Deep, Dark Secrets
Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Red Eye!
Chapter Two: Sooner Than That
As time passed, Abby knew that she had to meet her father. Philippe had promised her that she could visit him once she was an adult. But waiting three more years was far too long. She had already missed fifteen years and she not want to waste any more time. She needed her father and she wanted to believe that he needed her too.
That's why the following day, when Philippe returned home from work, she was waiting for him on the front steps. Her mother was somewhere inside, doing who knows.
"Hello, Abby," he said with a smile as he came up the walk.
"Hello," she replied stiffly, not bothering to bring her gaze up from the crack that she was intently studying near his feet.
"Is something wrong?" Philippe set down his briefcase and then sat down beside her. She could feel his worried gaze, but she was sick of his concerned act.
"I want to see him," Abby stated simply and without emotion.
"Who?"
"My father. Philippe, I have to see my father."
"I can't do that. Your mother—" he started to protest without thinking.
"—will find out that he's alive unless you take me to him. I want to see my dad and nothing will stop me," threatened Abby with a sly smile and a cool, even tone. She had turned her face towards him for the first time since he arrived.
"You're blackmailing me?" Philippe seemed completely shocked at her audacity.
"He's my father," she said quietly, trying to appeal to his emotions—his humanity. "I need to see him."
"Abby," Philippe's voice was slow and saddened. "He's not in a good state. He's spent the past fifteen years locked up and in therapy. He—"
"You told him that I died, didn't you?" He's been playing the death game with all of us for years. Why would he stop with my father?
Philippe paused for a moment. He looked shaken by her deduction. She felt a sense of pride for unraveling his own game. All these games had to end. She would end them.
"Everything that I've done, I've done it to protect you and Lisa. I love you more than I could any other daughter and I love Lisa more than I can explain. I won't let him hurt either of you again."
"Again?" Abby was confused. "But I've never met him before," she insisted. How? When? Why did he leave me? Why did he let this happen?
"Actually, for the first few days of your life, you lived with your father."
"What is his name?" No one has ever told me his name.
"Jackson… Jackson Rippner."
"I just want to see my father. Just give us an hour at least, please."
"Or?" Are you trying to test me?
"I tell mommy dearest that you lied to her. And I think we both know what happens if she finds out…" Abby was smug and satisfied. She knew that Philippe would never risk upsetting her 'delicate' mother.
Philippe seemed reluctant, but she had him. He was going to agree—she had left him no choice.
"Do we have a deal?" she questioned.
With his head slightly bent, he responded quietly. "Yes, we have a deal."
"Good."
A smirk crossed her face. She had done it. She was getting her way. She was going to see her father.
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Blackmail—I had blackmailed my step-father into allowing me the privilege of visiting my own father. I was taking back the rights that I deserved. No one should be denied the right of seeing their father.
After fifteen years of longing, Abby would finally see him. She would be loved by him. He would tell her how much he missed her and that he had never meant to leave. Philippe had locked him away for all these lonely years.
After all, how could my father willingly give me up? I was as good as stolen from him. He says it was to protect me, but I doubt it. How does keeping us apart benefit me?
"Abby, are you feeling okay?" Lisa's oddly concerned voice broke through her thoughts. She had forgotten that she was seated at the dinner table. After Philippe came home, the entire 'family' sat down to eat dinner.
"I'm fine. Why?"
"You just seemed distracted. Are you sure you're alright?"
Mother and daughter both cringed at those three annoying words. 'Are you sure' was a phrase rarely spoken in the Carter household. Philippe did not seem to notice the tension that hung in the air.
"Of course I am," Abby snapped angrily, surprising Lisa with her sudden anger.
"I was just—"
"I don't give a—"
The table jumped slightly as Philippe brought his fists down on the hard wood harshly.
"Abby!" His voice was unusually stern. "Go to your room now. And apologize to your mother before you go."
"No, I don't think I will," Abby said joyfully as she left the table. I am finally allowed to be on my own! Can't you see this is what I want? "See ya!"
She stood outside the dinning room, eager to hear what they had to say about her behavior. She knew that they would be talking about her. She also knew that Philippe would never tell what had happened and about her father still being alive.
"Philippe," she heard her mother moan in despair. "Where did I go wrong? How did I make her hate me? I tried to love her…"
"My dear Lisa, what happened wasn't you're fault. That bastard Jackson is the one to blame; not you. If he had never gotten his hands on her, then she would be fine."
"I tried to stop him."
"I know you did. You did every thing possible in your state to stop him. If only I had believed you sooner, then maybe we could have saved her."
What did he do? What did my father do wrong? What did he do? What do you mean 'save me'?
The lies were piling up. The deceptions were growing. Something was wrong and she knew that it all had to do with her father. Hopefully he would be the one to help her unravel everything and discover the truth. Surely he would welcome her back into his life with open arms. He had to have wanted her judging by the way they were talking.
Then how did everything all go wrong? How did I lose him?
Author's Notes:
Abby is certainly the spitting image of her father. She's more like him than Lisa and Philippe would like to admit. Of course, that will all change once she finally meets Jackson. Or at least, one would hope… Thanks for the reviews!
Unknown Angel- The meeting will probably be in the next chapter and it will only be their first meeting. Jackson will brainwash her with his charm and 'love' and use her to achieve his own ends. He's a manipulator and prison is not going to stop him. After all, a psychopath can't be healed. Thanks for the review:)
