As I stumbled off of my solar surfer the rain only got worse. The sky was black, streaked with lightning every few minutes. The ground seemed to shake. I didn't know if that was my nerves or the storm above me. Pressing the button on my surfer to let the sail down, water hit me. It felt as if I was drowning.
I held my jacket above my head as I ran to the door of the Inn. The puddles sloshed underneath my boots. "Come on... come on!" My key to the Benbow slipped between my fingers and down into a puddle. "Shit." Swearing was an old habit. I muttered curses under my breath as my hand splashed around in the water for the key. I couldn't find it as the rain soaking me blurred my vision. I decided to get it later and I would just use the spare key for now.
My fingertips brushed around the sides of the door. Mother always hid a spare key at the top of the door. Not the most original place, but if there was anything valuable in the Benbow I would be shocked. "Where the hell is that key?" I made a second sweep with my hand. The door creaked open in-front of me. 'What the-' My thought wasn't finished. As I let go of my jacket in shock I stared at the last person I ever expected to see again. My father.
Leland stood in the doorway, a shiny key dangling from his index finger. "Looking for this?" His smirk was twisted in his ugly and scarred face. He leaned against the door with such a relaxed air about him that you would think he saw me every day.
"Dad..."
The seat was comfortable, it always had been. But, as I sat there now I never felt more out of place. "Can I get you something, Jim?" The man sauntered around, acting as if he still lived there. All I could do was shake my head and find the courage inside me not to rip his head off. My hands clutched at the arms of the chair like a lifeline. I watched Leland stride across the room, pacing.
I finally gathered my courage, shooting back at him, "The real question is why are you here? You don't have the right." The words were spat between gritted teeth. The stranger turned, almost in shock at my response.
"What am I doing here?" Leland chuckled softly, shaking his head side to side. He seemed to gather his thoughts, a long pause overriding his first statement. "I came to see you! Certainly you got my letter." He walked toward me. I jumped up before he got close.
"Yeah. I got it. That doesn't mean you're welcome here you worthless piece of shit." The fears of my past began to bubble, the anger climbing through my throat. I felt the urge to cry and only pushed it down. "You could have killed her." My voice was soft. Methodic. "Yet, you don't seem to care. You said she lied. The only real liar in this family is you. Calling yourself a father? My father? You'll never come close. A father is someone who is always there for their family. Someone that cares for not only their wife but for their children! Taking notice of what they have to say, never leaving home without saying good-bye. That is a father." The words poured from my mouth, I couldn't stop once I got going. The shock on his face was almost too good.
As I stood there out of breath Leland shook his head somberly. His smirk was gone, the confident man now a shell of desperation. "No... you...you're right, Jim. A father should be there. I want to still be there." Now it was my turn to be surprised. "In-fact... I know you're into that treasure thing so… I want you to join me. The next expedition. I want you there. Everything will be explained and uh…" He grabbed his coat. "Contact me through your mother if you're going." He opened the door. "Oh and uh… say 'hi' to her for me?" He was gone.
I sank into my chair again, feeling powerless. Would I go? Did I actually want to know why my father did the things he did? I had to think on it. Thunder clapped outside as my mind raced, a sign of things to come.