a beautiful woman? It was only three years ago when she was a lanky little thing and now here she was, with curves just like her mother. I couldn't help but smile to myself, she still had the same shoulder length dark hair that I remembered when she was a kid. She'd always hated when it got too long and would get so mad when I tussled it. She'd give me a glare behind those bangs and I'd glare back until we both broke with laughter. It still suited her well, even more so with her filled out chest and hips. I found myself staring too long at those features and immediately scolded myself, what the hell was I looking at?
"Hey kiddo." I said, offering the best smile I could.
She gave a half smile back and faced Allison.
"It's only for a few months. I'll be back home before you know it."
Allison sighed and dropped the cigarette on the floor, smashing it under her heel.
"If you need anything, honey, you just call me, okay? If your father does anything that makes you uncomfortable, I will be here to take you back home in an instant, okay?"
They gave each other an embrace and Allison walked back to her car after giving her one more reminder to call her if she needs anything. I waved goodbye to her, but she only glared back at me. It still kind of stung when she did that. We had loved each other once and she was a good mother so I couldn't hate her...entirely. I just wish she had bothered to try and listen to my side of the story. Oh well, it was best not to get mopey, not now when my daughter was finally with me after so long.
"Evie, why don't you let me help you take that to your room and then I can give you a quick tour of the place."
She gave me that same reserved smile and only said, "Thanks, daddy."
It lacked much enthusiasm, but I'd be lying if I said even hearing the words daddy didn't pull at my heart. It was good to have my daughter back with me.
"It's not a big place, but I think it's cozy. You'll be the first room here. And my room is right down the hall, if you ever need anything from me."
"Pretty big, daddy." She said, looking around the room as I dragged her suitcase in.
"Well, it is the master. I wanted you to have enough space to feel comfortable. There's not much but we can always go shopping for some more furniture if you'd like, or if the bed isn't comfortable enough. It's got a personal bathroom attached to it too, though it is just a half bath. You'll have to use the main bathroom. It's just down here."
She followed closely behind as I showed her the rest of the house and though she remained pretty quiet throughout the tour, it didn't seem like she outright hated being here. So that was a start.
"So that's about it, like I said, small but cozy. I really hope you can come to call it home. Are you hungry? I can whip something up or just order food if you're in the mood for something in particular. There's lots of great places nearby, if you're looking for good pizza I-"
"Daddy." Evie interrupted.
"Yes?" I said, realizing I was rambling like an idiot.
"I get what you're trying to do. But I think it's best we take it slow, okay? I still feel like you're a bit of a stranger."
Ow, that one really hurt. "Of course, kiddo. I was just making small talk." I laughed nervously, but it was hard to cover up the awkwardness.
"Well, I'll let you get settled in then. If you get hungry just let me know, otherwise I'll just make something around dinner time if that's okay."
"That's fine, daddy. Thank you."
She walked back to her room and closed the door to unpack while I went to the living room to sulk. She didn't seem to hate me, that's what I had to keep telling myself. I had to remember what Allison had said. Evie suggested this whole idea. So that had to mean something right? She must want me to be a part of her life in some way or she'd never have come here in the first place. She could have stayed in a dorm or booked a room, after all. Right. I slapped myself in the face and refused to give up so easily, not when this was my only chance. So, I got up and marched into the kitchen with a new sense of determination and started working on dinner.
