Page 125 of Resurfaced Passion

Nor did hearing that the Backstreet Boys were reforming.

But there had always been one voice to infuse fear and shock in her throughout her growing years and she couldn’t quite believe she was hearing it, not ten seconds since she let herself into her old apartment that night after her shift to collect some last-minute things and to make sure the power was turned off.

The huge shadow of her father stepped out from the bedroom, bringing Paige to a frozen halt in the middle of her empty living room.

Coldness oozed down her spine.

“Hello, daughter. You don’t look happy to see your old dad.”

Happy? Paige would literally rather see anyone else other than this man.

She’d wondered—dreaded really, when one of her family would turn up one day. It was inevitable with those people, especially if they wanted something. But she’d never reached out to them, not once, never with a birthday or Christmas card or a catch-up letter.

She didn’t know how he was here now or how he found her, but it wasn’t happiness that kept her feet rooted to the carpeted floor.

“Why are you here?” She spoke finally. The laundry basket half full of towels and bedding suddenly felt like cement and she placed it on the floor.

Her father always did present a striking figure.

He was tall, well over six feet with hair the color of wheat. Same as hers. Only now his was dusted in salt and pepper streaks at his temples and he was thinning on top. He’d put on a few pounds since she’d last seen him too, his belly hung lower over his belt.

He might dress like a hardworking cowboy with the boots, jeans and checked shirt but her father wouldn’t know a decent days work if it came up and bit him on the whiskered chin.

No, if there was a con to be had, then sure as shit he’d be in the center trying to make a buck. He’d turned his hand to most anything illegal over the years, especially drugs. But he was never one of those billionaire drug dealers, him being a good provider would have gone some way to making up for the shitty way he treated his family.

He’d been a two-bit dealer who spent more than he earned.

If there was a bread line of poverty then Paige grew up on it. If not for school, she probably wouldn’t have eaten some days.

Happy to see him? The man was nothing more than her tormentor.

Oh, she might be missing chunks of years from her memory, but she remembered him alright. He’d been cruel and manipulativeallher life.

It’s time to earn your keep, Paige. Your mom and me can’t keep footing the bill for new shoes and school clothes for nothin’, you know.”Yeah, that was a great happy seventh birthday for Paige.

“Can’t an old dad drop in to see his daughter?”

“Dads who care? Sure. You? Not so much. What do you want? I don’t have money.”

The false smile dropped immediately. “Don’t be takin’ that tone with me, girl. You’ll remember who I am.”

Paige lifted her eyes, a boldness in her set chin even as her shaking fingers clenched together. “I remember you just fine, dad. And if you’re here now then it means you want something. Let me cut it short for you, no. Whatever it is, no.”

The dark laugh that followed scared her because though her father never in her memory laid a hand on her, he threatened her with the belt plenty of times to keep her in line. He was unpredictable in his tyranny and fear.

“You’ve grown a backbone since you ran away.”

“I didn’t run. I was in an accident and I left.”And none of you ever came to look for me.She added silently.

“An accident?” That smirk again and he started to walk casually around the room before turning his gaze on her once more. “Is that what he told you?”

Confusion became a rushed noise through her ears. Something wasn’t right. Not in her father’s sudden reappearance. Not his smirk or his weird statement.

“He who? I was in a car accident. One you and mom left me to deal with alone, thanks for that. I really felt the love.” It showed she’d been holding onto resentment when the words kept on rolling through her clenched teeth. “Did you know I lost my memory when you left me alone in hospital? I was unconscious for days. And you didn’t even care if I died! All this time you haven’t cared, so I don’t want to hear why you’re here now. How you know I’m here, nothing, dad.”

“Oh, this is fuckin’ rich, girl.” He laughed, standing over by the empty windowsill that overlooked main street. His voice carried through the empty space with an eerie echo.

Paige didn’t find anything funny.

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