Surprises
Chapter 25
"I won't go to the press, if that's what he's worried about." Katie said as she sipped her coffee drink. Maddie had taken her to the doctor and to a counselor. It was generally a girl's day.
"No, I think he's just worried about you." Maddie said.
"He never was before and I bet he didn't give us much thought all these years." Katie remarked.
"Why do you think that?" Maddie asked.
"Allison Shaw said he was climbing the ranks faster without a family." Katie answered very sincerely.
"Allison Shaw also let you be raped." Maddie said.
"True." Katie admitted.
"Katie, he missed you and Hannah. I think more than anything, not knowing really bothered him more than anything. Without knowing, his imagination ran away." Maddie said.
"Without knowing about Hannah. Not me." Katie objected.
"You are wrong. Katie, he loves you and he is very worried about you. He knows that your mom was your person. You miss her deeply, right?" Maddie asked.
"Yes." Katie answered as she looked down at her coffee.
"What would she want? Would she like you being like this with your dad? He said that he hated putting her in the middle between you and him. He knew it caused her pain. She couldn't choose between her husband and her oldest daughter." Maddie asked.
"No, Mom always got mad when I was being ugly to Dad." Katie admitted.
"And if what you say is true, why do you stay? You got Hannah here. You could have left." Maddie continued.
"I suppose I've gotten spoiled. I like having a warm home and plenty of food. I feel safe." Katie said.
"So why push your dad away? He told me he didn't favor Hannah but he could see how it might appear that way. So, why push him away?" Maddie asked.
"I guess…I am afraid he will blame me for Hannah being in a position that she might get hurt, and for all the years she did suffer because I couldn't figure out how to get to Dad." Katie admitted in a small voice.
"That was not your fault." Maddie answered.
"It sure feels like it was. I guess I am afraid he will up and decide that because of what happened, he'll throw me out and I will be away from Hannah, and frankly you guys too." Katie admitted.
"He is worried sick about you. He is not going to throw you out." Maddie said.
"I wish I was so sure of that. He and I used to fight so much." Katie argued.
"He is ashamed of that but just because you argued doesn't mean he didn't care about you, didn't love you. I'm sure that he could have done a better job showing you or telling you because he is not the most expressive guy." Maddie said.
"That was always the issue. I don't remember him ever saying he loved me, but I remember him saying it to Hannah and Lucas. Why do you think that is? Was something about me unlovable?" Katie asked.
"Because sometimes the child that is most like us is the one we struggle with. You and your dad have a very similar personality. You see your weaknesses in the other and they stick out. Your dad was in the wrong for how he treated you but you need to give him a second chance. What have you got to lose?" Maddie asked.
"I guess nothing." Katie admitted as she playing with her coffee cup.
"He does love you and he always did." Maddie told her and Katie nodded.