Chapter Two

"No." I did what he asked and waited until we got to the diner. Heck, I even waited until we were seated in the worn booth.

   "No. What do you mean no?" His face is calm, yet oddly and unusually stern. That scares me. We're talking about the guy who absolutely loathes making decisions. And his demeanor is telling me he's already made his mind up. About this of all things!

   "Dad. What is going on? Why? You know we don't do change. We are not those people that like new things. We are those people that enjoy routine and structure. Please let this be a sick joke." A look of pity flashes through his eyes before I see a steel determination set in them.

   "I've run out of inspiration here, Riles. The house is haunted and I'm tired of living with its ghosts." Inspiration? He's run out of inspiration. The New York Times best selling author has all of a sudden run out of inspiration? I'm not buying it. And what ghosts? What is he talking about?

   "Ghosts? Dad? What, are you the new Zak Bagans or something?" He gives me this dead pan look and sighs.

   "Dad, you do realize today is a school day right?" The look on his face tells me he did not. This is what I'm talking about. The man doesn't know Monday from Saturday and all of a sudden he wants to move?

   "Well, you'll be going to a new school in a couple of days anyway. I really don't see the point in you going today." I just give him this blank stare. "Come on Riles, it isn't like you have anyone to say goodbye to is it? You aren't exactly a social butterfly."

   He is completely right. I've lived here my entire life and don't really have a single friend. Acquaintances, sure. Friends? Not so much. That still doesn't make this right though. This is home.

"Dad...that house is the only thing I have left connecting me to her...what if she comes back and we aren't there?" My dad looks shocked. We never talk about her and I've definitely never spoken aloud about the hope that she'll one day return. Sure the childlike wish makes me feel pathetic, but she's my mom. Every little girl wants their mama.

I stare down at the table refusing to meet his eyes. I'm scared I've hurt him by my confession and feel kind of guilty. While dad hasn't always been emotionally available, he has always been there. He's always made sure I don't go without.

"Riley, you're seventeen years old baby. I've wasted enough of both of our lives by waiting on her to show back up. To miraculously walk through the front door like she never left. We've got to stop living in pause. It's time to press play."

The waitress appears with my coffee, orange juice, and grits with grape jelly on the side. My dad smiles at my usual combination as he accepts his eggs and toast.

   I begin mixing my jelly in my grits as I think of what to say next. I really don't want to move but this really could be good for him. Maybe he could even meet someone special. He hasn't been in a relationship since my mom.

"Dad. I don't want to move. At all. But you've been completely selfless my entire life. You've raised me on your own and put your own wants and needs to the side." I look up in time to see what looks to be guilt flash in his green eyes. I don't think much of it as I continue. "So if you really think this is best, let's do it."

"I don't remember asking for permission but it's good to know I won't have to kidnap my own daughter." I look up, a bit shocked. My dad has never been a snarky man so I really don't know where this is coming from.

He seems to be just as shocked as I am by his words and quickly attempts to fix it. "I'm sorry, I'm just a little nervous about this myself. Thank you for trusting me on this, Riles. I'm so excited to show you a bit more of the world. I feel awful for not doing it sooner. I just want you to know that no matter what happens, you are my girl and I will never not be here for you. You know that right? Promise me you know that, Riley."

My confusion just keeps growing but I just look at him and say, "Yeah, dad of course. And I'll always be here for you too. I promise."

He doesn't look as though he fully believes me but he nods his head anyway and squeezes my hand once before returning his attention to his food. Just once I wish I could read his mind. I want to know the demons that cloud his mind. I feel like most of them would look a lot like my mother.

I drink my coffee first and then I move on to my orange juice. The perfect balance of hot and cold. I sigh, full and content, as I finish the last bit of my grits and jelly. Then I realize something.

"Um, dad. You've failed to mention where exactly it is we're moving. And have you even found a house yet? Or is being homeless a part of the whole adventure thing?"

I see his eyes crinkle a bit as he lets out a light chuckle. "I feel like sarcasm is your first language, right after English. But I bet what I say next will leave you speechless."

I hold my breath, excited and nervous all at once. "You, Riley Brinks, are going to be an official L.A. girl."

"Oh okay, Louisiana probably won't be too bad. At least it's southern like Georgia. Not too much of a culture shock maybe."

My dad laughs. Hard. "No, baby. We're moving to Los Angeles."