Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 77372 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77372 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
“Daddy?” It was late in the afternoon. I had slept in, not realizing how tired I was. My body felt groggy from such a heavy sleep, but I really wanted to see my father and speak to him. This ignoring bit was getting out of hand. “Daddy?” I walked around to the kitchen but he wasn’t there. I picked up the pace and walked around the house, but I couldn’t find him. I went up to his room and opened the door. My dad had left. I had no idea where he was. My father usually stayed home and rarely went out. His attacks happened at any time so if he wasn’t at the diner he was home nursing his pain; then again he wasn’t sick anymore. Fuck. Where did he go? My shoulders slumped and I felt sick to my stomach. My father never went to this extreme when he was angry with me. I went to the kitchen and made myself breakfast. My stomach growled the moment I started making food. Man, I was hungry. I sat down at the table and picked up my phone. No messages from Daimon. At least this day had a silver lining.
I had finished my food and wound up on the couch. The images of Darren’s face came to my mind as I was channel surfing. I had never seen him look at me like that. What the hell was I going to do now? My attention was diverted when I heard the front door open and my dad walk in with bags full of food.
“Dad?” I called out as I stood up to help him with the grocery bags. “What are you doing?” I asked.
“Getting us food,” he said as he walked in. I took some of the bags back to the kitchen and placed them on the counter.
“I thought you left to avoid me,” I said quietly, not realizing I was crying. My father gently placed the rest of the bags on the table and slowly made his way to me. He put his hand on my shoulder and squeezed it.
“I understand why you did what you did and as each day goes by and I feel better, I know you did the right thing for me. But I need time, time to understand what happened and why it all went wrong. I failed your mother and our little dream and it hurts to know I did that,” he said ruefully.
“You blame me. I know you do,” I said without looking at him.
“Part of me did, but only because I needed to be angry at someone. I'm sorry, Addie. I’m sorry you had to go through this all alone. I’m sorry I put you in that position.” He pulled me closer and hugged me.
“It’s okay,” I murmured as I held onto him. I never realized how much I needed my father’s arms around me, holding me close and making me feel safe.
***
Two days went by without one word from Daimon. Not until Sunday morning that is, when my father called out to me, “Addie, hurry up and come downstairs.” I managed to make it downstairs to my father, who was holding a bottle of champagne in one hand and a New York Times in the other. “It was delivered for you,” he said gesturing for me to take the items. I took the bottle and placed it on the floor. I looked at the newspaper and wondered. He couldn’t have, could he? I pulled out the sections and found what I was looking for.
The groom, wealthy entrepreneur Daimon Evans owner of Evans Industry and Evans Investment Group, is marrying Addie Sakis. Both met in high school and have kept in contact ever since. “I loved her from the first moment I met her,” Daimon said with his eyes beaming with love for his childhood sweetheart. “She’s changed me and I could never let her go. Addie is the greatest thing that could have happened to me.” The bride-to-be’s father owned a quaint ethnic restaurant. Both her mother and father came here to live out the American dream and find a better life for their children. Sofia, the younger sister is attending Yale, living out the dream for Addie, who had to miss out on the opportunity because of her mother’s passing. “Addie deserves the best and I’ll make sure I give that to her.” Daimon continued to smile as he talked about his future wife. “Daimon is a dream come true and I thank the heavens for him every day,” Addie didn’t shy away from how she felt about her man. “He takes good care of me and I love him more every day that we are together. I can’t express how much I want to be married to him right now, that’s why we both can’t wait any longer and are going to be married next week.” It might seem rushed by our standards, but these two lovebirds have been in love since high school. “No point in waiting any longer. My girl and I will live out our lives together from now on.”