Walking Fragile Lines

Part Time Life

"You're kidding me, right?", she asked. Brian shook his head as he took a deep breath.

"I'm so sorry baby", he said sincerely. Brian heard her sigh as she cleared her throat.

"What happened to the red eye?", she asked. Brian knew he should tell her about the night before, but she was already disappointed - he didn't want to make matters worse, he hated it when Liv was upset.

"We were just so tired after the meet and greet", he half lied. "I really am sorry, Liv", he told her once more.

"It's okay. It can't be helped, I guess", he heard her sigh. "I'll record it for you", she suddenly continued.

"Thank you", he said. "I love you", he told her.

"Love you too", she said before hanging up. Hearing the disappointment in his wife's voice left an ache in Brian's heart that he found impossible to shake. He then pictured the look of disappointment on his daughter's face when she realised her dad would not be watching her show.

Brian spent the entire flight home staring out of the window and wondering how he was going to make this right. The guys didn't say much, sensing his anger with himself and Brian was grateful. The last thing he wanted was more guilt for snapping at his friends. When they arrived at the airport, Brian said goodbye to the guys before heading out to his jeep and making the drive home, wondering what would happen once he got there. He couldn't help but replay the short conversation he had had with Liv over the phone and how upset she sounded. It was one thing to let one person he loved down, but two? Brian felt like a perfect ass.

The house was quiet when he entered, but Liv's car sitting in the driveway told him that they were home. He made his way up to his bedroom where Liv stood at the foot of their bed, folding some laundry as she barely acknowledged his arrival.

"Hey", he spoke softly.

"Hi", she responded shortly, continuing her folding. "How was your flight?", she asked, her eyes not meeting his once.

"It was okay", he said. The room fell into a quick silence as he watched her placing the neatly folded pile into a drawer. "Liv, I'm really sorry", Brian dared to apologise once more.

"It's not me you should be apologising to right now", she told him simply as she began to gather dirty laundry to put into a basket. Brian sighed. He knew she was right. There was one person who needed an apology more than anyone and hadn't even gotten it yet. He silently made his way towards his daughter's room, knocking on the door before daring to enter. Maci sat up on her bed with a notebook in her lap and a pen in her hand as she looked up at her father.

"Hey cutie", he smiled warmly as he shut the door behind him.

"Hey daddy", Maci smiled back at him as she placed her things on her bedside table.

"How did it go today?", he asked awkwardly as he ran his fingers through his hair.

"It went okay", Maci smiled sadly.

"I'm so sorry I couldn't be there Maci. I really wanted to be", he said sadly as he sighed.

"It's okay. You had to work and I know it's important", she simply shrugged. The ache Brian already felt in his heart only intensified at her sudden remark as he took a seat on the edge of her bed, placing his hand on her knee.

"Hey", he said, earning her full attention. "Nothing in this entire world is more important to me than you, your brother and your mom, okay?", he told her. Maci stared at him silently for a moment before giving him a small nod. "I messed up this time, and I really am sorry, but you guys always come first. Never forget that", he continued as he kissed the top of her head. Brian was relieved when he felt her little arms snake around his neck, pulling him down into a hearty hug.