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“Daddy, please,” I push forward and wrap my arms around his middle, squeezing tight. Holding on for dear life. Holding on like the wind is about to carry him away, when really, it’s his own two feet that are taking him from me.
“Please don’t go.”
“Business doesn’t wait Spencer. Uncle Evan is here. You’d do good to listen to him, follow his rules and stay on top of school when it starts up. I’ll be back in just a few short months,” he responds coldly, patting my back the way one would warily comfort a stranger. Not the way a father would hold his devastated, grieving daughter.
Gripping my arms, he slowly peels himself from my grip, and moves me to the side.
“Evan,” he reaches out and shakes my uncle’s hand, “take care of our girl.”
“Of course, anything you need Grant.”
Something feels off, I can feel it in my bones, but I can’t put my finger on it. I can’t put it into words. My father has never been warm, but he’s colder than ever, and I feel Uncle Evan’s eyes burning into me so deeply, it feels like my skin is on fire.
Picking up his luggage, my father turns to the doorway, and leaves without even saying the word goodbye.
From the foyer, I watch as he loads his luggage into the trunk before climbing into the back seat. Without giving a second thought to my actions, I take off running just as he closes the door. Smacking the window frantically with both hands, I beg for him to roll the window down. I beg for him to stay.
I just lost mom. I just lost her. I can’t handle this right now. It’s all too much to take in.
“Daddy, please! Please don’t leave!”
Without regard for my close proximity to the car, the driver puts the vehicle in drive and rolls down the driveway. I walk along side it, increasing my speed to a run as the driver accelerates. As it turns down the road and picks up speed, I can’t keep up anymore. My lungs seize up, my legs eventually give, and I drop to my knees in the middle of the road, sobbing into both hands.
A few moments later, I feel something behind me.
Not something, someone.
“Ah em,” my uncle clears his throat. “You need to come inside Spencer. You’re making a scene,” he states calmly, dropping his hand to my shoulder. I don’t know why but his touch makes my skin crawl.
Pressing my hands to the asphalt, I push myself up and dust the tiny grains of dirt and rocks from my knees. I stare down the street for just a few more moments, willing my dad to come back, but the car is out of sight and there are no signs of it returning at this point.
Dropping my head, I turn on my heel and walk back toward the house. I don’t miss the way Evan’s hand drops to my lower back, or the way he eyes me closely as we make our way up the sidewalk.
Once we are back inside the house, he pushes the door shut behind us, and I slowly trudge up the stairs, heading for my bedroom.
“Spencer.”
I keep going.
“Spencer.”
One track mind - bed.
“Spencer Rae Maddox!”
My uncles voice raises from a whisper to a shout, stopping me dead in my tracks. Gripping the banister, I turn on the step to face his direction.
Crossing his arms over his chest, he looks up at me, “There will be rules while I’m here do you understand?”
I nod my head.
“Curfews. Time limits on hanging out with that boy. Got it?”
“But I -”
“No, no buts. Do you understand me?” he grits through his teeth.
“Loud and clear,” I seethe.