Chapter 12- Hello Dad

hi dad i hate you...

~

That was all Aidan could say. Melody pushed him to one side gently and opened the door wider.

“Um Mr French come on… please sit down. Aidan will get you a drink, water or orange juice ok? We’re out of coffee I believe.”

“No thanks. Aidan we need to talk in private,” his dad said glancing in Melody’s direction. She took a hint and scarpered up the stairs. Aidan and his dad sat and stared at each other for a while. Aidan spoke first.

“It wasn’t me, it was Doug.”

“Douglas! He’s what 14 I told you to tell him not to bother looking, that it wasn’t safe.”

“Actually,” Aidan said coldly, “He’s 17 and I told him not to try but he didn’t listen and ended up in hospital because of you. Because of all the people who hate you. But the stupid boy still loves you. Not that you’re worth it.” His voice rose steadily till he was shouting. His dad didn’t even flinch.

“Just because you don’t like me and I don’t see you, any of you, very often if at all doesn’t mean I don’t love you all.”

“Love? You don’t know the meaning of the word. Ginny has never even met you. Dougie barley remembers you and I have only seen you twice in twelve years. I took Dougie to school, changed Ginny’s diapers, lay in bed and listened to mum cry each night for months after you left and you talk to me about loving this family. Those two times I saw you was when I turned eighteen and you contacted me for money. The second time was when I gave it to you, you didn’t even say thank you. I haven’t heard a word since either. You don’t know about love only about greed.”

Hot, angry, disappointed tears rolled down his face silently. There were running footsteps on the stairs and Dougie charged in, hugging his dad tightly. Melody had woken him.

“Dad is it really you?” came a small sleepy voice from the doorway.

“Yes sweetheart it is. My you have grown you weren’t even a bump when I left.” She joined Dougie in hugging him; neither of them noticed Aidan's distraught state, something so unlike him. Melody stayed in the doorway watching Ginny and Dougie's reunion with their father then noticed Aidan's unhappy face. She went to him silently and hugged him tightly, kissing away his tears softly.

“I thought they should see him.”

“You’re right but he doesn’t deserve a family like them.” He whispered back fiercely.

“I know sweetheart, I know.”

“I’m sorry this wasn’t the date I had planned for us.”

“It’s ok I’m just glad I was here with you for this. To support you.”

They stayed sat together silently watching as the younger pair bombarded their estranged dad with questions. Where had he been? Why hadn’t he come to see them before? Why had Aidan been shouting? Their dad deftly avoided properly answering any of them. Neither Dougie nor Ginny noticed though but Aidan and Melody did and he certainly knew he was doing it.

He finally left saying he would speak to Aidan soon. Ginny snuggled up to Aidan and Melody. Aidan was now dry eyed but serious faced but she was too happy to notice. Dougie had disappeared to his room.

“Do you think he’ll visit again?! Ginny asked hopefully. Aidan didn’t beat around the bush.

“No sweetheart I don’t think he will.”

“But he said…”

“No he wont Ginny.” Her eyes filled with tears but Aidan didn’t comfort her for once, he knew what he said was only too true.

Author's Note

just be honest and tell me what you think.... i really need to think of something better to say here but this works so well :D