Daddy's Home

Fahmeen's POV:

I didn't know how to feel as Emilio left the room. Actually I do. Nauseous. I cover my mouth and can feel things threatening to shoot up my throat. Quickly I leave the study in search of the bathroom. It was empty, and I wait by the toilet for any vomit to come out. Nothing for now. My breathing deepens and feels more difficult to do. I rub my stomach, praying for it to settle. What suddenly brought this on?

Knock knock!

"Someone's in here!" I shout but the person knocks again.
"It's me."
I recognise my sister's voice and she sounds cold.
"Guess who's here."

...

My heart accelerates and I stand up. I swallow down hard, forcing away anything that wants to come up. There's a sick thought in my head as to who it might be but I'm wishing it's not true. I know Sam's still out there, waiting for me. My reaction. The truth is I don't know how to react if my gut feeling is true. I take a deep breath. I open the door and I see her expression. It tells me everything I need to know.

It's my father.

...

You know when you thought your life was finally taking the right turn? That things were falling in place? That was me about 45 seconds ago. But now the source of most of my life's problems stands at the front door and when I open my eyes he's still there.
Outwardly I look nonchalant, like I could care less. But I'm shaking. My heart is pounding. I look toward my sister and her face is thunderous. She's seething.

Like it used to be, he doesn't speak a word to us. Our father stands expectant of my mother, still. I don't have the heart to break the bad news to her. Of his arrival. I can hear her laughing in the living room.

"We have to tell her." I say to Sam. She can't reply, she just stays silent - avoiding meeting anyone's eyes.

I find my mother and her smile falls when she sees my expression. Thoughts runs through her mind but soon the realisation finally settles in. I watch her slowly stand, graceful and with the slightest call for attention. Mum walks over to me and I can't make out what those eyes are telling me. Sadness? Disappointment? Resignation?

...

I follow her, on high alert. This became the norm when they were in close proximity. Me and my siblings stood close by and on guard for when he'd strike. The physical ended once we'd grown up because we'd stop him. But memories from the past were there, always. And now, my mother forever the victim of his, follows him to talk. As per his request.

"What do you think he wants?" Sam asks me as we stand outside of the room they just went in. I shrug. He's gotten the house, what else did he want. There's nothing left of us he'd want.
"We should go tell Jay." I say and I go searching for him.

I scope out the living room, it's mostly older people here. The garden next, and my brother is there further down. He's actually laughing and looks like he's enjoying his own birthday party. I sigh, hating what I'm about to break to him. As I make my way, I have to weave through the crowd of his friends. Inconveniently I quickly lose sight of him.
"Excuse me. Thank you. Thanks. Excu-
"Hey Fahmeen, you need t-
"Where's Jay?" I cut Adrian off and Rolf is close by. He turns his head to my voice but I avoid his stare. I couldn't answer his questions right now.
Adrian didn't expect me to shut him up but I had to ignore that too.
"Over there." He mutters and I follow his line of sight.

I hold his shoulder and turn him toward me.
"Dad's here."
Jay's eyes widen and his smile disappears. He wordlessly follows me and I cringe at the silence slowly surrounding us.

"Who's up for some games?" Rolf shouts out and then he looks at me concerned. He's trying to distract the crowd from us. Soon enough they start whooping and cheering and I know he's coming. At this point I really want, no need him to.
Fahmeen's POV:

I return to where Sam was. She only moved closer to the door, her ear pressed against it.
"Are they-
She gestures for me to keep quiet and I do. Sam was always the best one to know what was happening so I always left her to it.

My brother leans against the wall, opting to stay silent. I turn around as Rolf walks towards us.
"Is everything alright?" He asks us. He's gone into his Professor mode, concern for all of us apparent on his face. His eyes watch my siblings before landing on me. They soften and I had to bite my lip really hard to stop it from shaking.

I go up to him, partly because we needed him to stay quiet.
"He's in there with mum."
"What?" He says harshly and he begins to walk towards the door. Jay holds his hand out, stopping him.
"It's fine. He won't dare touch her."
Rolf questioningly looks at him and my brother is calm which settles him down.
Rolf then looks at me.
"He won't." I shake my head and he seems to understand. But that didn't mean he was happy about it. He remained close to the door, every now and then looking at my sister eavesdrop.
I walk to my brother and stand next to him. We look at each other. He gives me an awkward half smile and I return it. We always reacted like weirdos during family issues. It was the best way we dealt with shit.

"I'm gonna go tell Auntie Penelope." Jay says, and he goes into the living room.
Rolf comes next to me and folds his arms across his chest. He sighs and looks straight ahead. I'd be lying if I said being this close to him did nothing for me. Quite the opposite actually. I close my eyes and inhale, enjoying the scent of his skin.

My eyes open when I feel his hand grip mine. I look if Sam sees but she's still occupied. Me and Rolf look at each other and I melt at the worry in his eyebrows. The clench of his jaw. The tightness of his grip.

It was daring but I kissed his cheek. I watched the blush form there once I parted. He squeezed my hand and looked ahead once more.

"No way." Sam says. Her eyes are wide and she comes away from the door.
Our hands come apart immediately and I'm so close to freaking out. But she's not looking at us. She's not looking at anything in particular, actually. The door suddenly opens. Mum walks out solemnly.
"Your dad's going to stay with us for a couple of days."

We just stand and watch her walk away into the living room.

..

Fahmeen's POV:

"Come to mine." He whispers walking past me. He's helping cleaning away the half empty dishes, popping balloons along the way.
I ponder on his proposal. I can go with him and forget about the fact my father has returned for God knows how long. Or... I can stay and help figure shit out.
Rolf picks up a few cups and looks over at me. I mouth 'sorry' and give him my attempt at an apologetic smile. He nods, sighs and slowly carries on what he was doing. Just cause I'm not going now doesn't mean I won't be soon.

...

The party would have eventually concluded, just daddy speeded up the process. Now all that was left was the ugly aftermath of an otherwise great birthday for Jay.
"Ugh. So much mess." I can't help moaning, frowning at the living room. It looks like it's been tipped upside down. How was that even possible when mainly my mother's friends spent time here.

The last people to leave included Emilio offering to help. I had to decline, it was weird after what happened earlier. And what was even stranger was Harriet. God knows who even invited her? I mean I didn't mind much but I hadn't seen her during the party and then to suddenly see her leave. It was unexpected. She avoided my eyes and left as soon as Rolf announced the party was over. People listened to him easily knowing who he was. He and Auntie Penelope stayed back, helping this giant clean up.

It was dusk and our father wandered off to mum's bedroom. Rolf tried making eye contact with him but my dad did what he usually does. Avoid us and everyone associated with us.

"What kind of animal would even...?" Jay is scrubbing something foreign off the floor. I couldn't say what it was as I didn't know. His face is one of disgust as he furiously rubs the bristles of the scrubber against the wood.