Disclaimer: You know the drill, NOT MINE

Disclaimer: You know the drill, NOT MINE!

A/N: Thanks to those who reviewed, they always make me smile. I know this has taken forever, I'm sorry. Blame it on college, my college in the middle of NOWHERE. Yes I'm still a bit bitter about that and my lack of internet. So review and tell me what you think! Thanks!!

"If you dwell on the past, you become a prisoner of it."

~V.C. Andrews

Part Nine

"Daddy?" she said uncertainly once more. She thought her eyes had to be deceiving her, because this was like a scene out of a really bad movie.

"Daisy. How are you?" her father responded a bit uneasily. He was aware that every eye in the lodge was fixed on them.

"What are you doing here?" she spat out harshly still trying to adjust to the shock she was feeling. She hadn't expected to see him for a long time after the last visit.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

His one glass of wine turned into three or four at dinner. Followed by a snifter of brandy as an after dinner drink. He tried to hide it but she knew. She always knew. The first night after dinner she went to her room and cried. She cried for everything she had lost in this house. Her childhood, her innocence, her naïveté, her trust in people, and most of all her parents. She cried for them and for herself. Some part of her had been hoping for this chance to try and regain the relationship that had been lost throughout the years. But with every drink that was poured and every tear that was spilled the hope was dashed. And the bitter resolve to cut this man out of her life, to cut any man out that had who had the potential to hurt her that much, was steeled. Just because she wasn't going to hide anymore didn't mean that she had to let anyone in either. And so the next morning she arranged for a car to drive her back to Horizon. She left her father a note, as he was still sleeping off last evenings booze.

Dear Daddy,

You wanted this to be our second chance, another chance to be a family. Well guess what we failed. Or really if we're going to be honest, you failed. I didn't want to come. No surprise there. But I did. I let Peter and Sophie persuade me into giving you, giving us this second chance. But you blew it. I wanted to believe you were sober. I needed you to be sober. I need my father and once again you cannot fulfill that need. Daddy I'm 17 years old and I don't have a family. Well that's not totally true. I have the Cliffhangers and Peter and Sophie. But when it comes time for me to graduate and leave Horizon. I will leave my family and I don't know what happens after that. And it scares me. The only thing I know that I will be on my own. But thinking back I've almost always been on my own. I'll survive it. I don't need you. And I don't think you've ever needed me. Goodbye.

Daisy

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

John looked at his daughter's hostile expression and remembered the note she had left him. It had sent him on yet another drinking binge. At first he wanted to dismiss it as her being difficult like usual but as he woke up one morning sprawled out in the den, a mess. His papers strewn about the room and a broken mirror in front of him, he took a good look at himself. And what he saw scared him. He saw a man a lot older than he remembered, with bloodshot eyes and haggard lines creasing his face. And the thing he noticed the most was that he was alone. His wife gone, and his daughter who despised him, who didn't want or need him. And he was forced to admit in all honesty, she was right, he didn't need her then all he needed was the alcohol. But he did need her, he wanted her in his life but he had no idea how to accomplish it. Or if he even deserved it.

Sophie was quite aware of the palpable tension between father and daughter, she was reminded of the many times she had felt that with her own mother. "Mr. Lipenowski, it's late. Why don't you come back tomorrow and we'll have the meeting then." She suggested trying to defuse the situation.

He nodded giving his assent, and Sophie heaved a sigh of relief and Daisy continued glaring. He turned to leave the lodge.

"Goodbye Miss. Becker."

"Sophie please." She responded.

"Sophie. Goodnight Daisy." He spoke softly unable to meet her eyes.

Daisy responded with a stony silence, as he exited.

"Daisy, let's talk."

"No." she said coldly cutting Sophie off.

Replaying the scene of the week before she stormed outside to sulk. David began to go after her, but then stopped. He had gotten the brunt of her anger lately and wasn't up to it again. She didn't want him there so why should he try to push himself into her life when she obviously was fighting so hard to keep him out.

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