A/N: Chapter Update! As a few of you will be aware, I disliked the title of this story so I've decided to change it. Its less of a mouthful and sums up the plot of the story better. I'd love to know what you think of it. Thank you for reading :)
Chapter 11
Dark clouds danced around in the navy-blue sky, blocking the moonlight. The little black car raced down the street and halted at the end, in front of a petite house. Climbing out of the vehicle, Alex studied the new environment. There were only a couple of street lamps illuminating the dark road, as it seemed that not very many other people inhabited the street. Patrick shut his car door behind him and walked, smiling, to the trunk of the car to fetch his daughter's belongings. He had parked the car precisely outside his house; Alex's new home. It wasn't a large or expensive house, but it suited them perfectly. With her mouth agape, the girl studied the house with excited eyes. Detached and narrow, the house stood neatly at the end of the street, a lamp standing directly outside. It was everything Alex dreamed it would be: perfect size, shape and structure. Although, she would have preferred it to be on a less desolate street but these things are never perfect, so she didn't complain.
"Shall we go in?" asked Patrick, taking his daughter's cold hand. He lead Alex up with paved pathway and up to the painted and polished door. Inserting the key, the man pushed the door open slowly, revealing a narrow hallway and a staircase to the left. Walking in, Patrick placed the suitcase at the bottom of the steps and flicked a switch, light then illuminating the hallway. Alex gasped with happiness. The whole corridor was painted a beautiful shade of cream, with various pieces of artwork hanging from the walls. A wooden table was to the left of her; at the bottom of the staircase, a phone and address book sitting upon it.
"It's just you that lives here, right Dad?" Alex asked, turning to her father.
"Yeah," Patrick replied, "just me. Always have done since I moved to Philadelphia twelve years ago. But it's you and me now, right?" He grinned broadly, the girl then leaping forward into an embrace.
"I'll let you explore while I take your stuff to your new room." With that, Patrick took Alex's suitcase up the stairs, leaving the girl to scout around her new home.
Walking down the corridor, she entered a room which followed the same colour scheme as the hallway: the living room. A brown, leather couch dominated most of the room, leaving little space for the TV and coffee table. The television wasn't huge, but it fitted perfectly in the corner of the room, adjacent to the window. She exited the living room when he father called her.
"Alex, you want to come and check out your new bedroom?" Gleefully, the girl ran up the stairs, her bag pack jumping around on her back. Once she was at the top, Alex noted three rooms; a bathroom and two bedrooms. Patrick emerged from behind one of the doors, inviting Alex in. Walking forward nervously, she held her breath, unsure of what to expect.
Purple. Curtains, wallpaper, carpet, bedding, accessories; each a different shade of Alex's favourite colour. The bed was positioned neatly in the corner of the room, parallel to the small window. Smiling, she strode in and placed her bag on her bed. Spinning around slowly, Alex looked at every piece of furniture there was. Brown, wooden drawers and a wardrobe were positioned opposite the bed. 'Big enough to fit all my clothes in,' Alex thought.
She turned, and was about to thank her father for his extreme generosity when something caught her eye. A purple lotus flower, for some odd reason, was placed on top of her bedside table, most likely for the pleasant aroma. Her mind flashed back to her warm and long afternoons with General Octavius in Ancient Rome. He would always place a purple lotus flower in her long brown hair, before they went out into the city or to roam in the meadows. Octavius. She hadn't given him much thought since she left the airport with Patrick. Guilt suddenly hit her. The Roman was the man of her dreams, how could she not have thought about him? Alexandra would have probably cried there and then if it weren't for her father asking her a question.
"You like it?" Patrick asked, finally. Alex turned to face him.
"I love it," she replied, walking up to him and wrapping her arms around his neck. "Thank you so much, Dad."
Patrick hugged back. "You don't need to say thank you, Alexandra." He positioned his head where he could look his daughter straight in her eyes. "I love you, sweetie...and nothing could ever change that."
Alexandra smiled. She could hardly believe it: her father saying he loved her...like music to her ears. A month ago she had been apprehensive, wondering if she would ever meet her father, and now, she was wrapped comfortably in his warm arms. An alcoholic? She didn't think so. Patrick looked, smelt and acted too proper to be a man who's life revolved around drink. 'Whatever happened in the last fifteen years has been forgotten about,' she thought, 'everything is, and will be, alright from now on. I know it...'
She couldn't have been more wrong.
A/N: Short chapter, I know and I apologize. I've been busy with other smaller fics that I am also working on. I'd love to hear what you think of this so far...review?
