The Daddy Box Set

“What’s going on, Kylie?” She posed the question again. It was the millionth time she asked, but I managed to escape her every time. I was running out of excuses and alibis to distract her. It was getting tougher and tougher for me to make things up.

I exhaled heavily, my heart so damn heavy. “I’m still not feeling well, Mom.” It was one of my rusty reasons, but I had nothing else.

She put the back of her hand over my forehead, then on my neck. After testing my temperature, she crossed her hands beneath her chest. Her eyes were starting to get tedious and peeved. “Stop fooling around, Kylie. You have been using that

fever excuse since the other day, but you’re not even hot. What’s really going on, and where the hell has my Vince been? It’s been a whole week without his sweet little face in my store. Tell me now.”

“Mom, Hunter kicked me out of their lives.” I shrugged as tears filled my eyes.

Her expression changed in a split second. From the peevish, bored one, she turned into a surprised, pitying mood. It was a quick shift, but I understood why. I was still surprised by how things turned out so poorly.

“What happened? How the hell did things become like this?” She was staring at me with troubled eyes. Her tone was filled with anger and concern

“Remember the day when I rushed Vince to the hospital? Hunter showed up at the hospital that day furious at me. We talked about things, and he was angry at me for neglecting his son. He even told me how I acted like I was Vince’s mother, but I wasn’t his mother. I was no one’s mother.” A soft sob left me as I pulled the scab off the wound. “He said that I was a nobody who meddled too much with their affairs. He told me that we should part ways and take our time alone. It was the best thing to do at this point, anyway.” Everything flashed before me like it happened just yesterday. My heart raced as the room grew dim through my tears.

“How rude of him! That wasn’t your fault the day Vince passed out. You’re not a doctor.” My mother walked around the counter and pulled me into a warm hug, stroking my hair and pressing her cheek to the top of my head. “I think I’m in shock. I would never have expected Hunter to say such horrible things. I know I warned you about him before, but I thought I was wrong. I thought he was a man who loved you so much. Maybe my gut feeling was right, after all. He was a good for nothing, ignorant asshole.”

My eyes were hurting. I wanted to sink to the floor and weep, but I couldn’t cry anymore. The sadness had to stop. “I know, Momma.”

“I just can’t believe it, Kylie. Hunter can’t do these things.” She moved back, took my shoulders, and shook her head in disappointment. “I’m so sorry, baby. I should have known earlier.” The sound of her voice calmed me, her touch reminding me that I was someone. I was hers.

“Me either.” I shrugged and reached up to wipe my cheeks, my skin so tender from wiping at it too often as of late. “I just wish I could redo the day. I love Vince. I would never do anything to—”

“Well, of course, you wouldn’t. Don’t even think like that. Hunter should be slapped in the face for hurting you. Now, tell me what I can do for you.” She yielded a weak smile, hoping for me to cheer up.

“Just hug me, Mom. I’m going to be fine once I figure out how to get over all of this.” I moved back into her arms and let out a soft sigh, finding a little bit of peace.

“We’ll figure it out together, okay, angel?” She patted my face and smiled at me with love in her eyes.

“Thanks, Mom. I’d better get back to work,” I uttered, informing my mother that I was fine and ready for work again.

She looked at me with a worried glance, not trusting me. “Are you sure? You can rest for a while if you need time.”

“Yeah, I’m fine now. Thanks for loving me.”

“I will always love you.” She walked back to the pastry counter, and I forced myself to tuck away every shitty emotion racing through me and forget about Hunter and Vince for a little while.

While I waited for someone to check out their groceries, the chime rang. I looked at the door to see the new customer walking in. I froze as the pale guy who I was almost positive had broken into my house walked in.

It was him. No doubt. Why did he wear the same clothes today that he wore that night? Did he want me to recognize him? He was the same one who made my mom uncomfortable all the time. Why did I have to always give people the benefit of the doubt?

He looked around, searching for something. Upon staring at my direction, his pallid face drew a sinister, sly smile. It was a creepy to watch, bringing goosebumps all over my body.

“Hello there, Kylie. Long time no see,” the man said, his lips crooked in a smirk. He looked terrifying, and I could no longer move a muscle. He stood before me, observing the surroundings behind the counter. “You got some mints back there with you?

How did he know my name? I couldn’t get my tongue loose to ask. I managed to nod instead. I put the mint drops down on the counter.

He pulled his wallet out and stared me dead in the face. “So, where is your boyfriend?”

“Boyfriend? No clue what you’re talking about. I’m single.” I shrugged and took his money while forcing a smile on my face.

“Don’t play dumb. You know who I’m talking about.” He took the mints from the counter, as well as the coins he had for change. “If you don’t know, it’s fine. I’ll find him myself.” Before the man walked out of our convenience store, he stopped and faced me with a devilish look on his face. “Bye, Kylie. I hope I will still see you again. Keep safe.” He walked out whistling something.

Fear raced through me as I turned to look at my mother. She was silently reading her book. Her attention was focused on the novelette she had just started yesterday. I needed to know who that man was.

“Mom,” I called. “Who the hell is that man?”

She looked at me with skeptic eyes. “Who?”