CHAPTER SIX
Raphael paced the kitchen floor. It was nearly five thirty and his daughter wasn't home yet. His mother was upstairs sleeping-she had taken leave of absence from work yesterday-for good.
" Where is she?" he growled but knew the answer-at the lab.
The front door opened and Megan walked into the kitchen, humming a tune.
" Where the hell have you been?" he demanded her as she opened the fridge to get the juice out.
" You know where," she answered in a calm voice that only infuriated him more.
" Jeez Megan, who do you care about most? That stupid Lab or your mom?" he challenged her.
Megan glared at him darkly, " I hope you will not make me chooses," she said. She was starting to feel as angry as he was.
" I should make you choose," Raphael shot back, " you need to be reminded that family is more important than anything else."
" I don't need to be reminded," Megan said, " so if you get off my case and let me have a drink."
" Don't you speak to me like that, I'm your father."
" Sometimes it makes it wonder," she muttered and pushed past him to get a glass.
" What is that supposed to mean?"
" Nothing," Megan said, " And I just remembered I'm meant to be giving you the silent treatment." She poured herself a glass of juice.
" Tell me what you mean by your comment," Raph pressed.
" It means that I wonder if I'm really your daughter or that I've been adopted. You and I are so different,"
" That's a load of crap. You are my daughter…you've inherited my temper, everyone knows that." Raph glared at her, " I'm through arguing with you. I'm going to check on your mother." He whirled around and stomped up the stairs.
Megan sighed and felt a bit guilty. Was her father right? Had she been putting the Lab first instead of her mother?
But Mom did encourage her not to stop doing what she loves just because she was sick.
Then why was Megan feeling so guilty all of a sudden?
The following morning when Megan went back to school, Renee turned to Raphael, " I think its time we tell your brothers."
Raphael took his breakfast dishes to the sink, " Do we have to?" he asked.
" Yes, we do. After two months, don't you think they want to know where I am?" Renee asked him and he sighed.
" All right, but its not gonna be easy. I'm not good at that type of stuff."
" Do you want me to tell them?" Renee asked gently.
" We can tell them together." Raph paused, " I'll invite all of them over tonight."
* * *
Sarah was waiting for Megan at her locker. She had an arrogant look on her face as Megan approached her.
" What do you want Sarah?" Megan greeted her as she opened her locker and got the stuff she needed,
" How was yesterday?"
" It was fine," Megan answered.
" I'm sure you enjoy taking away my father from me," Sarah sneered.
" It's not like that Sarah!" Megan snapped, " and you know it."
" Do I?" Sarah said, " Stay away from my father."
" And if I wont?"
" Then I'll make your life miserable from now on." Sarah threatened before sauntering down the hall.
Raphael paced the kitchen floor. It was nearly five thirty and his daughter wasn't home yet. His mother was upstairs sleeping-she had taken leave of absence from work yesterday-for good.
" Where is she?" he growled but knew the answer-at the lab.
The front door opened and Megan walked into the kitchen, humming a tune.
" Where the hell have you been?" he demanded her as she opened the fridge to get the juice out.
" You know where," she answered in a calm voice that only infuriated him more.
" Jeez Megan, who do you care about most? That stupid Lab or your mom?" he challenged her.
Megan glared at him darkly, " I hope you will not make me chooses," she said. She was starting to feel as angry as he was.
" I should make you choose," Raphael shot back, " you need to be reminded that family is more important than anything else."
" I don't need to be reminded," Megan said, " so if you get off my case and let me have a drink."
" Don't you speak to me like that, I'm your father."
" Sometimes it makes it wonder," she muttered and pushed past him to get a glass.
" What is that supposed to mean?"
" Nothing," Megan said, " And I just remembered I'm meant to be giving you the silent treatment." She poured herself a glass of juice.
" Tell me what you mean by your comment," Raph pressed.
" It means that I wonder if I'm really your daughter or that I've been adopted. You and I are so different,"
" That's a load of crap. You are my daughter…you've inherited my temper, everyone knows that." Raph glared at her, " I'm through arguing with you. I'm going to check on your mother." He whirled around and stomped up the stairs.
Megan sighed and felt a bit guilty. Was her father right? Had she been putting the Lab first instead of her mother?
But Mom did encourage her not to stop doing what she loves just because she was sick.
Then why was Megan feeling so guilty all of a sudden?
The following morning when Megan went back to school, Renee turned to Raphael, " I think its time we tell your brothers."
Raphael took his breakfast dishes to the sink, " Do we have to?" he asked.
" Yes, we do. After two months, don't you think they want to know where I am?" Renee asked him and he sighed.
" All right, but its not gonna be easy. I'm not good at that type of stuff."
" Do you want me to tell them?" Renee asked gently.
" We can tell them together." Raph paused, " I'll invite all of them over tonight."
* * *
Sarah was waiting for Megan at her locker. She had an arrogant look on her face as Megan approached her.
" What do you want Sarah?" Megan greeted her as she opened her locker and got the stuff she needed,
" How was yesterday?"
" It was fine," Megan answered.
" I'm sure you enjoy taking away my father from me," Sarah sneered.
" It's not like that Sarah!" Megan snapped, " and you know it."
" Do I?" Sarah said, " Stay away from my father."
" And if I wont?"
" Then I'll make your life miserable from now on." Sarah threatened before sauntering down the hall.