"It's over. We're through." my mother yelled. I run towards my father, terrified. "We can't be together anymore." That earns a gasp out of me and a change of expression from my father.
"Honey…" my father pleads. "You said that the last three times and you always come back."
My mother looks enraged. Angry to say the least. " I can't believe you! And even with our child?! Are you serious?!"
I began to yank on my father's shirt, trying to get his attention. "Daddy, what did you do?" I asked with a trembling voice.
"I made a mistake Elizabeth! A mistake..." he replied, completely ignoring me.
"Sleeping with another woman is not a mistake, Philip," she states. I can see her vein clenching in frustration on her forehead. "It's disrespectful."
"But when it's with Jackson, you think it's perfect?" My father is beginning to be frustrated.
"He is the general, Philip. That is different."
"You can't go around with him because he is the general. That's also disrespectful."
"So what? You prove your point by sleeping with some whore you picked up?"
"No, Liz," my father begins to calm himself down. "I prove my point by talking to you about it, like I have tried for the past few months."
"Suggesting we move out of this town is not 'talking about it.' It's ignoring it and keeping me away from the general."
"Exactly. I found a nice house we could move to. In California." The tension begins to disintegrate. "We could change ourselves for the better. Leave this town."
"What about Danielle? She's only 5." my mother asks, glazing at me.
"She'll come as well. She is our daughter after all."
I look up at my father once more as he peers down at me with a smile. "This is for the better."
My mother walked past my father, making her way to me. "What do you think, Danielle? Do you wanna go on a little trip with mommy and daddy?"
"Where are we going, mommy?"
My mother smiled at me sympathetically, then took my hand. "Somewhere better."
***
"Stella-Rose, get down here!" my dad hollers from the downstairs living room.
I come rushing down. "Okay, I'm ready." I'm in a black crop top and torn boyfriend jeans. Topped off with Jaime's basketball blazer.
I take one look at my dad. He's in his usual jeans and top. "Are you sure you want to do this?"
He takes one look at me and chuckles. "My daughter is 17! Of course, I want to see the ratchet guy who's dating her."
He muffles something to himself under his breath.
"What was that?" I question.
"Nothing, nothing," he smiles and we make our way to the car. I roll my eyes at this man.
Mom is already in the car, ready.
We are meeting Jaime and his parents for lunch at the pier. Jaime suggests the idea, so I talked to my parents about it and they said they wanted to come along.
Myself and Jaime have been going out for some time now. 1 year, 5 months, and 17 days to be exact. He's the love of my life.
"So do you want to tell us how you've been keeping this relationship a secret from us all this time?" my mother asks.
"No," I fire back. "You'll see him today anyway."
"I think it's cute," my dad states, adjusting the rearview mirror at me and starting up the engine. "My little girl is growing up more and more each day."
He smiles at me and I mirror it. "Thanks, dad."
When we get to the pier, Jaime's family is already there.
I go over to him and give him a huge hug. "I missed you."
He smiles his perfect smile. "I missed you too."
We take our seats next to each other. I greet his parents and they reciprocate.
We order and the day begins.
"So, how did you two meet?"
Jaime answers. "We were in the same chemistry class 2 years ago, but we've known each other since elementary school."
"Actually, we've shared a lot of classes together, but didn't know much about each other," I shrug. "Then we were paired up for a report together freshman year and had to work on it on weekends.
"Oh, so that's who you said you had a 'study date' with," my father cuts in and smiles. I nod.
"Even after our little 'study dates,' we would hang out. We got to know each other a lot with time," Jaime continues and takes my hand in his.
"Then he confessed to me at one study session, but I rejected him. In the end, though, I found out I had feelings for him too, and here we are."
He glances at me. His green eyes land on mine and I stare into them. Then, lunch continues. A happy day, with my family and the love of my life.
***
"I'm going to Jaime's house later this week," I tell my dad. "He'll be back from Hawaii just in time for our 3 year anniversary."
My father nods, "Just let me know when you're ready to go." He grabs his coffee and heads to his room.
My phone rings. Jaime.
"Hey," I answer.
"Hey baby, how are you?"
"Not good. I miss you so much," I answer.
"I miss you too, but I'll be back Thursday, then we won't be apart anymore."
I smile.
"So what are you up to?" I ask.
"I'm packing, but it made me think of you. I hope you're okay. Long-distance is so damn hard."
I giggle. "You going to college in Hawaii doesn't make it any better."
"Come on baby don't be like that. My dad went here. I had to."
"Right," I say.
"So, how's UCI?"
"Fine, actually. I made new friends. It's nice."
"That's great. Well, let's facetime later. Usual time?"
"Yeah," I smile. "I love you."
"I love you too."
The line goes dead.
"Dad!" I shout. "Let's go get breakfast now! I'm starving!"
I run upstairs to his room. When I open the doors, I find him sprawled across the floor, unconscious.
"Dad?" I shiver in fear. "DAD!" I run to him and try to wake him. Tears form at the brink of my eyes. I scramble for my phone and dial 9-1-1.
My father is rushed to the hospital, where my mother meets us.
"1:58 pm," they said.
"Time of death: 1:58 pm."
That's when everything changed.
***
"Let's move back to our old town, Danielle," my mother says and I nod.
I miss Jaime.
I miss dad.