Share

Chapter 4

Author: Miesumae
last update Last Updated: 2023-04-23 05:44:01

"Delancy you're not serious are you?"

"Dad I-"

"Has everyone lost their mind today?" He said walking over to the table and sitting back in his chair until he was staring at the ceiling. "Delancy, how could you even think I would consider something like that?"

I hadn't thought of it before, but I saw now that my father's pride was at stake. He worked tirelessly to provide everything he could for us and accepting help now wasn't something he was going to do.

"It was already so strange and insulting that Charles came and said that to me in my own house but now what you're saying just isn't right."

Hurt filled his voice and he seemed so stressed and frustrated. He even looked like he had aged a little over the few days.

"Dad, he can help us if I-"

"Delancy, I know we have problems, but I told you I would take care of this. There's no need to say meaningless things."

"Dad-"

"I don't want to hear any more about this!" He snapped and got up from the table before slamming the door behind him and leaving the room.

***

Everything. Everything we worked hard for was going up in flames. We were going to lose everything.

I know I said that I would be willing to marry, but I was terrified of the idea. I didn't want to marry and I didn't want to leave my father but what was more terrifying? Leaving my father or losing him?

I contemplated the situation in the silence of my room, the dark shadows around me adding to the atmosphere of emotions building inside when I turned to the curtain-drawn windows.

I couldn't lose him.

The store didn't matter, I couldn't lose my father.

Asking him to accept this help would be like an insult to all his hard work. It was like I was disregarding all his hard work and telling him he could never accomplish anything by himself.

But we needed help.

My father was never a man to beg and ask for anything, or any favors.

I'd watch him work persistently night after night, doing back-breaking work, even when the store was closed. Sleeplessly working so he could fix the smallest of things just so the store could run smoothly.

I understood the hurt in his voice and the insult he must have felt when I told him I wanted to marry his friend's son and that he had let me down to a point where I wanted to resort to that.

He was upset and hurt that he had forced his daughter to even consider that alternative.

The helplessness he must have been feeling to watch everything he worked hard for slip away.

Ruining my future, being unable to provide for me.

The regret that there was nothing he could offer me beyond the store.

The feeling that he had failed me as a father and that there was nothing he could give me in life.

I understood it all but we still needed help and I was willing to sacrifice everything.

"Delancy."

I sat up and turned to the doorway. My father stood there sheepishly before trotting over to where I was.

"I'm sorry about earlier. I didn't mean anything," He said rubbing the nape of his neck.

"It's okay, I understand."

An awkward silence dragged on in the room for what felt like a minute until he approached me again.

"I shouldn't have been upset with you. You didn't mean anything so I'm sorry."

"Dad," I said pushing myself to the edge of the bed.

"What is it?"

"Please allow me to do this."

My father stared at me incredulously, unable to believe that I was still considering the offer.

"Delancy, have you gone mad?"

"Please dad, I want to make everything better," I said leaning forward until I was touching the ground. "I already understand what you are feeling, but please listen to what I have to say."

"Delancy! Enough of this nonsense!" He said heatedly through gritted teeth. "Didn't I tell you to stop thinking like this? Nothing is going to happen, so there's no reason to talk like this."

"Dad, don't you know?"

My father's expression pulled into one of confusion. My question hung in the air around us like a blanket.

"I can't allow this."

"It seems that you don't know me very well, but I'm a very selfish person."

"What?"

"I can't live in this place knowing that something can happen at any minute. I won't be able to live with myself if I know you're in trouble and I don't do anything to help you when I know I can. How can I face my friends and everyone if they knew we were in ruin? Do you see Dad, I'm very selfish and I only want this for myself."

My father looked appalled as I spoke, my words seeming to stir something inside him.

"Dad, understand. I have to save you for me. I can't live without you."

My own words hurt and shocked me but in all sense they were true. I didn't want to marry, I didn't want any of this, and I wanted to bury my face into my pillow and cry. I wanted to run to someone and tell them how afraid I was and beg for help. I wasn't strong enough to stop my legs from shaking and hiding how much I wish we weren't in this situation. But I needed to be strong for us.

From the moment my father told me about his friend's offer, I felt burdened by the decision. I knew I had to make a choice.

I was trapped and forced between two painful decisions I didn't want to take. Burdened by the fact that I could help my father or let him suffer.

Leaving my home or losing it.

Moving on to a new life or staying in this one forever.

It was all my choice, and I was suffering between the decisions.

"Delancy," he said, his tone strong and harsh, jolting me. "You have so many opportunities waiting for you. You are young, beautiful, and smart. I know there's an amazing person inside you waiting to take on the world but for now let me fix this. I'm supposed to take care of you, you're supposed to rely on me. If anything comes our way or if anything happens to me, I will take care of it, you don't need to worry. Struggling, difficulties, and problems, that's what a father is for. You're my daughter and I'm your father. This is my problem so let me take the fall."

Tears welled in my eyes and my hands clung to my father's shirt as I buried my face into it and sobbed.

It was unfair. My father didn't deserve this. He was a good person who worked too hard all his life. There was no way we were going to survive this. I was going to lose him.

"Please," I said desperately, hating the way my voice sounded weak and the helplessness I felt. "Don't do this alone."

"Delancy-"

"Please," I said stronger this time. "Don't tell me you can fix this and you don't need my help."

"Delancy-"

"Please," my voice was trembling. "I don't want to lose you. I already lost my mother. I can't lose you too." I swallowed the lump that had formed in my throat and pulled my face away from his shirt.

I stared into his eyes with blazing determination and strength. "Let me save you this time, I can take the fall."

I couldn't say exactly what transpired at that moment but my father took the back of my head and pushed it forward until it was resting against his shoulder.

"You've already given up your dreams for me. I can't allow you to give up your life."

"Dad, you're my life. You've taken more falls for me than I can even account for. Let me do this."

"To give you away to a stranger... For what is the price of a store? Delancy, I don't care about anyone but you. Not the store, not Charles, You."

"I won't always be with you."

"I know but-"

"I'm old enough to take this step and I won't allow you to prevent me from doing so. It's my turn to pay the price, I can take the fall."

Silence filled the air as he stared at me quietly, his expression masked by the dimness of the room.

"There's nothing I can say to stop you is there?" Silence filled the air yet again as he spoke. "Delancy," the emotion in his voice was unable to be masked. "You are a very stubborn girl. Your mother would've been proud of you."

"I know."

"I can't say I'm happy with this or that I think it's right but-"

I dived forward and hugged my father, not holding back any of the tears or emotions brewing inside me.

"I know," I whispered through his tear-riddled shirt. "I know."

Continue to read this book for free
Scan code to download App

Latest chapter

  • The Good Wife   Part II Chapter 7

    "It's ready!" Charlotte, Eric's wife cat Eric's househimed as she pulled a cake tin out of her oven and beamed at me. Kerrick, Kaleb and I were spending the evening at Eric's house with after he invited us. Earlier I decided to give his wife a hand in the kitchen while Kerrick and Eric were sitting out front talking and the boys were playing in the living room."My Eric and Nathan love chocolate," She laughed while putting the freshly baked cake on a cooling rack.Charlotte was petite and had pale blonde hair unlike her dark haired well built husband and son, but she had a radiant smile and bubbly personality that made her very likeable. "How about Kerrick and Kaleb? What flavor cake do they like?" She asked while looking over at our boys playing."Um well," I said smiling at her eager curiosity. "Kerrick doesn't eat cake, he's Diabetic and Kaleb isn't very fond of sweets.""Oh!," Charlotte exclaimed before blushing with embarrassment. "I'm sorry, I didn't know." "It's okay," I laug

  • The Good Wife   Part II Chapter 6

    "You're home early," I commented as Kerrick put his car keys in the top drawer of the table in the living room. "Oh, and you're wearing your glasses.""I couldn't read the prompt during my meeting." He sighed in resignation. "I guess I'll have to get used to them.""So how did it go, did they like your ideas?" I inquired as he sat down on the couch."Yea, they did." He murmured as I sat beside him and put his head in my lap."That's good. What are your plans moving forward?" I said running my fingers through his hair.A soft smile traced across his lips as he tilted his head up to look at me. "I'm glad you're taking an interest in what's happening."I smiled back at him and nodded."E&E's sell canned goods as you know so with the new canning machine we have at the factory we can easily output at least ten thousand cans a week." He smiled."Wow, that's great!" I remarked."We also found a manufacturer who can deliver all the raw materials we need at reduced cost and high quality so our

  • The Good Wife   Part II Chapter 5

    As I put the finishing touches on tonight's meal, I couldn't help but watch in awe as steam slowly billowed out of the pot on the stove. The tantalizing aroma wafted through the air, making my mouth water in anticipation of the delicious meal ahead. I was in the middle of turning off the stove when I heard Kerrick's car pull into our driveway so I quickly headed to the door to greet him. As soon as he walked in, I noticed a glimmer in his eyes that seemed to suggest that he was filled with excitement. "You look happy, what happened at work?" I asked curiously. Instead of replying he picked me up bridal style and spun me around and I clung to him and burst out laughing at his unusual behavior until he put me down. "I did it, Delancy," He said hugging me. "I got a client!" "What!?" I mumbled out shocked but as I locked eyes with him he nodded with confirmation. I hugged him in elation and began jumping around while holding him. "This is amazing news! I'm so proud of you!" "It's, tru

  • The Good Wife   Part II Chapter 4

    "Do you have everything packed?" I asked Kaleb as he was getting ready to go off to school."Yes Mom," He answered as he threw his backpack on and headed towards the door."Don't forget this," I said handing him his lunchbox as he thanked me. Just then Kerrick came down the stairs and called him."Kaleb," He said going up to him and hugging him. "I love you.""Um, thanks Dad," Kaleb responded bewildered. He seemed caught off guard by his unusual actions but said nothing as he bid us goodbye before heading off to school."Is everything okay?" I asked."Yes, It's just that my dad never told me he loved me so I wanted to make sure I never forget to tell Kaleb." He said looking out the window at our son heading up the road."Wait are you serious?" I asked in disbelief.He paused and turned to me silently. "You were the first person to ever tell me that you loved me."My heart nearly broke when Kerrick confessed this and I instinctively reached for him."It's okay. I don't care about that

  • The Good Wife   Part II Chapter 3

    A few days had passed after meeting Charles and although Kerrick gave him no answer he was still pushing the idea of a merger. As of right now, I decided to visit my dad while Kerrick was at work and Kaleb was at school so I could get my mind off the situation. As I approached my dad's store and my old home, pleasant memories flooded my mind and a smile broke out on my face when I saw my best friends standing right outside the doors. When they noticed me they ran and hugged me and I burst out laughing. Samantha and Victoria always knew how to lighten my mood and I was so lucky to have them as my friends. "You caught us on our way out!" Victoria said between giggles."Oh, I should've come sooner." I apologized. "It's fine, we'll call later," Samantha added as she hurried up to her car."Where are you guys going ?" I inquired as I watched them."I have to pick up my daughter from daycare," Samantha said unlocking her door. "And I'm meeting up with my boyfriend!" Victoria added with

  • The Good Wife   Part II Chapter 2

    Kerrick was carrying Kaleb on his shoulders when we came home from the football match. Kaleb was still riled up from his win even hours after and couldn't stop talking about it. Kerrick and I were very proud of him and we laughed as we watched our son could bask in his victory."Kaleb, weren't you nervous when you were about to score?" I asked as I helped him down from Kerrick's shoulders."No, I knew I could make it," He smiled and ran around the living room, still full of energy.I smiled as I watched him beam with happiness but I couldn't take my mind off Kerrick's words."My business deal fell through"Kerrick didn't say anything else about it the entire evening but I knew he must've been crushed after all the efforts he put in. At dinner, he listened to Kaleb's recount of the earlier segments of the match that he'd missed and apologized for not being there but all was forgiven as happiness was the only thing on our son's face."Kaleb, go get some sleep, you must be tired," I said

More Chapters
Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on GoodNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP
DMCA.com Protection Status