Page 10 of Redemption
Inside the hospital, we walk silently side by side until we are on the elevator, taking us to my father’s office. Nerves flip my stomach. There’s a sore spot on my hand where I’ve dug my fingernails a thousand times over the last few days. The tenderness doesn’t stop me from doing it again as I count the numbers, taking us up to my dad.
I still talk to my dad on the phone, but our conversations never last long before I make an excuse to rush off the phone.Everything that’s happened with my family should have pushed us closer, but truthfully, it only tore the rift between us wider. I never know what to say to my parents.
There’s a loud ding, and the elevator doors slide open.
My dad waits on the other side.
For his age, he’s still handsome, with silver hair gelled back into a professional cut and limbs that make him tower over most people. He’s dressed impeccably in a suit, his typical uniform when he isn’t in his white coat, and the watch on his wrist screams wealth. Appearances are still important to the man.
A hushed gasp slips past my lips when his gaze clashes with mine. There’s a tenderness in his eyes that I can’t ever remember seeing there before. It leaves me a little breathless and unable to think of anything to say.
Then he clears his throat, and that cool, distant professional I grew up with is back on his face. It’s sad, but it almost brings me comfort to see. It’s like a well-worn blanket. Maybe it has holes, but the sentiment has you keeping it. I didn’t know what to do with the love I saw in his eyes, but I do know what to do with the man standing before me now.
“What’s up, Pops?” I say, putting on the mask of the girl I was when I left here. We all have our roles to play, and mine has always been the one who pushes buttons just to see how far she can go.
“Mallorie Jade,” he greets, his voice deep and distant, “I heard you had some trouble on your way into town.”
Shrugging, I say, “Eh—nothing that hasn’t ever happened before.”
The muscle in his jaw ticks. It’s obvious he’s recalling the first time he had to bail me out of jail, and it’s not a fond memory for him.
For the record, it’s not for me either, but I refuse to let him know that.
“Follow me to my office, please,” he says.
At least he says please. My mother would never.
Mom, whom I had forgotten about until now, follows behind him, her heels clacking against the tile floor as she goes. As they walk, my dad reaches behind him, taking her hand in his. For everything bad I have to say about my parents, that’s one place I can’t criticize them. My dad loves my mom, and vice versa. I’m just not sure they know how to love anyone outside of that bubble—including their daughter.
We make it to his office without passing a single person, and for that, I’m grateful. I’m sure the rumor mill about Hayes and me is already going wild, and I don’t want to answer any questions right now—actually ever.
Walking into my dad’s office makes me feel like I’m a ten year old little girl again, excited for a chance to see my dad. Eventually, the excitement of coming here wore off, and I realized that this place and the reputation he had because of it would always mean more to him than his family. But after not seeing him for the past six years, I can’t help letting a small part of the broken girl who would have done anything for her dad’s attention hope that this will be the time her dad actually sees her.
“Have a seat, Mallorie Jade,” my dad says, motioning towards the chairs in front of his desk. He sits in his chair, and my mom stands behind him, resting her hand on his shoulder.
Ignoring him, I stand, taking in the space where I could always count on finding my dad.
Nothing has changed in his office since I’ve been gone. It’s still the same sterile environment it’s always been, with the exception of the family picture that sits on a bookshelf behind him, and even that was my mom’s doing. My throat aches as I stare at the image where we are all smiling, and Langston is right there in the middle with the biggest smile of all of us.
With a harsh swallow, I turn my head, unable to look at it any longer.
My dad watches me from his desk. His eyes are guarded, hiding his thoughts, but I can guess them. They’ve always been the same—Look at you, Mallorie Jade, causing a scene again.Don’t you ever learn, Mallorie Jade?Or my personal favorite,I’m so disappointed in you, Mallorie Jade.
While he scrutinizes me under his cool gaze, I stiffen my spine and sit up straighter, refusing to let him see any weakness. It’s why the next words out of his mouth catch me off guard. “I’m glad you’re home, Mallorie Jade. I’ve missed you.”
My mouth drops open, a response on the tip of my tongue, but I can’t get it out. The shock has frozen me in place. This is like the equivalent of my dad telling me he loves me, and honestly, I can’t ever remember that happening. He’s not a touchy-feely kind of guy. It’s like I’ve entered an alternate universe between this and how my mom acted earlier.
Just as I think I have a coherent thought formed to respond, his office phone rings, and he picks it up, lifting one finger and indicating that I should wait one moment.
“Dr. Harrison….yes, yes, I’ll be there.” He hangs up the phone, and like every other time I’ve been in his office, he stands up to leave within minutes of me getting here.
“I have to go,” he says, walking around his desk to stand beside me. He places his hand on my shoulder and gives it a light squeeze. I tilt my head back until I’m staring into his face—a face I’ve dreamed so many times would look at me with love and not disappointment. When I meet his gaze, he gives me a wink, and for what feels like the millionth time today, I’m left flabbergasted. With a cheeky grin I’ve never seen him wear, he continues, “Try to stay out of trouble.”
Then he’s gone, and I’m left in the twilight zone.
Chapter 4
Mallorie Jade
