Angela settled into a bar stool in front of Hayden. She hadn't returned to the bar since getting drunk, but Molly had begged for her to come tonight. She made herself the promise that she was only going to have one drink. Hayden smiled when she sat down.
"How's my favorite customer?" He asked.
"You say that to everyone," Angela mused. Hayden chuckled.
"Yeah but when I say it to you I mean it. Blackberry cocktail?" He offered.
"Am I really that predictable?" Angela asked.
"That, and it's my job to know my customers' orders," Hayden replied. He got to work on her drink. Angela settled into the bar stool. It was nice to have a drink after work, as long as she didn't over do it.
"There's my little angel!" Angela heard a familiar voice behind her croon. She froze. There was only one person who called her that. She slowly turned around hoping that she had heard incorrectly, but to her dismay, she hadn't. She scowled.
"What are you doing here?" She asked sharply.
"Is that any way to address your father?" He asked. Angela folded her arms in front of her, unwilling to allow him to bait her.
"You've never done anything to deserve that title," she stated. She tried to keep her voice as emotionless as possible. What was it with this man and always picking the worst possible moments to show up? "What are you doing here?"
"You think I'd miss my youngest daughter's wedding?" He asked.
"And just who says you're invited?" Molly interjected. She had been in the bathroom, and was stunned to see her father, Mark, in the bar.
"Molly, I'm your father. I was hoping that I could be a part of your day," he said. "I was hoping I could give you away."
"Like you've been there for... Oh wait that's right you've never been there," Molly jeered. "You've been too drunk and high all the time! What makes you think you have the right to give me away?"
Angela stepped between her father and her sister. Grabbing his arm, she pulled him away from Molly. She had seen the angry look on his face, and she was it about to allow him to say anything to Molly that would hurt her.
"You and me, we need to talk," Angela ordered. "Come with me."
"I will not have my daughters talking to me that way," he scoffed. Angela gave him one of her "mom" looks as Molly called it. He finally relented.
"Come with me," Angela repeated. There was a firmness in her voice that even he dared not contradict.
"Fine," he muttered. She continued to pull him out of the bar.
Molly watched them, feeling grateful for her older sister, and at the same time feeling guilty. There was Angela taking care of Molly again, even though she felt the same hurt and abandonment over their father. Molly felt the tears rolling down her cheek.
"You okay?" Chase asked gently. He placed a hand lightly on her shoulder.
"Yeah, no... I mean I will be fine," Moly sighed. Why had he showed up? Things had been going so well, the last thing they needed was Mark Harris showing up.
XxXx
Angela could barely contain her anger at the man who stood before her. He was so incredibly selfish and arrogant.
"How much do you need?" Angela asked. She reached into her purse to grab her wallet. That was what it ultimately came down to with her father, was needing money. As much as it hurt saying it, she would do whatever it took to protect Molly.
"What are you talking about Angel?" He asked.
"Don't call me that!" Angela asserted. "How much money do you want? It's always about that isn't it? Well this time I am willing to pay."
"Angel," he said. She glared at him. "A, Angela. I'm not here for money. Look at me I'm sober, I've cleaned up. I'm here to make amends."
Angela looked at him skeptically. The little girl inside of her that he had left so long ago wanted to believe him, but the woman inside of her didn't trust him. How many times had he told the same thing to her mother just to fall right back into it again?
"I've heard this song and dance before," Angela scoffed. "How long this time three weeks? Two weeks?"
"Almost a year," he answered. "Look I wanted to come to Molly's wedding. I know I've done wrong by you kids, but I want to make things right."
"How did you know about Molly getting married?" Angela asked.
"I've been keeping track of you kids since I've sobered up. I want to be a part of her wedding, since I missed Kevin's," he pleaded.
"That's not up to you, or me," Angela advised.
"Look can you talk to her? She always listens to you," her father pleaded. Angela sighed. He sounded so sincere. Angela felt her resolve breaking.
"Fine," she muttered. "But I am not making any promises. And I am not going to champion for you. If she decides she doesn't want you there, that is her decision."
XxXx
"No! No, absolutely not!" Molly exclaimed. Angela had explained the conversation with their father the previous night. Molly was shocked that Angela even agreed to go to talk to her for him. But that was Angela, she was always a giver, even when it hurt herself to do so.
"It's your decision Molly," Angela said. "But you may want to talk to him."
"Do you honestly believe that loser?" Molly asked.
"No," Angela replied. "But like it or not that loser is still our dad, and it's your decision on whether or not he comes."
"Ugh!" Molly shouted. She collapsed into a chair. "Why now?"
Mark Harris had never been one to take other people's feelings into consideration, why would this time be any different? Angela wondered. But she said nothing, she simply put a hand on Molly's shoulder.
"Take your time, you don't have to answer right away," Angela stated. Molly nodded then hugged Angela fiercely.
XxXx
"What the hell is he doing here?" Kevin shouted. Angela winched from the anger in his voice. She had come over to warn Kevin about their father's arrival. He was furious, as she knew he would be. Kevin hated their father more so than Molly or Angela. Angela knew it was because their father had been quite abusive to him when he got drunk.
"He says he sober," Angela replied. "He wants to come to Molly's wedding."
"Like Hell!" Kevin shouted.
"That's not your decision to make," Angela asserted. Kevin glared at her. Angela glared right back at him. She agreed with his sentiment, but it wasn't their decision to make. After a few moments, Kevin finally relented.
"Okay, you're right," Kevin sighed.
"Look I would like to run him out of town," Angela admitted. "But we really do need to let Molly decide."
