Page 123 of Poetry of Flowers

I kissed his forehead. “Please never change.”

A car drove towards us and stopped. Remy held my hand tighter and together we stood up. I wasn’t going to lie, my heart was racing in my chest, and I felt like I was about to throw up, that’s how anxious I was. The fear that alcohol could have changed my father forever was probably written all over my face.

Aunt Cecily had asked if they should come to stay, so we could all welcome him, but I told her to come later that day.

My brother and I needed to do this on our own.

A tall, well-groomed man stepped out. His eyes didn’t look as dark anymore, his cheekbones weren’t poking out of his skin. He had gained weight, a healthy weight he hadn’t had when he left. His hair was brushed back neatly, and he had grown a beard.

My father’s eyes lit up when he saw us.

Remy let go of my hand and ran straight into our father’s arms, who shook with a sob while his son almost squeezed him to death.

For a moment, I was frozen in place before I followed my little brother and hugged my father tightly.

“Oh, my two babies, I missed you so much.”

He said, his laugh full of happiness.

That voice.

That laugh.

That smile.

This man was the father I had grown up with.

“We missed you too, Dad!” Remy told him.

“Look at how big you have gotten, my boy.” My father squatted in front of Remy.

“I grew two whole inches; Aunt Ceci checked each week.” My brother nodded proudly.

Dad ruffled his hair and grinned from ear to ear.

“I can’t believe I missed your growth spurt.”

“It’s alright, I’m still growing.” Remy grinned to make Dad feel better.

“I have to show you the cake I made with Tillie’s help!” my brother said excitedly.

He had asked me this morning if we could bake Dad’s favorite cake and I helped him a little, meaning I cleaned up the mess behind him after he and Kayden had made the cake. I was not very useful when it came to food.

“Why don’t you go inside, and we come right after?”

Dad stood up after my brother nodded and ran off.

“He missed you a lot,” I said.

His blue eyes softened.

“Come here” he pulled me in his arms. The feeling I had when I hugged my father and didn’t smell alcohol on him for the first time after almost ten years was overwhelming.

“My Tillie. I’m so sorry I made you grow up too fast.”

“Those things are in the past, Dad. We’re in the present. I can’t forget everything, but I can forgive. And I do, I forgive you.”

As I was pulling away, I saw tears in his eyes.

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