Disclaimer: We all know I don't own anything.
Was initially intended as a one shot however I think maybe I can run with this ?
Feedback always appreciated :-)
The attic was warm and dusty, illuminated by the soft glow of the evening sunset pouring through the skylight. Boxes scattered around where she sat digging through each one. She wasn't entirely sure what she was searching for, there must be something in here to reference for her assignment. She knew when she found it. "Gotcha" she murmured and pulled out a medical reference book of her mother's. Katherine examined the dark blue cover and skimmed over the summary on the back, this would do, she wasn't all that bothered for her science classes but seemed to have a natural talent for them, so in an effort to never do something half hearted she was searching for decent reference material. Katherine moved to uncross her legs and caught sight of an old photograph at the bottom of the box. She picked the photograph up and examined it, a smile appearing across her face. The picture was of a baby, her brows furrowed. Why would a baby picture of her be in an old box in the attic? Katherine looked around but couldn't find any more photos only books and a few scribbled notes on book chapters, obviously her mothers writing, and then it dawned on her this wasn't her. She had seen pictures of her as a baby and she was born with lots of dark hair, this baby was bald. The sound of footsteps at the bottom of the ladder startled Katherine out of her trance and she quickly stuffed the picture into the back pocket of her jeans.
"Hey chip, you up there?" she smiled, she loved when her dad called her that. It was born from an off the cuff remark her mum had made about her being a chip off the old block where her father was concerned and so ever since that day he called her chip.
"Yeah dad I'm coming down in a sec" she quickly stacked the boxes away, collected the book and headed down the ladder. "What were you doing up there?" her dad asked a soft smile on his face. Katherine held up the book in front of her dad "I wanted a book to reference for my science work, do you think mum will mind if I borrow it?" "I doubt it but don't go riffling through anymore of your mum's stuff without asking, okay?" "Yeah I'm sorry dad, I should have waited until I spoke to mum, want me to wait until she comes home?" "No you'll be fine chip" he smiled "If she does go bat crap about it I got ya back" he winked and headed off downstairs. Katherine's eyes followed her dad down the stairs, she knew where he was heading. The sun was setting and each night without fail he would sit on the porch bench and watch the sun go down. Sometimes with mum, until she became too cold and went inside.
Katherine walked into her bedroom and dropped the book onto her bed. She sat down at her dresser and studied herself in the mirror. Her dark 'punk', as her dad called it, baby hair had transformed over sixteen years into a light strawberry blonde which at present was shoulder length. Her eyes were a fierce shade of blue her complexion was fair her skin like porcelain, she thought at times she looked like a China doll. She ran her fingers through her hair. Her dad had always said her beauty was bequeathed from her mother. She leant forward and took the picture out of her back pocket holding it in front of her. Katherine pursed her lips together and exhaled through her nose. Who was this? A cousin maybe ? She knew her uncles on her mum's side had kids but that was years ago, and didn't explain why the picture, if indeed it was one if them, was in an attic box. Why not in the albums with the others ? It was just her and dad home maybe she should confront him, no wrong word, tactically dig for answers. "Huh" she sniggered and shook her head. Easier said than done. Both her parents were never very forthcoming about their past. All she knew is they met through work and know they both lecture on their own specialties. There were no old pictures of them together only recent ones and photos of her scattered around the house. Maybe they were hidden in the attic? Maybe all the questions she had could be answered in the attic? No, she couldn't go routing through their belongings, well not yet anyway. It all rested on how open her father intended on being. Katherine replaced the photograph back into her pocket, straightened out her hair in the mirror and made her way out of the door.
Feedback appreciated will post a second chapter if this goes down well.