Her mother noticed JC and look at her daughter. �I didn�t know you had company.� Corinne sighed. �Mom, Dad, this is JC. JC this is my mom and dad.� He came forward and shook both their hands. �It�s nice to meet you both.� Her dad nodded, and her mom forced a smile. �Likewise.� He cleared his throat. �I�m going to check on the girls.� Corinne nodded, and he gave her a reassuring smile and headed to Kaela�s room.
She sat down in the chair across from the couch her parents sat on and remained silent. Her dad was the first to speak. �Girls? Did you have another girl?!� Corinne sighed, upon hearing the tension in his voice. �No. He�s Kaela�s best friend�s father. As well as my friend.� Her dad scoffed. �Friend?� Corinne looked at him defensively. �Yes, my friend. Nothing more. If you came to condemn me to hell, then you can get back up and walk out, because I will not be put through that again, do you understand?�
Her mother sighed. �Honey, that�s not why we came.� Corinne sighed, standing up. �Then why did you come? If I remember right, you never wanted anything to do with me again. After all this time, of not hearing anything from you? Why now?� Her dad sighed. �We wanted to see Kaela. We didn�t come here for you.�
We didn�t come here for you. The words echoed inside Corinne�s head, as she stared blankly at her father in shock. She saw her mom�s face go pale, and Corinne stood up, slowly.�So that�s it. Why, dad? Why? You never showed any interest in her before. Why now? You know what, it doesn�t even matter. I�m afraid I can�t grant you your request.�
Her dad stood as well. �And why not?� Corinne looked up at him defiantly. �Because. I don�t need my daughter, who loves me no matter what, to be reminded of how her mother�s a screw-up and a worthless piece of shit who�s going straight to hell!�
His eyes grew wide with fury, as he raised his voice. �You DARE talk to me like that! I am your father! You show me some respect!� Corinne shook her head, not backing down, but her voice raising as well. �YOU are NOT my father. You never have been and you never will be! It�s disgusting that you even consider yourself such! A father does not leave his ONLY daughter, on the streets to raise her child! He doesn�t tell her what a mistake she is, and he DOESN�T condemn her to eternity in hell!�
Her voice, now broken and cracking with emotion lowered, softly. �A father is someone who shows his daughter that he loves her no matter what she does. No matter how big of a mistake she makes. He still stands behind her through thick and thin. He tells her that God will forgive her, because she knows deep down in her heart that that�s what she needs more than anything in the world. YOU DIDN�T DO OR SAY ANYTHING LIKE THAT TO ME! You� are NOT my� father.�
The room grew silent, except for the soft sobs coming from her mother, who stood torn between her flesh and blood and the man she was afraid to defy. Corinne looked at her mom and shook her head. �Mom, I�m sorry. But, you never did anything to help the matter either. You are a submissive wife and I understand that. However, I can�t accept it.�
�I think it�s time you both left. Go back to your isolated little fantasy world. The world in which I don�t exist. And do us all a favor, and leave me alone. Don�t come back, and don�t try and get in touch with my daughter. I won�t have it.�
Without saying a word, her mother stood, eyes filled with tears as she walked to the door. Her father glared at her and shook his head, before leaving. She waited until she heard the door slam, when she grit her teeth in anger and picked up a nearby vase and threw it against the wall, screaming in despair.
She watched it shatter against the wall, and stared at the wall, not noticing JC come hurrying in. He stood silently, as he watched her gape in silence, and slowly, he inched over to her, turning her toward him. �Corinne�� She shook her head, lifting it slowly to look at him. He frowned as he noticed how blank and unfeeling her eyes were. �Why? Why would you ever want to try things with me? I�m messed up.You�re looking at damaged goods, here. I can�t. I�m not worth it� I�m�� He cut her off, by pulling her into a tight embrace. �It�s ok to cry, Corinne. It�s ok. I promise.� She nodded, hugging him close, taking not even a moment to let the tears run free. They sank to the floor, and he rocked her back and forth like a child who�d just woken from a nightmare and whispered calming thoughts to her. They stayed that way for a long time.
Eight