AllFreeNovel
Share Us
CHAPTER TWENTY
As they walked into the nice restaurant her father picked out, April was taken aback by the atmosphere of the place. The walls were a deep red color and were adorned with golden frames that held paintings of different styles. The tables were all covered in white tablecloths, and each one had a small vase filled with pink roses.
It was an upscale restaurant with dim lighting and subtle music playing in the background.
She took a deep breath as they walked deeper inside and made their way to a table near one of the windows. The smell of delicious food filled her nose as she settled into her seat across from her father.
April was impressed by the inviting atmosphere that seemed to embrace them both.
The waiter had already taken their orders and left them alone to talk.
The tension between them was palpable as they both sat quietly, neither one wanting to be the first one to start talking. Finally, Richard broke the silence.
"Thanks for coming out with me tonight."
April nodded. "Of course. I'm glad we could find time to get together."
She wasn't sure how she felt about him, but she was glad it was time spent with him like she'd promised. Her father had given her a hard time since the moment he arrived.
And then there was this whole stealing problem.
Richard cleared his throat. "Listen, April. I know I've been difficult the past few days, but I want you to know that I'm thankful for what you've done for me. For letting me stay at the house and spend time with you. I appreciate it."
Her father's words hit a soft spot. It confused her more than anything because she didn't realize how self-aware he truly was.
"Thanks, dad," she replied, unsure of what to say. It had been a hard few days, but she was glad she'd decided to give him a chance. At least then, she would know she tried her best.
How could she ever turn away her own father?
The waiter came back with the food and placed it in front of them. April's eyes widened as she looked at the plate before her. The steak was cooked to perfection and served with a side of mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables.
Then she glanced around the restaurant, taking in all of its beauty.
April looked up to her father, wondering if he could actually afford this restaurant. She hadn't seen him work since he'd arrived, so she couldn't be sure where his money was coming from or where he had gotten enough money to pay for such an extravagant meal.
Richard hadn't paid her a penny since staying with her. She covered everything, the groceries, the house bills, all on her own. What money did he have to be throwing at steak and potatoes?
Her suspicions grew stronger as she watched her father take a bite of his steak. She wondered if he had been stealing from her to pay for such a luxurious meal. But she couldn't quite bring herself to confront him just yet.
"Have you ever been to South America?" he asked her as he bit another piece of juicy steak off of his fork.
She could barely focus on his words as her thoughts were elsewhere. "What? Uh... I don't think so."
"Well, I did a few years back. It was an amazing experience. The scenery is like nothing you've ever seen before. The jungles and the beaches, the mountains and the rainforests, it's all so beautiful."
She wasn't sure why her father was telling her this. It wasn't like she could leave everything and vacation like he did constantly.
He continued taking bites of his steak as he told his story. "We visited these ancient ruins one time. It was just my buddy and I and this tour guide. There was some creepy stuff going on. Apparently we stood right where a slaughter took place."
April looked down at her plate covered in sauce that suddenly looked less appetizing. Still, she tried to pay attention to her father's words. They were supposed to be bonding. This was what he came for.
"And then we rode down the river into these hidden coves. We actually got to swim in them. It was pretty cool."
He looked up with a smile that slowly faded as he realized April wasn't as interested. "Oh, sorry," she said immediately. "I'm listening. I'm just taking it in. South America sounds like a lot of fun."
"It was. I think you should go sometime," he said, regaining the excitement he had.
April nodded, trying to ignore the growing suspicions in her mind. "Maybe I will someday."
