Forever and Always ✔️

Chapter twenty two - Penelope.

I wiped away my tears, I almost forgot that Zack was here as soon as my father walked in. I got up and the shaking began again. "Just a bad nightmare," I said with a whisper in my voice, "about mom."

He nodded and then turned his direction towards Zack who was still seated on the bathroom floor. "Who is this?"

Zack stood up and extended his hand but, my dad ignored it. "Zack Adams, one of Penelope's friends from school."

"I called him, daddy," I said, "you were at work and I was scared."

He placed his hand on my shoulder and sighed. "This is why you shouldn't have cancelled therapy."

I nodded, knowing that he was right. "Yeah, I know." I sighed, taking in what I saw in my head. It was terrifying.

"Well, I've got it from here." He turned to Zack and gave him a death glare.

"I'll walk you out." I said to him as I took his arm as dragged him away from my father who disproved of everything that I did now. He never used to be like this.

We both travelled down the stairs and towards the front door. I opened it and let Zack go out first before I closed the door behind me.

"I honestly can't believe I dragged you away from whatever you were doing, I'm so sorry." I said, feeling entirely embarrassed.

Zack gave me a small smile as he invited me to sit on the steps with him which I happily did. "Don't apologize, I said to call me anytime."

"You look like you were going out. A date?" I asked, looking at how handsome he was in the shirt and nice long pants he was wearing.

"Uh, yeah. A double date with Gray, his date and Cecelia but it's fine, I hate double dates anyway. You may have saved me from it." He chuckled slightly.

I smiled at his words, he didn't seem mad but I still felt terrible that I pulled him away. "I'll make it up to you."

He chuckled. "No, you don't have to but I wouldn't mind an explanation of what happened back there."

I nodded, collecting all of my courage to tell him what really happened to my mom because I didn't finish the story back at the diner. "So, I had a nightmare. About my mom. She's not exactly around anymore."

"You don't have to tell me your nightmare if it brings too much back." Zack cut in nicely.

"No, it's okay." I sighed, picturing the night my mom turned against me. "I told you that she was sick for a very long time."

*Flashback*

"Penelope, make the house nice and cosy for when your mom comes home." My dad said, dusting the countertops.

"Okay, dad." I said, being my teenager myself. I didn't exactly feel like cleaning but, mom was coming home so I would do it for her. "I'll clean my room."

"Good girl."

"Dad, I'm not five anymore." I complained as I raced up the stairs of our Texas house near a big corn field.

Once I cleaned my room, dad called me from downstairs that mom has arrived home. I jumped for joy because she was finally here, ready to become a family with us again.

"Mommy!" I yelled as I raced downstairs just as dad opened the door and let mom through.

He took her luggage and mom walked through the door. "There's my girl!"

Mom and I hugged for a really long time as dad shut the door. "How've you been? Are you keeping your grades up?"

I nodded as we let go and headed towards the kitchen where dad had just finished making dinner. "I'm doing fine, it must feel great to come home." I grinned as the three of us took a seat at the dining room table. The smell of dads homemade pizza made my mouth water.