Teacher's Pet

22: The Distraction

Dad? Is this some kind of joke that Victoria' playing on me to try and get into my head or something? Because it's not funny.

Lydia: who is this

They responded quickly.

Unknown: Lydia, it's your dad Damien

Lydia: I don't believe you

Unknown: I can prove it. Tomorrow

Lydia: How

Unknown: you'll see

I debated in my head if I should tell my mom. I decided against it. I didn't want to get her riled up for nothing. I guess now it's just a waiting game.

There was a knock at the door. "Lydia?"

"Come in, mom."

"Hey! I just found out I'll have an emergency business trip tomorrow through Sunday. So you'll have the house to yourself."

"Oh okay," I responded. Well, that's convenient.

...

The next day

I was still waiting for my "dad" to prove his identity, but he hadn't texted me since yesterday.

The doorbell suddenly rang and I sighed and walked downstairs. I looked through the peephole and slapped my hand over my mouth. It was him. It was really him. I slowly opened the door

"Hi, Lydia. Is your mom here?"

"No," I deadpanned.

"Can I come in?"

"No."

"Umm, ok then. How have you been?"

"What do you want?"

"What do you mean?"

"When I was a kid and you asked if mom was around, it meant that you wanted something."

"Lydia. I'm sorry for everything. I regret what I did every day. I regret leaving you."

"Do you regret cheating on Mom? Or how about telling a seven-year old you didn't want her and that she was an accident? Do you regret getting drunk all the time? Or slapping mom after she accused you of cheating even though you were in the wrong?" I forced myself to keep calm.

"I honestly didn't think you'd remember all of that since you were so young."

"Well, I did. Because I'm smart. And I clearly didn't get the gene from you." I tried to close the door, but he pushed it back open. "What do you want!"

"Can you please just let me talk to you? I'm sorry. Okay? I'm sorry for everything. If I could change it now I would."

"You had eleven years to come back and say that. So why are you saying it now?" He didn't say anything. I tried to close the door on him again but he pushed it back again.

"I need some money." I scoffed and my jaw dropped. "Nit a lot. I just need a couple hundred dollars."

"Are you fucking kidding me?"

"You're very young. I don't think you should be cursing."

"You don't have the right to tell me what you think I should and shouldn't do! You come back for one day and expect me to give you money! You are a pathetic excuse for a human and an even more pathetic excuse of a 'father'. I was stupid to have a glimpse of hope that maybe you were going to be genuine, but you haven't changed a bit."

"Lydia, please. I got wrapped up in some bad stuff. I need the money."

"I don't give a shit. Get off of my property before I call the cops." I tried to close the door once again and he blocked it.