Dad's Secret

The next two weeks I spent my time trying to get back into the swing of things. My heart was still in shambles after what happened between Mark and I but I really didn't have anyone to talk to about it. He had written me three letters already, all of which…I never read. I just placed them in my desk drawer like the first envelope.

"Katrina! Come down here we need to talk!" my dad yelled up the steps one day.

I rolled my eyes because I was trying to finish studying for a test and he was once again making an ass of himself. "About what dad?"

"Just come here!" he yelled up the steps.

I huffed and then got up and went to see what he wanted. He was standing at the end of the steps when his hands on his hips and a goofy smile on his face. I rolled my eyes, knowing he was drunk as hell.

"What?" I said as I folded my arms.

He looked at me like I was crazy, "What in the hell is your problem?"

"I'm trying to finish something for school and you're bothering me as usual." I said.

"Well I just needed to let you know that I'm throwing a party in a few weeks…" he said.

I sighed, "Let me guess…you want me to leave right?" I asked.

"No…actually I was wondering if you would help me out with it." He said. "Please?"

I shrugged, "It depends on the day dad. I do have a job now you know."

"Yea I know and that's why I'm asking you now."

I glared at him not really wanting to help him at all but that small part of my heart wouldn't let me say no. "Fine dad, but those guys better be nicer than those stanky broads you bring in here."

He laughed, "Kitty, that's not nice."

"Well it's the truth." I said as I turned to go up the steps. I stopped when he reached out and grabbed my arm.

"Hey…I need to ask you something else." He said in a more fatherly tone.

I turned and looked at him wondering what was on his mind. He hadn't spoke to me that way in a long time so I found it hard to believe he was concerned.

"What happened with you and Mark? He told me you haven't been writing him back or anything like that."

I shrugged, "Nothing is wrong…I'm still having a little trouble adjusting with him being part of my life. Why do you care anyway?"

"I don't…it was just something I wanted to ask you." He said as he rubbed the back of his head.

I nodded, "Well thanks dad, but everything is fine."

He nodded and then let me get back to my business. I stayed in my room up until my dad decided to leave the house once again. I just couldn't understand how he could go out so often and leave me alone like this. I was bored all the time and barley had any friends who were available at this time of night.

I sat in my room for another hour before deciding that now would be a good time for popcorn and a movie. When I reached the middle of the staircase, the doorbell rang, scaring the crap out of me.

"Who is it?" I yelled, but no one answered. I walked to the door and looked through the peephole but didn't see anyone standing there. Instead I saw a yellow car pulling off away from the house. I shook my head, pissed that my dad left the gate open. I was about to walk away from the door when I heard a very peculiar sound….the sound of a baby crying…

I quickly opened the door and looked down at my feet. Looking back up at me was a small blue-eyed, brown haired baby girl crying her eyes out in a small basket. There was a letter attached to the basket along with a diaper bag sitting next to her. I wasn't too sure what to do or how to react so I picked her up and brought her into the house. I took her to the living room and sat her on the couch before reaching into the basket and picking her up into my arms. She immediately stopped crying looking up at me with so much sadness in her eyes.

"Hello there…I'm not sure why your mom left you here…" I said. "I guess she thinks my dad is a rich man huh?"

I picked up the envelope that was with her and opened up the letter, reading it to myself.

"Dear John, as you know I couldn't take care of our first child by myself and I refuse to take care of this one as well...so I've dropped Lexi off for you to deal with. After all you did help me make her just like you helped make the first one. Anyways, don't try to find me I'm long gone now. All of Lexi's shot records and other information is in the blue folder in her diaper bag. Sorry again…"

I looked down at the baby completely confused."Dad has two other kids?"

I sighed and then figured I'd better call my father and ask him about this. Unfortunately he wasn't answering the phone, like I knew he wouldn't. So I simply spend the entire night taking care of a baby. She was very fussy at first but I was able to get her to sleep. I wasn't sure where to put her at first until I walked into a room next to my room, which happened to be my old nursery. My dad hadn't used it in years so, I placed her in a crib and then covered her little legs up. Once I was sure she was sound asleep, I walked back downstairs and then waited on my dad to get home. He definitely had some explaining to do…that's for sure, and I planned on getting every last answer that I wanted.

It was nearly 3am when he got home. I had fallen asleep on the couch, but woke up when I heard him come in. Surprisingly he wasn't with a woman this time, which was good since there was a new visitor in the house now.

When he came into the living room, I sat up and glared at him.

"Kat? What are you doing up at this hour?" he asked.

I folded my arms, "I don't know, maybe I was up babysitting your kid all night."

He looked at me with a baffled expression. "My kid? Katrina I only have one kid and that's you."

I shook my head and then picked up the letter that Lexi's mom left. "According to this letter and the baby upstairs…you have about three kids."

He took the letter out of my hand and read it to himself. I could tell by his expression that he knew exactly what this woman was talking about.

"Oh man…did she seriously drop Lexi off?" he asked.

I nodded, "Yes. As I said, I've been up all night with her."

He sighed and then hit the wall, "That bitch! I can't believe she would do this to me!"

"Dad…when were you going to tell me I had siblings?"

He chuckled, "What was the point? I didn't have to raise them and they didn't live here so…it doesn't matter if you knew about them."

I gasped, "Says you….maybe I want to have some other people to talk to other than these walls everyday."

He sighed, "Look Kat, it's late. We'll talk about this in the morning ok?"

I stood up, "No dad, I'm tired of you constantly hiding things from me…I want some answers and you're going to give them to me. Who is the third kid and why haven't I met him or her?"

He looked at me completely stunned. "Because…she put the first kid up for adoption Katrina. I don't know who the other one is or her name alright?"

I shook my head, "Whatever, Lexi is in my old room. If I were you I'd start thinking about staying home more often because you've got a child to take care of."

"Why can't you babysit her?" he asked. "You've watched yourself these past 7 years now."

I rolled my eyes, "Dad…I didn't lay on my back and push her out. Therefore you need to step up and be her father."

"I can't take care of her Kat. You know that….look please help me out with her…"

I sighed and looked away from him. "I don't know dad…"

"Come on Kat. I'm begging you." He said.

I huffed and then walked past him, "Fine, but you better be doing most of the work."

"I will don't worry." He said. "Now let's get to bed."

I nodded and went upstairs. I checked up on Lexi before heading to my room to go to bed. I was tired and my head was hurting from all this craziness. Little did I know that things would only get crazier for me and Lexi both.