First meeting. (Open to John)
Alex drummed her acrylic nails on the table, trying to tap out the butterflies before John showed up. She knew he was probably as nervous as she was, but that was only a small comfort while she waited for her father to walk through the door of the coffee shop where they'd agreed to meet.
He wasn't even late, and Alex was already wondering if he'd changed his mind. In spite of having no reason to consider that a possibility, she still had a small understanding of how their meeting could change his life. As soon as John showed up, she would become his daughter. He'd have a name, a face, and a person to associate with the idea that was probably only beginning to develop in his mind.
As for Alex, she'd thought about her father a few times in the years since her mother had told her about the circumstances surrounding her conception. She'd been the product of a one night stand, her father didn't know that she existed, and her mother dealt with the unplanned pregnancy the best way that she could. She provided her daughter with everything that she needed, and tried to make sure that Alex never missed having a father.
She still did, of course. Father's Day was a weird event in her house even with the addition of her stepfather, and sometimes, she just wondered what her biological father would do if he knew about her.
Alex was never entirely afraid to find out, she just didn't want to disrupt the life of a man who was blind to the fact that she existed. It didn't seem fair to seek him out and cause trouble, especially when she was pretty happy with the way things had turned out. Her present relationship with her mother excluded, Alex didn't think her life had been that bad without John. She wasn't bitter, only relieved to arrange a meeting at his request.
She hadn't realized that showing up ten minutes early would be a bad idea, or that waiting could very well turn out to be the easiest part of the experience if things went sour. Mostly, Alex was happy.
She was also insecure, worried, curious, freaked out, and most importantly hopeful.
Because during moments like this one, Alex thought it was a good idea to have a little faith. With any luck, the rest would just go away. And even if it didn't, she'd still get to meet her father.
Either way, it couldn't be too bad. As long as she didn't mention the slaying, or anything else that would make him wish that she'd never been born, Alex thought they'd get along.
And as soon as John showed up, she'd find out if she was right about that.
He wasn't even late, and Alex was already wondering if he'd changed his mind. In spite of having no reason to consider that a possibility, she still had a small understanding of how their meeting could change his life. As soon as John showed up, she would become his daughter. He'd have a name, a face, and a person to associate with the idea that was probably only beginning to develop in his mind.
As for Alex, she'd thought about her father a few times in the years since her mother had told her about the circumstances surrounding her conception. She'd been the product of a one night stand, her father didn't know that she existed, and her mother dealt with the unplanned pregnancy the best way that she could. She provided her daughter with everything that she needed, and tried to make sure that Alex never missed having a father.
She still did, of course. Father's Day was a weird event in her house even with the addition of her stepfather, and sometimes, she just wondered what her biological father would do if he knew about her.
Alex was never entirely afraid to find out, she just didn't want to disrupt the life of a man who was blind to the fact that she existed. It didn't seem fair to seek him out and cause trouble, especially when she was pretty happy with the way things had turned out. Her present relationship with her mother excluded, Alex didn't think her life had been that bad without John. She wasn't bitter, only relieved to arrange a meeting at his request.
She hadn't realized that showing up ten minutes early would be a bad idea, or that waiting could very well turn out to be the easiest part of the experience if things went sour. Mostly, Alex was happy.
She was also insecure, worried, curious, freaked out, and most importantly hopeful.
Because during moments like this one, Alex thought it was a good idea to have a little faith. With any luck, the rest would just go away. And even if it didn't, she'd still get to meet her father.
Either way, it couldn't be too bad. As long as she didn't mention the slaying, or anything else that would make him wish that she'd never been born, Alex thought they'd get along.
And as soon as John showed up, she'd find out if she was right about that.