UNDAUNTED (One step at a time)

3

Claire could not believe her ears that she was actually speaking to her dad. She was dumbfounded and lost her voice immediately. Her father was saying something but she could not hear anything as her thoughts were clouded. She could not believe he was the one over the phone until then Mr Willows must have noticed she was not listening to him anymore. He started calling her name, it too three calls to get her back to her senses. She asked him what he had been saying and he asked her if she had a problem. Claire obviously said no as she did not want him knowing any of her problems.

She began explaining to him that she only exhausted and reminded him that her mother was at work at the moment. Mr Willows said he understood and had actually called because he knew she would be home at the time. This sounded unrealistic as she did not seem to believe that her father had called her directly. Thinking about it now, Claire was certain that there had to be a catch to him being nice to her, she only needed to hear from the horses mouth. She asked him to state whatever it was now he got her attention. Mr Willows took a deep sigh like he was actually finding it very hard to say what it was that was on his mind. Claire had caught on that something bad was coming up next.

Mr Willows began explaining that something had come up and he was rather not certain Claire would be comfortable staying with him in his own house. He had extra buildings however and was willing to give up one for her to stay. Claire could not believe her ears that even her father whom had not seen her for years still was not going to want her around him. She asked him what the matter was exactly but he would not say. Claire began speaking that she would not mind so long as she gets to stay with her father. Mr Willows groaned in frustration and told Claire that she would not understand the situation which he was trying to prevent.

"Willows, is that Claire?," a female voice said from the other side of the phone.

Claire wondered exactly who that was. Her father had begun muttering to whomever was on the other side of the phone and then it seemed the phone was taken away from him. Claire still waited when the lady took the phone from him and said hello to her. Claire managed to say hello to her and she asked her if she really was coming to stay. Claire managed a yes and there was a brief silence on the other side. She was still there as Claire could hear her breath. She asked the girl how long she was going to stay and Claire told her that she had no idea.

"Come on Lucille, give me the phone." her father said from the other side

"Let me finish Willows. Claire are you there darling?," she asked

"Yes ma'am." Claire said

"We would be expecting you then." the woman said without emotion and hung up.

Slowly Claire replaced the receiver as lots of thoughts went through her mind as the obvious truth was beginning to surface right in front of her. It was clear that her father had remarried but what she was not sure about was whether or not it was the reason why he had stopped talking to her all these years. Another question was if they had kids together and whether her father was happy with his new family.

Claire stalked to her room and crumbled on her bed as she was in so much dilemma. She wanted to find out things and know things about her father so badly. All along she had been avoiding it so making up her mind, she walked into her parents room. She had earlier taken a piece of paper wrapping that had his full name and details. She was not certain if she should be doing it but regardless, Claire opened the computer which was something her memory had encoded. This was a process she pretty much remember from all the computer classes. She found the search icon and began imputing his name which she copied letter by letter gradually from the wrapping. I told you earlier that her dyslexia was that bad.

As soon as she was done punching in the name, she clicked on search as she had seen her teacher do. She waited a little and it did open but looking at the words, she could not make anything out which why she went for her favourite option in the computer, images. As soon as it opened, the images related to the name appeared as well. Claire began scrolling through until she found her father's pictures which she clicked on. She had missed him so much and he had even grown his beard. She was mesmerized by his smile and started scrolling down when she saw a picture of him holding a lady. Claire opened that one too and started scrolling down again. It did not take long for her to happen upon their wedding pictures. She clicked on one and was horrified at what she saw when she scrolled down. He did have children after all and from his absolute smiling face, he was happy about the world he had built. His new family obviously satisfied him.

Claire felt fresh tears in her eyes. She just put off the computer and disconnected the switch before leaving the room. Once in her room, Claire sat down deep in thoughts about what he had been saying to her over the phone. She was at the crossroads at whether or not she should take his offer and go stay in one of his houses as suggested. No, she was no quitter, she had to stay by her father and maybe be certain he no longer wanted her around him. Only then would she leave his family house.

Claire put herself together and got off her bed. It was time for her to get busy and into her business of packing up. She did not want her mother to get back and start hassling her over her not packing up.

By the time she was done clearing her wardrobe and putting her things together, Claire felt exhausted. She went to get a quick nap before she would go downstairs and make dinner. It had to be something special as it was the last time she would be cooking in the house. Her mother never really appreciated it but she always did anyway hoping that someday things would readjust. Well, it was obvious she had been wrong after all. Things did not change and she was getting kicked out of the house instead.