Episode 14

I gave my address to Liam and closed my eyes. I didn't feel like talking, although I was very grateful to him. It didn't take long to reach my family home. After about an hour, I heard Liam waking me up. I blinked against the light and looked around me. I saw Liam peering at me.

"Hey Hannah. This is your house, right?" Liam asked as he straightened up. I nodded and stepped out. Liam walked beside me. I took a deep breath. I started to walk towards the front door when it flew open and a blur of long, auburn curly waves flew towards me, throwing itself bodily on top of me. In an attempt to keep my balance, I grabbed it by the waist. Amidst the overflowing hair, blubbering, tearful mess was Hailey, my gorgeous younger sister. I peeled her off me and looked at her. She was shaking and crying.

"Hailey, what's wrong? Is he really that bad?" I asked, fearing the worst.

"No, I'm just glad you're here... He's driving me crazy!!" Hailey wailed as she hugged me tight. I was winded and almost lost balance.

"Really, Hailey?! Honey, you're choking me.." I gasped and tried to extricate Hailey's octopus-like arms clinging tightly to my neck. Hailey grudgingly let go of me. I breathed out in relief and smoothen my wrinkled top. Hailey stood awkwardly in front of me in a sulk. Well, that is until her gaze fell on Liam. Suddenly, she blossomed and her hair and face started rearranging themselves accordingly. She began to smile shyly.. I rolled my eyes.. Here we go..

"Oh, we have company. Hi, I'm Hailey."Hailey said in a sultry voice that came out of nowhere. She glided closer to Liam, who looked amuse,as if she was on skates.

"Uhm, hi. I'm Liam." Liam said awkwardly, his hands in his pockets.

"Hey Liam, come on in." Hailey said as she slipped her skinny arm around his and pulling him with her. Amused at her brazen flirting, I followed behind as we walked to the front door. Hailey opened the door and welcomed Liam in, asking him to take a seat. Liam did.

I put my luggage down and took a deep breath. I walked upstairs, towards my dad's room. When I reached the first door, I took a deep breath again, bracing for the worst. I knocked timidly on the door. Somebody saud, come in. I opened the door slowly. There he sat. In his bed, looking cross. My step-mom Lydia was red in the face. She looked lije sge was about to explode. But when she saw me, her face broke into a huge smile.

"Hannah! You came home!" She exclaimed happily as she walked towards me and we hugged. I've always liked Lydia. She was very nice, patient and the only person who could handle my tenacious father. I really felt sorry for her sometimes. My dad could really suck the life out of anybody who is close to him. And Lydia was no exception. Looking at her slender frame, I thought she had probably lost a few pounds since the last time I saw her.

"Hi, Lydia." I said as she put her arm around my shoulder and walked me towards my dad who was sitting upright on his bed.

"Hi, dad. How are you?" I said as I went closer to him. My dad looked at me and grunted. His eyes peered at me. I squirmed under his scrutiny. We were never a huggy kissy family. Dad was an army officer. He ruled rather than 2 us. I couldn't remember the last time dad actually hugged me and Hailey. He sometimes treated us lije his recruits rather than his daughters. Ethan, my little1 step brother was terrified if him. Ethan's 10 and he's dad's and Lydia's kid.

"Well, I am a cripple for the time being. Damn telephone pole came out of nowhere. I was droving straight on the road just fine and that pole just jumped in front of me." Dad grumbled a little as he complained. As usual, nothing was his fault. It was always the fault of every body else, never his. He's perfect.

"Are you sure dad? You were drinking that day, weren't you?" I said gently as I sat by his bed.

" I only had a glass of red wine. 1 glass. It's that stupid town council, putting that damn pole where anybody could hit it." Dad said gruffly as he glared at me. I decided to change the subject. Especially after Lydia gave me a pleading look.

"Um, so is your leg broken?" I asked, trying to be pleasant.

"Well, it's in a cast, isn't it? Of course it's broken. So, what took you so long to come home?" Dad asked grumpily as he shut the laptop on the breakfast tray on his lap.

"Well, I was on a study trip in the national park. I had no transportation to come back. Thank goodness a friend drove me home." I explained. Dad just grunted as he peered at me.

"What friend? The blonde airhead with that high annoying voice?" Dad said, meaning to say Amy. I rolled my eyes.

"No, another friend. A..guy friend." I said hesitantly, not really sure why I said that.

Dad's eyebrows shot up, as did Lydia's. He looked at me closely. He cleared his throat, taking off his reading glasses.

"So where's this 'friend' of yours?" Dad asked casually, hardly able to hide the curiousity from his voice.

"He's downstairs. I'll go get him." I said and gulped as I went downstairs. As I reached the living room, I saw Liam and Hailey talking. They looked really cozy. Hailey sat so close to him, she was practically sitting on his lap. Ivfelt a lump in my throat. The way they were interacting with each other just bothered me a lot. Dismissing the uneasy feeling, I cleared my throat as I entered the living room. Both of them looked up.

"Hey, so is your dad okay?" Liam asked as he got up and turned to me. Hailey just lounged on the sofa and looked at us.

"Um, he wants to meet you." I said with a small smile that looked almost like a wince. Liam loojed a little surprised but just shrugged and followed me up the stairs. Hailey went up too, glued to his side. I didn't know why that bothered me, but it did. When we reached my dad's room, Liam went in, too, close behind me.

"Um, dad, this is Liam. Liam, this is my dad," I introduced them to each other. Liam went forward and offered his hand. Dad and him shook hands.

"Good to meet you, sir." Liam said with a smile.

"You play sports, Liam?" Dad asked out of the blue. Liam was a little taken aback with dad's question but he just smiled.

"Um, yeah. Basketball." Liam answered.

" Oh, really? I knew you're a jock. You got a nice, strong body. I wish Hannah here plays sports. Then maybe she could lose some weight." Dad said and I heard Lydia gasped in surprised. I resisted the urge to leave the room as I felt myself redden. Hailey looked disapprovingly at dad. Liam just shrugged as he glanced at me casually.

"I don't know, sir. Hannah looks perfect to me." Liam said as he shrugged. I felt so humiliated and tried to hold the tears of embarrassment. Dad scoffed as he rolled his eyes.

"Um, honey, time for tea. I'm going to the kitchen to get the chicken pie from the oven. Let's just have tea together here. Hailey, Hannah, come help me." Lydia said, over- enthusiastically. She was trying to get dad off my back. And I was grateful for that.

"Yeah, ok. You'll be alright here, Liam?" I asked worriedly.

"I'll be fine." Liam said with a reassuring smile as he sat down beside dad's bed. Dad looked happy with the company.

So, Lydia, Hailey and I trudged down the stairs towards the kitchen. Once in tbe kitchen, I plopped into the breakfast chair and groaned. Hailey threw an apologetic smile as she took a teapot to make the tea. Lydia took the oven mittens and took out the freshly baked pie. She put it on a cooling rack as she looked at me and sighed. She put a comforting hand on my shoulder. I took a deep breath, trying to cool off.

"Why can't he just stop his obsession with me being skinny?! I wish he would be proud of me and not care about my body." I whined and groaned as I refused to continue to follow what he said.

"Oh honey, you know how blunt he could get and there is nothing any of us can do about it." Lydia said and sighed.

"I know Lydia. But I always wish he would mellow down. And love me for me. " I said a little morosely and smiled.

Lydia put an arm around my shoulders and patted me comfortingly.

"I know dear, but all we can do is just ignore him. You know how he hates it if we try to argue with him. As long as you're happy, just let him be." Lydia said. I knew she was right. But really, his put downs just never hurt less, no matter how often I hear it. I sighed and hoped I could hold it together until I leave.

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