I got covid for the first time this week, so I was kinda sick when I wrote this chapter. I really hope this chapter sounds good and makes sense because I did not proof read this.

Chapter 31

Aubrey's POV

Our dad surprisingly jumped right away at our offer to meet up. I am sitting next to Beca on the bench of a picnic table. We stopped at a coffee shop near the park, where Stacie and Chloe are waiting for us, and got a couple drinks to go. Beca is anxiously sipping hers even though I know it's too hot and her leg is shaking like crazy. I find myself nervously picking at the sleeve around my cardboard coffee cup. With each passing minute I can feel myself getting more stressed and the nauseous feeling in my stomach increases. We showed up about 15 minutes early and have been waiting for about 10, he should be here any minute. I look up from my cup and see him walking towards us.

"Hello Aubrey, Beca, how are you?" He says when he gets to the picnic table.

"Is that really how we're starting this? Acting like it's just another random Thursday." Beca snaps at him.

"I'm trying Beca."

"No Dad, you're really not. You don't get to come here and greet us like you haven't pretended we didn't exist for months. You yelled at us and disowned us. The first thing out of your mouth should've been an apology. At least apologize to Bree. Not only were you a jerk to her at our dinner, but you embarrassed and harassed her and Stacie in public. Get your shit together or we're leaving. I'm not gonna sit here and play house with you all day!" Beca finishes in what seems like one breath. Honestly I'm impressed with her. When did she get so mature?

"You're right Beca, I was a jerk to both of you. I was especially horrible to you Aubrey and to your… friend." He looks around awkwardly. "Anyway, I came here to apologize and because Sheila and I want you in your sister's life."

"Girlfriend" I say making eye contact with him. He looks confused. "You were rude to me and my girlfriend, dad. Not my friend, my girlfriend. I appreciate your attempt at an apology, but quite frankly it sucked. Do you expect me to care that you want us in the baby's life now? You didn't even have the decency to tell us she was born. We had to find out from a social media post! Do you know how we felt after that dinner? Do you know how I felt after you and Sheila went off on stacie and I at the restaurant? Do you even care about how we feel? You replaced us!"

"Of course I care how you feel! You are my daughters and I love you. I know I haven't said that a lot. I know that I really messed up. I know that. There isn't anything that I could say to make it right with you. All I want is what's best for you girls and for you to be happy. I've tried so hard to be there for you and to provide for you, especially after your mom died. I know that I haven't been the best dad I could be. I know that what I pulled at that dinner was horrible and I know that your mom would hate me like you do right now. I've done a lot of thinking and self reflection these past few months. I wanted to reach out to you when Alison was born, but I was afraid that you weren't ready to hear from me or that you thought I was being selfish. I was afraid reaching out then would hurt you more, and I'm sorry that it wasn't the right decision. I want Ali to grow up with you in her life because you are both caring, talented, amazing, smart, loyal sisters. I want you back in my life and I know that Sheila misses you as well. If you choose to let me be in your life again I promise I will be better."

I see Beca wiping her eyes. My dad is on the verge of crying which is weird. The only time I saw him cry was when mom died. I am suddenly aware of tears rolling down my cheeks. Dammit, he's making it really hard to stay mad at him.

"I accept your apology, however it's going to take a lot more than an apology to fix this. You're going to have to really work to build our relationship back up. Also I'm expecting Sheila to apologize to us as well."

"I promise I will do everything I can to try and make this right. Beca, what do you say? Can we try to fix our relationship?"

"I guess… I agree with Aubrey, it will take awhile to build it back up. I need you to promise that it will be better than it was before though. I need you to stop comparing me to Aubrey. I need you to stop putting down my career choice and my interests. I need you to stop treating me like you hate me and think I was a mistake. If the only thing that's going to change about our relationship is you know accepting me being gay and everything else will go back to being the same as it was before, then I don't think I can do that."

"Oh Beca, I'm sorry. I didn't realize I was doing that. I didn't realize I made you feel like that. I love you Beca, I love both of you. I don't ever want you to feel like I hate you or that you were a mistake. I promise that I will try my hardest to not make you feel that way anymore. I want to be in both of your lives in whatever way you will have me."

"Thanks dad. You've got some real work ahead of you though. Don't think that we will be letting you off easy." Beca says with a small smile.

"Knowing the girls I raised, I wouldn't expect anything less. Now Shiela and I wanted to invite both of you and Aubrey, your… girlfriend to dinner tomorrow night. We want the opportunity to meet your girlfriend and for you girls to meet your sister." Dad looked nervous again as he finished talking. I'm surprised he managed to use the word girlfriend this time.

"Ummm yeah I can ask Stacie if she's free. Just text the details to us and I'll let you know when I talk to her later."

"Beca, what about you?"

"I'll go on one condition." I see dad nod his head encouraging her to continue "I get to bring my girlfriend, Chloe."

"Oh of course Beca! I didn't realize you were seeing someone. Chloe, was it? Why does that name sound familiar?... It's not your friend and roommate Chloe is it?" I nod my head. "Huh… I mean I guess looking back on it, it's pretty obvious you had a thing for Chloe when she came to visit." Beca scoffs and hits dad's arm.

"Shut up dad! I did not!" I quirk my eyebrow and give her my 'really' look "Go away Bree! Whose side are you on anyway."

"Obviously I'm on the correct side. Beca you know that you had a thing for Chloe from day one and that's ok because she did too. I know this because she told me you talked about it."

"That bitch! You think you can trust someone." Beca shakes her head, a smile forming on her face. "I'm going to have to have a serious talk with her later."

"Just don't have that serious talk at the apartment tonight. I don't want to have to hear the aftermath of that." Both Beca and my dad's jaws drop at that, causing me to laugh.

"Aubrey! What the fuck?! Dad is sitting right there. Dad, don't listen to her. She's a liar and you can't believe a thing she says. Listen about dinner. I will talk to Chloe and get back to you. Like Bree said, text us the details and we'll let you know. Listen, I have class soon, so we should probably get going." Beca starts to stand, I find myself moving to follow her.

"Oh yeah, right, I should probably head out too. I'll text you both about dinner. I really hope you can make it. It was really nice seeing you girls again." I wave to him and follow Beca to head back over to the coffee shop.

As soon as we enter the coffee shop I make eye contact with Stacie. She must've been watching the door waiting for us to come back. I rush over and hug her. Beca does the same with Chloe.

"So how did it go? I'm assuming it wasn't horrible since you were gone for a while." Stacie says when we break apart from our hug.

"It went pretty well. He genuinely seemed sorry. He actually wants to meet you."

"He wants me, Bree, Stace and Chlo to all come over for dinner tomorrow to get to know you guys." Beca adds.

"Well obviously we have to go!" Chloe excitedly says.

"Alright well I'll let him know that we're all going to dinner tomorrow."