'All those the Father gives me will come to me, and
whoever comes to me I will never drive away.'
~John 6:37~
March
Chase braked, causing Falcon to hit the dash. He looked up over his slimy jowls and whined. Chase glared, throwing the car into park. “Don’t start with me!”
The boxer managed to leap over the driver’s seat and join Chase in his race to the school front. It didn’t take long as it was nearly deserted. He suspected there was practice happening in the gym, or club meetings in a classroom. But busting into the front office, Alice was the only one sitting on a long wooden bench against the far wall.
“Chase Hornick.” Chase made it to the counter with a pen to sign Alice out. Miss Keaner, the secretary, glared at him. “I can’t leave until she does.”
The swing and slam of the door indicated that Alice had left. Chase smiled a sheepish apology and hurried after her. Falcon was bouncing in front of Alice, stubby tail wagging, but Alice didn’t notice. She just stomped.
“There’s no excuse for being late.” Chase admitted, jogging alongside. “But there isa reason.”
“There always is.” Alice spat, nudging him over with her backpack. She went for the back of the knee. Chase acted like it didn’t hurt. “Alice, let me explain- I’ll explain to the drama coach-“
Alice spun on him, so that he nearly tripped over her. “Auditions started almost two hours ago! I can’t even try to get the part now!”
Chase didn’t need a throbbing leg to feel terrible. This was Alice’s first time trying something outside of softball, and he’d suggested it. A community theatre group put out three productions a year. Chase had never thought Alice would have the patience for acting, but she’d insisted. And he’d helped her practice the lines for the enchanted tiger. He’d been looking forward to seeing her audition!
But the Leavy trial drew closer, as did the threats on his life. Surveillance had caught someone tampering with his car, leading to a sweep of the vehicle.
I just can’t win. Chase despaired at the hurt and disappointment in Alice’s eyes. She stopped beside the car, Falcon still after a scratch. “I don’t know why I ever trusted you.”
“Is it really that much to ask.” Chase threw up his arms. Alice dug at the scruff of Falcon’s neck- she liked to angry massage him. Ironic because Chase like to do the same. He wanted to right now, work out his own frustration. Chase paced the sidewalk, trying to assemble his thoughts with his emotions. “I’m tired of this, Alice. I’m tired of trying to keep hope and trust at the front of our relationship. And I think I’ve more then proved both.”
To her, to Sydney, even to himself. There laid the problem, however. Alice wasn’t interested or impressed.
“I am trying sohard here,” Chase faced his stepdaughter. “I wanted to be here, but work came up. It’s not an excuse, but it happens.”
Alice watched the sidewalk, then the street, purposefully avoiding him. Chase brushed his hair back. “You plan to go through life snubbing those you don’t like? That’s poor judgment and a sad waste of heart. And it could land you in a pretty lonely place.”
“Thanks, DR. PHIL.” Alice spat, glaring. “But there’s nothing wrong with being guarded.”
“Against me?” Chase pointed dramatically at his chest. “Alice… I’m not your dad.”
Alice prepared to remark, but Chase stopped her. “You know I don’t have to be your father to care about you right?”
Falcon whimpered, rubbing on Chase’s leg, then against Alice’s. He didn’t understand why two people he loved weren’t paying attention to him. Alice nudged him back, her jaw tense enough to snap. Her fingers worked the straps of her aging backpack and Chase caught a flicker of the fuzzy keychain he’d helped her buy. Why hold onto it if she wanted nothing to do with him?
“You’ll leave.”
Chase rushed to deny that, but something quieted him. Rather, he went on his hunches so Alice had to look him in the eye. She wasn’t shy about that. “Things always work with Dad-“
“Until they don’t.” Chase finished.
“Dad loves me.” Alice’s voice sharpened. “He’ll need me to be there for him. When he gets out.”
Chase’s eyes narrowed. “With how much money?”
Her fist came at him, but Chase caught it. Alice breathed heavy. “He’s using it for his lawyers. And it was my idea.”
“You’ve had smarter ideas.” Chase pushed her fist down. “Youare a smart girl. You hold your own and you don’t waste time- or energy. So why waste both on hating me?”
Alice fought for an answer, eyes glistening. The wind changed then, her face falling into Chase’s shoulder. He had his arm around her, scared at how natural the instinct was.
“Can’t it all just go back?” Alice sucked in a sob. “Just… be like before.”
Before all the change. Maybe she wanted to go back, but Chase didn’t. He used to think he’d never abandon bachelorhood. He and Falcon had lived according to their own schedules and his biggest purchase would be the latest suede jacket to take his dates out in. And I believed that was all God intended for me.
Chase squeezed Alice’s shoulder. “Did you ever think there’s a reason for the change? Alice, I want you to see your dad and I don’t want him to be in jail. But… I also can’t imagine not knowing your mom. Or you.”
Alice stepped back, brushing her tears away. “You make Mom happy. That makes me mad.”
Chase didn’t know what to tell her. “I think you expectit to make you mad. And when it doesn’t, you feel guilty.”
“You don’t know me.” Alice shook her head.
“I’ve learned a thing or two.” Chase lifted the keychain. “You love neon colors so Mom doesn’t worry about your interest in horror movies. You like snow cones, but not ice cream.”
He about smirked. “And you- you and your mom- can’t stand someone being alone or treated unfairly.”
Alice went back to scratching Falcon’s ear. Chase could feel the trust she was holding back, afraid to give it to him. He thought of the papers, his eagerness to see them signed and legally stamped. Having it say somewhere on file that this exhausting, amazing child was his daughter.
But none of that would happen without her trust. Alice had rubbed her eyes dry, her hand on the car door. “We missed the audition, with or without this heart to heart crap. Can we just go home, Chase?”
“Sure thing.” Chase gave in, knowing they were both about tapped out. He watched her lead Falcon into the back seat, closing the door for her. And wondering how many more days he’d have to hold out.
~To Be Continued~
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