The Talk

It was quiet in the house that next morning, something I wasn't use to. I got up and stretched out my arms and legs before heading downstairs to start cooking myself some breakfast. It really sucked having to cook sometimes especially when you've got a father who should know how. On top of that, I buy my own food to cook…I know…ridiculous right?

I yawned rather loudly before entering the kitchen.

"Man…good morning to you too." Mark said, scaring the hell out of me.

"Oh my gosh I forgot you were staying here this weekend," I said. "I'm so sorry."

He laughed and turned the page to his newspaper, "It's alright Kitty. I like women who can express themselves."

I giggled and then realized how quiet it was again. "Where is my dad?"

Mark shrugged, "I'm not sure, he never came home last night."

I blinked twice not believing what he just said. "Are you kidding me?"

"Nope. His car definitely isn't here so…I guess it's just me and you."

I shook my head, "Why does this not surprise me."

Mark laughed, "How often does he do this?"

I sighed and opened the refrigerator, "Ever since I was ten."

Mark looked at me blankly and obviously enraged. "Excuse me? You mean to tell me you've been home by yourself even when you were ten?"

I nodded, "Yea...I'm not sure why but…he did that often."

Mark sighed, "It looks like John and I need to have a talk about this."

"No Mark, it's alright…" I said as I poured some juice into a cup.

"No it isn't Kitty. What would have happened if this house caught on fire or if some burglars got in here? That's not safe Katrina." He said.

I sighed, "I know but he wouldn't listen…and if you recall…I didn't really know you back then so it wasn't like I could have called you."

"Yea but your dad knew my number. He could have easily picked up the phone and told me he needed me to come watch you for a few days."

I wasn't sure how to feel about this. Sure, Mark hadn't been in my life, but he was showing me so much more concern than my own father.

"This can't go on Kat and I refuse to leave tomorrow knowing how he's been treating you."

I smiled inwardly, "But…I'm 16 now…I can take care of myself."

"In a house this big? No freaking way, look I'm talking to him whether you like it or not missy. He's your father and he needs to start treating you that way."

"Well excuse me…" I said as I bent over to get a pot from the dishwasher.

He laughed, "No excuse me…."

I looked over my shoulder and glared at him, "Hey! Don't you give me any sass…I'm making breakfast buster!"

"Oh, my fault." He said as he went back to reading his paper.

He was very quiet while I made breakfast. Every now and then he would glance up at me and smile. I acted like I didn't notice though. He seemed so attached to me already and I began to wonder why.

"Hey Mark?" I said.

"Yea?"

I walked over to him with a plate of food and some silverware, "I feel weird about having someone care about me as much as you do…is that normal?"

He smiled at me and then patted his thigh. "Come here Kitty."

I was about to sit on the chair next to him but he insisted on me sitting there instead. I did as he asked feeling slightly awkward but relaxed at the same time. Even when he placed one hand on my back and the other on my thigh I didn't really feel strange.

"Listen Kat, I know you just met me yesterday, but I want you to know that I've always been there for you. I don't know how much your dad has actually told you but, I've opened up a trust fund for you that you can't touch until you leave for college, I've sent you money, clothes, shoes, and other stuff every month since you were born, and on top of that, I have tried to come visit you and your father tells me your always gone or something."

I gasped, "Are you kidding me? I'm always here or at work nowadays. What is he talking about?"

He shrugged, "I don't know, but I do understand why you feel the way you do. It's obvious to me that your father doesn't seem to care much about you and now that there is someone here who does…you don't know how to handle it."

I nodded, "Exactly…wow it's like you completely understand me."

"I do Kitty, and that's why I want to speak to your dad, he may not like what I have to say but he will listen to me."

I sighed, "I hope so."

After breakfast, I went up to my room to get a shower and then get dressed for the day. I never heard my father come in until I got out of the shower and heard Mark talking to him.

"Come on man, she was ten years old…I was ten and babysitting by myself." My dad said.

Mark sighed, "Yea but there is a difference there John, you are a male and she is a young female. Don't you care what happens to her?"

"Of course I do…I'm her father Mark!"

"Yea but what kind of a father treats his daughter as if she's some type of maid or even a doormat for that matter?"

My dad groaned, "Oh god now you sound like her mother…that sleezy whore."

"Excuse me?"

"You heard what I said Mark! You and I both know that Torrie was a slut! For all we know, Katrina could be someone elses…even yours."

"Wow hold the hell on…so this is why you've hated me all these years? You thought we were sleeping together behind your back?"

My dad sighed, "What was I suppose to think Mark? You two were together all the damn time."

"Because you were gone all the damn time…look, Katrina is your daughter and you need to treat her better than what you've been doing."

"Or else what? Hm? You going to take her from me or something?" he asked.

Mark sighed, "If that's what it comes down to then yes."

"Whatever man…look I'm going out tonight, can you take Katrina to her game tonight?" my dad said.

Mark was silent at first and then spoke up, "Oh I will…but it should be her father doing that."

I heard a door slam and I figured Mark had left the house. I quickly went back to my room and started getting dressed in my uniform. I wasn't too sure how the rest of this weekend was going to play out but I did know it was going to get ugly.