“Where’s dad?” I asked my mom as I settled on the couch in the living room. It’s been two days since I’ve been back in San Diego and I still haven’t seen him. I heard a sigh coming from the kitchen where my mom stood by the counter making me turn around to face her.
“He’s been stuck at work sweetie.”
“All this time?! Does he even know about Tommy being back in the hospital?”
“Of course he does, I called him when I was taking Tommy to the hospital.” She said as she walked over to my side.
“And?” I said just as we heard the front door unlocking causing us both to turn around in that direction. He was finishing up a call as he walked into the house, not noticing us as he looked down at the ground. He hung up his jacket and placed his briefcase down as he loosened up his tie.
“Hi dad.” I said, making him finally look up to face us.
“Lauren? Did break come early?” He said as his lightly freckled face crinkled in confusion.
“No. I flew down on Thursday.”
“For what?” He said sternly. “Don’t get me wrong I love when you visit but you can’t be missing school just to be here.” He quickly added in once he saw my expression.
“Tommy. He’s in the hospital.”
“Ah!” he swiped his hand in the air and walked away with no interest in what I just said making me follow right behind him. “You’re going to be back to school on Monday right?”
“No dad, I’m not going anywhere.” He spun on his heels and stepped closer to where I sat with my mom.
“What do you mean you’re not going anywhere? We spent a lot of money for you to go to the school you wanted. You’re not going to just throw it all away because you decide that you want to see your brother.” He said with a stern voice as he wagged his finger at me with every word.
My dad wasn’t usually mean, I mean he had a tough demeanor that made him look rather intimidating, it was why he was so good at his job, but he hardly raised his voice at us. My dad wasn’t the tallest guy out there, barley 5’ll but he had a strong built with a wide back and stocky shoulders. He had a tan complexion and black wired hair cut short on the sides and combed back in a neat manner. I swallowed the bulge in my throat as I tried to look away from his piercing green eyes that were glaring at me, waiting for my response.
“I can’t go dad. Tommy needs me; he needs us to be there for him.”
“Ah, he’s fine. He will be back on his feet in a couple of days. There is no need for you to be skipping school for that.”
“No dad, you’re wrong. It’s not like the first time that he was held in the hospital for a couple of days and was good again. It’s bacterial this time.” I saw something flash in his eyes at my last words but they were gone before I can acknowledge them before he can put back his poker face. I knew he wasn’t going to budge, if it was one thing my dad was good at it was being stubborn, but so was I. My dad shook his head, and walked to the counter to riffle through the mail. “Don’t you care what happens to your only son? He can be gone and all you are worried about is your job, am I right?”
“My job is what puts a roof over all of our heads, if it wasn’t for my hard work you and your brother wouldn’t have all these things you are always asking for.”
“All I’m asking for is for you to step away from your work for once and be there for Tommy, he needs us Dad, don’t you get that?” He looked away from me and turned to my mom as he put his hand in his pocket and took out his wallet. He opened it up and took out one of his cards. He put his wallet back and handed the card to my mom.
“Make sure she gets her ticket, I don’t want her falling behind.” He looked up at me as she took it reluctantly. “You’ve missed enough already and like I said your brother is going to be fine. You’re mother can call you when he’s out. “ I shook my head in frustration and got up from my seat. I grabbed the keys from the counter and walked past my dad as I headed towards the door.
“I can’t believe you.” I muttered as I grabbed my bag from the hook and opened the door.
“Where do you think you’re going young lady?” I gripped the door handle and turned to face my dad.
“To do what you can’t seem to do.” I stepped out, closing the door behind me before jogging out to the car before another argument arose. I jumped inside the car and turned it on just as my dad walked out of the front door. I see him glare at me from the front porch as I back out of the driveway and start to drive away.
My dad can be stubborn all he wants and try to push me to go back to school but he won’t stop me from doing what I came here to do and that was being there for Tommy. I can get kicked out of school for all I cared. My first priority was to be here and be the be the best I could to be his support. Nothing was going to stop me.