CHAPTER 4

"Here's your phone," Mom said and I snatched my iPhone from her and tucked it in my winter jacket pocket.

"C'mon Mom, the plane leaves in an hour." I reminded her and she drove out of the garage. This was it. I was going to live with the man I hadn't seen in 8 years. How was I supposed to behave in front of him?

"You got your transfer letter and your dad's address right?" Mom asked and I rolled my eyes and nodded.

"Look Harriet, California isn't like Manchester. You make one move and you're gonna spend the rest of your life in juvenile. Clear?" Mom asked and I nodded. Clear my ass.

She parked her car in front of the airport and I got down and brought out my luggages from the car trunk and backed my backpack, watching my brothers get down from the car with sad faces. How I wish I could bring them along with me. I was worried of boring their livee would be with Mom alone.

"Hey don't be sad. I'm not leaving forever. I'll make sure you see dad one day too. I promise." I told them as I crouched down to their level.

"We'll call you tomorrow, is that fine with you?" Wilson asked and I nodded.

"Remember to always do your homeworks and stay out of trouble alright." I told them and they nodded.

"I'll miss you so much." Wesley cried, hugging me tight when I stood up and Wilson joined the hug.

"Never forget to protect your brother." I whispered into Wilson's ear and he nodded. He needed to do what I couldn't do. They let go me eventually and I took the animal pet cage from where Storm was kept from mom. I watched as they got into the car.

"Be good," Mom said and got into the car, driving off. I felt a pang of loneliness within me and pulled my two luggages into the airport.

After all the instructions and airports stuff, I found myself sitting next to an African couple that wouldn't stop making noises so I plugged in my headphone and shut my eyes.

*************

"On behalf of this Airline, the flight crew would like to welcome you to this international airport. We will be arriving the gate momentarily. Please remain in your seat with your seat belt securely fastened until the aircraft has come to a stop at the terminal gate. Please check around to ensure you have all your belongings before leaving the aircraft. Thank you for choosing Norwegian air." I heard the flight attendant speak and I breathed in relief. The plane came to a stop and I took my backpack and left the plane heading towards the carousel to get my luggage bags and pet cage. I left the airport and headed towards the public ATM close by to withdraw some dollars. I walked to the bus station with my luggage bags and pet cage after purchasing a luggage cart and boarded a private taxi.

"Mendota." I told him and he agreed and helped me to load my luggage bags. I got into the taxi with my pet cage and he drove off after I gave him my father's address. I closed my eyes. Okay I wouldn't pretend that California's climate was way different from that of Manchester. I was really hot so I removed my jacket and was left in my sweatshirt. I glanced at the streets we passed and there was no way I would compare California to Manchester, they were both unique in their own way. I stared at the cable railroad and the tall buildings and shops. I stared in awe at the tall trees. Soon we entered an area in front of a large gate that had 'WELCOME TO MANDOTA, CANTALOPUE CENTER OF THE WORLD.'

"The population here is more than eleven thousand," the driver spoke but I didn't respond, the only thing on my mind was dad. How would he react when he sees me? Mom never told him I was coming, they haven't even spoken in 8 years. She gave me some court papers to show him. What if he got himself another wife? I swear I would chop her hair bit by bit and force her to eat it while burning her fingers.

He stopped in front of a small and simple blue house with a white door.

I gulped and got down slowly when he removed my bag and pet cage. I was surprised that no one, out of how populated they were in this street was staring at me. I gave the driver his money, ignored his wave and rolled my luggages to the front porsche of the house and pressed the doorbell but it never rang.

"Hello anyone in there." I asked knocking but I heard no reply.

"Mr. Kade isn't around don't you see the door lock?" I jumped when I heard a woman's voice and I turned and squinted my eyes to see a woman in her late twenties glaring at me.

"Who the fuck are you?" I asked in hatred and frowned when I heard her whisper British bitch.

"Who are you?" she asked and I chuckled darkly. Why was she so possessive over dad?

"Leave." I ordered and she raised her eyebrows at me mockingly.

"Oh sweet dear I'll advice you to leave, You see Kade doesn't like it when gold diggers appear on his doorstep," she replied and I had the urge to laugh. I kept quiet and smiled, putting my hand in my jean pocket and putting on my brass knuckles. So I have a brass knuckle, not bad right?

"I wouldn't have said that if I were you." I told her calmly and she snorted.

"What you gon' do about huh? You bit-" my fist landed on her nose and I smiled in satisfaction when I saw blood sputtering from her nostrils. I guess the pain was too much for her to handle as she fell to the ground, clutching her bleeding nose tightly. I crouched down to her level, squatting. How I fucking wish I could do more damage to her nose, like cut it off but mom warned me specifically about hurting people. I scoffed at the thought and got up, ignoring her moans of pain.

"What the hell is happening here?" I froze when I heard his voice, the voice I had not so forgotten about when he told me his last words daddy loves you rage, never forget that 8 years ago. I turned around and gasped, he had changed a lot. He had small facial hairs and his once full brown hair was trimmed (picture Theo James).

"Help me get up Kade, she hit me when I tried explaining to her that you weren't around," the bitch lied and I turned back to her and stepped on her fingers repeatedly, laughing at her screams.

"That's enough kid," dad told me and pulled me away from her, turning me to face him. He narrowed his eyes at me frowning. Then he glanced at my luggage bags and pet cage and glanced back at me. 

"Who are you? Are you lost?" he asked and I shrugged, pouting.

"You should get her arrested for assault on me," the bitch spoke and I rolled my eyes. She had gotten up but was still clutching her nose tightly.

"Can you let me handle this in peace!" Dad yelled at her and she groaned and stood there, staring at us.

Dad glanced at me questionably and I nodded and removed the court papers from my pocket, giving it to him. He took it from me and scanned it while I stared at the ground.

"Fuck," he whispered and I smirked.

"Let me see that," the bitch snatched from dad's hand.

"Rage," dad called slowly and I looked up, into his glossy eyes glistening in tears.

"Hey dad." I greeted and I ignored the bitch when she gasped.

"My Rage," dad mumbled and pulled me in a bear hug.

"Holy shit how long have you been waiting?" he asked pulling away from me and holding my shoulders.

"Are you hungry, You must be tired come inside," dad told me and I smiled. He opened the door and took my bags inside. I picked my pet cage and slammed the door at the bitch's face when she tried to get in.

The house was a mess. The hallway was so unclean. I entered the living room and gasped at the mess. Clothes, shoes and used food plates.

"I'm sorry you met this place like this. I never knew you were coming here," he explained as he picked the plates then dropped it confused.

"Dad," I called but he ignored me.

"I'm sure you must be disgusted. I'm usually not this messy," he continued.

"Dad!" I snapped and sighed before surprising him with a hug, a tight hug. I missed him so much.

"Oh rage, you don't know how much I missed you too," he sighed into my hair, his voice breaking and I pulled off and pushed him into an empty couch and sat close to him.

"I heard you had or still have IED," dad said and I rolled my eyes.

"So you and mom still talk." I teased and he shook his head.

"I get my information from someone else," he replied and I nodded.

"And the boys? I never got to see them," he asked and I smiled.

"They're good." I said and gasped when I remembered Storm. I stood up and walked over to the pet cage and opened it. Storm stormed out and I laughed.

"Whoa," dad yelled and reached out to Storm who allowed dad, much to my surprise.

I sat next to him as we both scratched his fur.

"Tell me all that I have missed," dad ordered.

"Sir yes sir." I saluted and we both laughed.

He sure did miss a lot

Do you think moving here is going to be the best for Harriet

What do you think about the possessive neighbor

Who else miss's her brothers apart from me? 🥺🥺