My Best Friend's Dad

Grounded

Tristan's POV

I was still furious. I wanted to tell Elona something that she wouldn't like. She had been saved by her father because I would've hurt her feelings. I don't know if she would've handled it well enough to not take it too personal, but at that point I had to bite my tongue with her. I nearly gave in to her when she begged me if she could stay the night and not tell David. I just couldn't do that, not after this evening. This will be a lesson for both of them. I opened the door to Crislynn's bedroom. She was lying on her stomach, her feet hanging off the bed.

"Cris-" She turned around and sat up straight.

"It was all me. Elona didn't have to be punished either. I wanted to go, but she didn't want to. It was all me, I forced her to go with me," she said.

I moved to her desk and I sat on it slightly, folding my arms over my chest, furrowing my brows." I told you not to go and that...you went behind my f^cking back, how f^cking disrespectful is that to me?!" I roared at her. She swallowed. "You could've put yourself and your friend in danger. You would've called me if something had been wrong. I am glad that uncle Steve owns that f^cking club." I let out a breath.

"I'm sorry, dad," she said softly.

"That won't solve what you just did. How can I trust you again after this?" I asked.

"I won't do it again and, besides, I'm at the legal age, so technically, next year I will be out of your hair."

"And yet you are still f^ckimg going on about it. You don't understand. You are f^cking grounded for a month and you won't be seeing Elona for the entire month either," I said.

"Dad, she did nothing wrong and we are inseparable. Please dad, allow me to see her," she begged, and those pleading eyes reminded me of Estelle, although Cris has my color eyes. I licked my lips as my heart missed Estelle. I shook my head.

"No, the only time that you will see Elona is at school and when you both walk home together. But you will not hang out together after school at each other's houses. You won't have anyone else over, you are only to leave this house if there is something important for you to do," I said.

"But Elona is important, she is like a sister to me, dad," she said so sweetly and that was reason enough for me to not even look at Elona the way that I shouldn't.

"You are grounded, don't make me take away the other things, you can at least text and call Elona as a way of hanging out after school," I warned her as I held her gaze one last time before walking towards the door.

"I won my essay, I didn't want to tell you but it was about mom," she said. I froze in my spot in the doorway. I took a deep breath, not sure what to say to that, because things took a shift in my emotions because of Estelle. I walked away without another word.

I went back to the study room to continue to bury myself in work as best as I do in these circumstances of pain. I sat on the leather chair, my elbows on the desk and I ran my hands over my face. Tears escaped, running down my cheeks. Will this pain ever stop?

I remember reading a paragraph from Crislynn's essay that was on the coffee table when they had to write the essay. I remember those words and they struck my heart all over again.

The Radiance of a Beautiful Mother

A mother is often the heartbeat of a family, the pillar of strength, and the embodiment of love. Her beauty extends beyond physical appearance, radiating from the depths of her selfless devotion to her daughter and her husband. Whether in the simple act of preparing a favorite meal or offering a comforting embrace, a mother's love creates a sanctuary in which her daughter finds solace and security. The loss of such a beautiful soul leaves an indelible void that cannot be filled.

I simply couldn't read it any further. And then Elona happened. I leaned back in my chair and I took the phone out of my pocket. F^ck. Maggie left me a lot of missed calls and texts. I was oblivious to these texts and missed calls when I tried to call David in my study room to get Elona. It was on silent since I left to get the girls from the club.

My phone's screen lit up again and Maggie's name appeared. I let out a sigh and answered, "Maggie, I'm so sorry but something came up with my daughter. We can have dinner next time when things are fine over here," I said. I was more in a mood for just not doing anything at all, but then if Elona would intrude my mind, Maggie would've been a good f^ck, but not even that would make things better, because Elona would always be there.

"Is she okay?" she asked with concern.

"No," I lied, Cris was perfectly fine except for the part that she was grounded.

"I hope that whatever it is, she will be okay soon. We can have dinner next time, just call me," she said.

"Thank you," I replied and then I hung up, not wanting to prolong the phone call. I placed my phone on the desk. "What have I done, Estelle?" I said softly, as if my wife was here with me. Watching over the mess that I put myself in because of a young woman who is not even out of school yet.

I feel as if I have disappointed Estelle. Maybe she was not happy with me and with Cris acting out. Perhaps she misses her mother, maybe that was the reason she brought up the essay. She was walking on egg shells when Estelle passed away. I was too broken and tried to hide it. I guess my ugly sobs in my bedroom at night were what she heard because, the next morning, she would be concerned yet said nothing. She didn't want to make me sob all over again. It was since her mother died, I got better at my emotions by burying myself in work. Yet, it still hurt like a f^cker. I never stopped and asked how she was when she started to get some life back into her a year after Estelle passed away.

We never spoke about things in detail but she was such a happy child even up to this day. Maybe she had been bottling everything up but I think that while she is grounded, we can put a stop to that and talk about things.