Izzy's P.O. V.
"Oh for fuck's sake, give me the damn thin. I'll do it," I held my hand out for dad to hand me the box he was wrapping terribly.
"I can do it, Izzy." He pouted with his brow furrowed.
He was doing that thing where he stuck his tongue out slightly at the corner as he focused. His large, powerful hands were not meant to wrap anything. The paper was so delicate it kept breaking, no matter how gentle he was trying to be. I shook my head at him, shoving him aside with my elbow so that I was standing face to face with the little black box. In this box laid Lisa's ring, the one I helped him pick out. Dad was slowly coming back to life, and with it he was bring me back. Yeah the damage is done, and we've missed years together, but I have decided to move past it. I will give Dad a chance again.
As I am getting older I am starting to understand his mistakes more and more. I can see why he didn't want me around after mom died. I've seen that dark side he tries to bury deep inside. Growing up with that would have definitely affected me as a young child. He was just trying to protect me, but I jabbed at him more and more, because I was so mad that he had left me. Mom had died and I needed my father, but he refused to be with me anymore than a few hours during the weekend. I crushed him when I told him to stop coming when I turned 16 and found out what caused mom's death. It wasn't his fault, not really, but in my anger I blamed him, and pushed him away. I saw him maybe once every few months. Dad made sure that I was being taught how to fight and any time I missed one of the self defense classes he would hunt me down.
I was too proud to tell him I missed him when I turned 18, so I would miss those classes on purpose sometimes, just to get his attention. Now I go down to his warehouses from time to time to bother him. I even flirted with Carter to get his attention more. I didn't expect him to beat the shit out Carter and give him door duty for a year. When Neal was here, I knew dad was coming home, and I knew he had Lisa. I wanted him to pay me attention, being jealous of Lisa. I wanted him to scold me, to get onto me and treat me like his child. When I saw how worried he was about me I caved. It was the first time in a very long time that I was cuddled up next to him. It seemed we just needed Lisa in our lives to bring us back together. Now here I stand, wrapping the box that will forever tie her to my father happily. Lisa is an amazing woman, and I am glad she' ll be my step-mom, even if she is less than 10 years my senior.
"There, see. Done." I gestured to the box that was now delicately wrapped in red paper with a sweet gold ribbon tied into a bow around it.
"I should have giving it to you sooner." He laughed, smiling up at me from the chair.
"That's what I am saying." I gave him my smug smirk, but I was feeling really happy seeing that smile on his face. "Okay, now I need to go get ready for graduation. You' re still coming right?"
"Of course. I told you front and center," He reminded me.
"See you there."
_____________________
"Where is he?" I asked myself out loud.
I have a bad habit of speaking my thoughts out loud when I'm nervous. I scanned the audience for dad's all too familiar face. He shouldn't be hard to miss with his long braided hair, and ridiculously large muscles, yet I couldn't find him to save my life. He said he would be here, was he lying. What's going on?
"Can you believe it? We finally get to leave this hellhole and weld to our hearts content." Jacob smirked proudly as he stared onto the stage.
I don't like Jacob.
"Yup," I responded, disinterested as I continued my search for my father.
"What are you doing after this? There's a party downtown if you want to join me." "I'll pass," I said not looking at him.
Carter's shiny head came to view in on the far right, but dad wasn't around. I gave Carter a look and he just shrugged his shoulders, like he didn't know where dad was either. I was starting to get worried, because Dad has always been a man of his word. He should be here. That's when the most embarrassing thing of my life happened and Dad stepped onto the stage.
Oh God, NO!
He smiled at me, reading the embarrassment on my face. I think he found it amusing.
Asshole.
"I told you I'd be front and center," he told me, and everyone else in the crowd as he spoke into the mic. He winked at me, before looking out into the crow. "Welcome to graduation night. I know I'm not what you were expecting. Who is this Viking on the stage? And why is he pestering us?" The crowd laughed as dad turned on his charm. Sometimes I forget how
charismatic he can be, but he always had been before mom died. He could charm anyone out of anything given enough time.
"Tonight is a big night for your loved one. Perhaps their daughter," he looked at me as he spoke, throwing me another wink. "Like my own, or maybe their your son, niece, nephew, grandchild. Whatever the case, they have accomplished something grand tonight. Now they are set to go off and start their careers as welders. I don't know much about welding, but I have seen how my daughter lights up using that oh so dangerous machine. She has passion that burns just as brightly as that torch she holds in her hands. I haven't always been the greatest dad, see how I'm embarrassing her. But I want her to know just how proud I am of her, and all her accomplishments despite my crappy dad skills. I am sure a lot of you feel the same way. We're all just making it up as we go, and hoping we don't ruin our kids in the process. Seeing as we are all here today to celebrate them, I'd say we did well enough. Don't you think?"
There was cheering from the crowd at his question. He had these people eating out of his hands. He had me. I may be embarrassed as hell, but the warmth in my chest has never felt so large.
He's up there for me.
"So here's to you guys, for being so successful despite us parents," he laughed, smiling down at me, giving me one last wink before he hopped off the stage. I think I was a new shade of red as he approached me.
No, don't do it. I'll punch you.
I tried to rely my message using just my eyes, but if he understood he didn't care as he stood directly in front of me now, arms stretched wide. He didn't give me a choice as he took me in his arms and hugged me tightly in front of everyone. There was cheering, awing, and clapping all around. I wanted to hide so badly, yet I felt so exceedingly happy right now.
Ah, to hell with it.
I wrapped my arms around his large torso, not able to make my hands meet on the other side. He's always had a large torso, even as a child I could never make my hands touch when I hugged him.
"I'm proud of you, kid," he whispered in my ear, and I think something was wrong with my eyes, because they began to water.
"Thanks, Dad."
I collected myself as he pulled back, letting me go. I wiped at my tears quickly, not wanting anyone to know that I was crying. He looked at me for the briefest of seconds before he
walked away, finally joining the crowd. That's when I spotted Lisa's shiny, black hair, reflecting the dim lighting. She sported a wide smile, giving a similar wink to dad's.
These two, I swear.
I found myself with a small smile I couldn't seem to wipe away. His antics, although embarrassing, made me feel the most loved I have in a while. I watched as other head figures came and made their speeches, and although touching they lacked the same luster as dad's. It only made me smile wider, thinking of how they must feel to be the following speech after Dad's.
"Isabella Amelia Havard."
My name was called as I crossed the stage, feeling great accomplishments. There's nothing like walking across that stage and receiving a little piece of paper that shows the work and effort you put into something. Something that you' re passionate about. That you' re willing to give years of your life to study.
Welding. Next up, tattoo artist.