Olivia
“Mom, how’s my father looks like?”
“Olivia, darling. Why do you want to know about your father?”
“I was bullied in school because I don’t have a father. Does dad doesn’t want me? He doesn’t love me and that’s why he left? Is that why he left you?”
“Oh, Olivia,” Mom came to me and hugged me tightly. “Your father loves you as much as I do.”
“Then, why he never come and visit us?”
“It was…complicated, dear. But believe me. Your father will come to you one day when you are ready,” she said and kissed my forehead. “I love you so much, my sweet daughter. No matter what happened, you will always be my only beautiful daughter and I love you deep from my heart.”
I slowly opened my eyes and then sat on the bed.
It was complicated.
Her words were the same as Blake’s.
Why was it so complicated just to tell me something? What happened before I was born?
Even so, I missed my mother so much. Although I didn’t have a father, I had zero ideas of who he was, my mother would always be there by my side and protecting me if my neighbors or friends from school starting to bully me again. Saying something bad about me or even about my mother.
My mother used to work as a Fashion Designer for a small fashion company. She said it was her dream since she was younger but her parents never allowed her to achieve it. And when she had the chance, she wanted to fulfill her dream. Even though she was busy, she always spent time with me. Every weekend, she would always stay with me even though the company was calling out for her like crazy asking her to design something or even come to the office. For my mother, her daughter was her number one priority.
Unfortunately, since she was too busy and always put her best into what she was doing even to the point of working almost twenty hours per day, she got sick. Liver failure and she passed away. Everyone from her office came to pay their respect to my mother at her funeral while my father was nowhere to be seen.
That was the time where I had given up hope to my father. I told myself over and over that he never loved me and my mom. Instead…
Blake was the one who took me in.
When my relatives never cared about me.
When my grandparents did not even show up.
Blake was the only one who opened his arms for me. I’ll take care of her, that’s what he said. I remembered I hugged him tight while sobbing badly. I did not know him but I put a lot of expectations on him.
Last night was the first time Blake opened himself to me. Not all of it, but it was enough. At least I knew how he met my mother.
I stretched myself and walked out of the bed. I went downstairs and found Blake in the dining room reading newspaper while drinking coffee. He glanced at me. “Good morning.”
“Morning. Why are you still here?”
“I finished everything yesterday and by coincident…today is Saturday,” he said mockingly. I just realized that and I felt stupid for asking him that. I totally forgot about today. “You were probably tired and that’s why I didn’t wake you up for breakfast.” His words got me.
“What time is it?”
“It’s nearly twelve.” I gasped silently. I did not even figure I was sleeping that long.
“I, uh, I’m so sorry. I’m going to prepare lunch now.”
“No, it’s okay.”
“But—”
“I woke up rather late as well. How about we have lunch outside?” I needed like five seconds to adjust his words into my mind. I wanted to make sure that I didn’t hear it wrong and I made sure to him again.
“What did you just say?”
“How about if we have lunch outside? I’m in the mood for a steak. Do you want to join?”
“I…would love to.”
“Well then, get dressed, little one. Unless you wanted to go with pajamas.” I looked down and I was still wearing my Micky Mouse pajamas.
“I’ll be right back!” I said excitedly and ran back to my room. Even though it was so unexpected, I was happy because I could spend time with him. I could feel myself grinning because I couldn’t hold my smile back.
Right after I washed up my face and changed my pajamas, Blake and I were heading to a steak restaurant in his car. We were passing the sea, I really wanted to spend my summer holiday later at the beach. Maybe I would plan it together with Karen.
For lunch, since we were going to eat steak, I wore a grey flannel shirt with dark blue jeans and cowboy boots. We lived in Los Angeles and sometimes I should show off.
As for Blake, he wore his usual black shirt, and to me, he looked damn hot and deliciously gorgeous. I guessed Blake did not have to go through the trouble to make him look perfect. “Why are you looking at me, Liv?” My cheeks immediately warmed. I was staring at him for too long.
“It was nothing,” he smirked.
“You don’t need to worry if people saw us together. They knew if we are father and daughter.” Blake was right, but some part of me was hoping that they didn’t. Although Blake was old enough to become a father, he looked too young. If he was my birth father, I counted back that he was nineteen years old when I was born. Not even twenty.
And I guessed my mom was around that age when she had me. Wow.
When we reached the restaurant, we walked inside together and were escorted by the waitress to our table. Even while we were looking at the menu, the waitress never cast her eyes away from Blake. I knew that I had no obligation to forbid her because I was just his daughter. But still… It was rather bothering. Like she didn’t even see me.
“What will you be having, Liv?” Blake asked.
“Oh, um… I’ll be having a rib-eye with mashed potatoes and green beans.”
“Okay. Did you get that written, Miss?” he asked the waitress and she blinked.
“Huh?” she looked confused and she looked at me.
“She’s just mentioned her order to you, did you not pay any attention to her? Your job is to explain what the menus are and taking customers’ orders, right? You do not even competent in doing such an easy job?” Blake asked annoyingly. I wanted to stop him so he won’t make any scenes here. The waitress quickly apologized and Blake told her his order before she left.
I really wanted to laugh but I only smiled at him. “Why did you do that?”
“Her gazes were uncomfortable and I hated it. I preferred to be looked at by you.” His words caught me off guard. “I don’t feel a slight disgust from your stare back in the car.”
“Well, it’s probably because I’m your daughter.”
“You are only my stepdaughter, Olivia. Although I never good at expressing something to you, I care about you. I’m really sorry again about my acts for the past couple of years. I promise I will never do that again. I will come for your next PTC and also the next. I will attend your school festival. And everything else.”
I was touched, like literally.
Maybe this lunch was the part of his apology.
“I never hate you for doing that. I was just…confused because I had no idea why you suddenly changed like that. I thought I did something wrong. I’m not going to push you because as you said, I’m not ready and I will wait.” We smiled at each other. God, even his smile is gorgeous.
It’d been a long time since I saw him smiling so sincerely like that.
I felt relieved now that we had reconciled and by the time our dishes came.
I will attend your school festival.
That reminded me of something. Before I dig in, I asked him, “Blake? The school will be having a festival next month before the summer holiday.”
“Well, I will definitely come. Let me know the date and I will take a leave from the office.”
“Okay!” And then we began digging our lunch. I couldn’t believe he just said that. He would come to the festival.
I was so excited about it and I couldn’t wait.