Seconds, minutes felt like hours as I waited there with my hands wrapped around a hot white chocolate mocha I hadn’t yet picked up. The heat from the clay cup warmed my hands and a shiver ran down my back. I fought the urge to turn around whenever the door opened. The need to look over my shoulder to see if I recognized anyone was strong. I stared out of the window until I felt someones gaze on the side of my face. I tensed but refused to look. I waited until I saw them approach out of the corner of my eye.
I took a deep breath and turned to look up at the person who stood by the table. It wasn’t the waitress and it wasn’t anyone I knew. My eyes glided up his body and searched his features. I didn’t know who it was and I definitely didn’t recognize him. He was tall, even taller than mom. His shoulders were wide and his arms bulky. Despite wanting to claim this man was a stranger to me, I couldn’t help but want to admit that there was something about him that called to me.
He had dirty blonde hair and his brown eyes were kind. I knew I didn’t get my eyes from my mom. I got them from this man. He didn’t ask to sit and I didn’t invite him to. He took one step and was across from me on the other side. He slipped into the seat, put his elbows on the table, and leaned forward. Warm eyes smiled at me even though his lips did not.
“You’re the spitting image of her,” he murmured. His eyes twinkled.
“I don’t have a lot of time, so why don’t you cut to the chase?” I asked.
“You’re a spitfire,” He smiled.
“I’m far from home, meeting a stranger in a cafe. What do you want?” I asked.
“What did she tell you?” He asked.
“She told me that I was here to meet someone…” I trailed off.
“And you just listened?” He asked.
“Why is everyone asking me this today? Yes, despite this whole situation being sketch, I listened. I’m in a public setting with a room filled with people. I’m not worried about being kidnapped or my organs being sold because I’m not stupid enough to leave here with you,” I said.
“Well that’s good to know,” he said.
“You still haven’t answered my question.
“And that was?” He asked.
“I asked you to be clear. Why did I have to meet you here today?” I asked.
“My name is Calum Cadel and I’m the Alpha of the Bluestone pack. I wanted to meet you here today because… I wanted to meet you,” he said.
“That’s it? You just wanted to meet me? You wanted to meet a teenage girl at a coffee shop?” I asked.
“Yes,” he said.
“Right, because that isn’t creepy at all,” I said.
“Do you always speak your mind?” He asked.
No, actually, but I’m not going to tell you that.
“I wanted to see you and I wanted to meet you because I’m your father,” he said.
It seemed as if the world came to a standstill. I already had a sneaking suspicion that he was and maybe I’ve always wanted this day to come, but I couldn’t help the anger that bubbled up inside of me. I’ve longed for the day I could meet him. As a young girl I remember wishing he would come in and rescue me from Greg.
Once upon a time I prayed to the Moon Goddess for him to show up and tell me he wanted me, to tell me he loved me, and wanted to whisk me away. But that was a long time ago and I’m not that same little girl who prayed to the Moon Goddess for help. As much as I prayed, as long as I waited, he never came. So no, I wasn’t happy, I wasn’t excited, and I wasn’t going to pretend that I was. Even if this man is my father, he’s as good as a stranger to me. I don’t know him.
“You expect me to believe that after seventeen years you decided you wanted to meet me? No, what’s the reason?” I asked.
“Must there be a reason for me to want to meet my daughter?” He asked.
“After seventeen years? Yes!” I said.
“I’m here for you, I came to get you, to take you home,” he said.
“I am home,” I hissed.
“I understand that you have a life, friends, and school here. You’ve got two loving parents, but I’m also your parent. I want you in my life and I want to be in yours. You belong with your family,” he said.
I wanted to tell at him, scream that he isn’t making any sense. I wanted to tell him that he’s too damn late. What fucking happy family? I’m bruised, scarred, hell I’ve been burned. I’ve got through so much the past few years that this one thing, this one new thing might be the straw that finally breaks my back. He doesn’t get to show up here as if he cares about me. He doesn’t get to look like a good man, a good father and everything just goes the way he wants.
Even though I wanted to tell him to fuck off, to get the hell out of my face and out of my life I couldn’t help but want to know, no, need to know. I came here hoping to get answers. It isn’t what I was expecting, but this would have to do. I would get some sort of answers. I needed to know.
“Why didn’t you come sooner? Why did you leave me alone? Why didn’t you come for me earlier? Why did you leave me for so long? Why didn’t you at least check on me? If you’d done at least that! If you’d at least… if you had done your part…” I trailed off.
Things could have been different.