Full Support by Woods Natalee

Author:Woods, Natalee
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: General Fiction
Publisher: Amberjack Publishing
Published: 2019-05-24T16:00:00+00:00

Twelve hours and twenty-two minutes later, I wobbled to my car. The bottoms of my feet felt like a burning firepit, and the amount of grease I collected on my forehead was enough to keep a crew of bicyclists on the road.

Reflecting on my time with Diane, I drove home in silence. I envisioned my mother paying visits to the lost and heartbroken, moving my dad along each aisle of the grocery store. It all seemed peculiar, yet worthy of believing. There had to be something. Life, though messy and incomprehensible at times, was far too magical to end in nothing.

“Hey, Dad,” I said, detouring down Sunset Boulevard.

“Hey, Nat,” he replied, turning down the TV. “How was the big day?”

“It was alright.” I sighed, telling myself four times to drive past In-N-Out Burger.

Larry, my dad, hated small talk, as did I, but sometimes it was all that transpired because of work or driving or because it was emotionally easier. The distance between us had a funny way of transferring sentiments, often leaving me in a state of fear. He was all I had—but he was 1,136 miles away.

“You know, Pops,” I eased in slowly. “I’ve started thinking about something.” Sirens blared by, stalling my proposition. “How would you feel about me coming back up to stay with you? I’d maybe sublet my apartment for a little while. Plus I can get your expertise with my résumé and figure out what’s next.”

Silence spread to every corner of the car. “I’d get a job in the meantime, of course. And it’s not like it’d be tomorrow. It was just a thought.”

I could almost hear the wheels turning in my father’s head. Maybe he wasn’t lonely after all and preferred living solo with his newfound freedom.

“I thought you wanted to stay in LA,” he said.

“Well, I do,” I replied. “But I thought I could, um, spend some time with you until I found a stable job. I’m not really sure I can afford this place. Slingin’ bras isn’t cutting it. And I just want to make sure you’re getting by okay.”

Larry laughed softly.

“I’m getting by just fine, Nat. Stop worrying about me. And know that you always have a room here for as long as you need.”

My heart gave way.

Why couldn’t Christine’s dad just say that? Why did he have to call her “chub with the rub?” His own daughter … forever up against those words.

“Where is this coming from anyway?” he asked with a concerned tone.

“I don’t know. It all just hit me.” I tried sounding slightly apathetic so things wouldn’t get too mushy. “I just don’t want to be in a position where I’m working retail for the next ten years.”

“Okay, I get that. Remember you went to college to become a teacher, Natalee.” My heart gave way again. Larry rarely addressed me by my full name. Plus I didn’t want to tell him that I wasn’t mentally ready to embrace the complexities of adulthood due to my lack of fortitude and overpowering need to keep escaping.

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