To Call My Own

Chapter Twenty Five

"You don't have to say or do anything that makes you uncomfortable." I told Bea, squeezing her hand.

The two of us were were sitting on the couch, waiting for West to arrive. It was finally the day we had been waiting for. There was an uneasy feeling in my stomach and my hands were shaking as I sat there, just waiting. Truthfully, I was tired of waiting.

I was nervous to see how my father would react to everything. To hearing our voices and seeing us for the first time in such a long time. I'd be lying if I said I didn't put a little extra effort into my appearance. I did my basic makeup along with curling my hair. I was wearing black jeans and pretty long sleeve white blouse. I knew he was my father, but it had been so long and all I wanted to do was make a good impression.

"Mom, West is here." I called, Bea and I both stood up. Mom came rushing in to give us each a hug and give us assurance of her support.

Bea and I pulled on our coats and boots and shuffle down the icy drive down to West's car. I tugged open the passenger door of his car. West turned to me with a smile as I slid into the warm car. He handed Bea and I each a coffee and bagel.

"Thanks, West." I smiled, leaning over to kiss his cheek. He grinned as he pulled out from his spot alongside the curb. "And thank you again for agreeing to come with us." I said once again, feeling slightly better now that we were with West.

"Of course, I wasn't about to let the two of you go alone." He assured me. "Plus, I'd never miss a chance to take a mini road trip." He smiled, navigating the streets around my house he has come to know well.

I took a bite out of my bagel and reached out to flip on the radio. I found a good country station and let it play softly as we drove along the highway on our way up to Red Deer. It felt weird to be headed this way once again, it had been since we went to Edmonton as a family that I had traveled this way.

Bea and I were both absorbed in our thoughts, but from the driver seat I could hear West lightly humming to the music playing from his speakers. I turned back to see Bea finishing her bagel. My knee began to bump up and down nervously.

"You two don't have anything to worry about. I'm confident everything is going to be fine." West said, turning to me with a soft smile on his face.

"I'm just nervous we're not who he hoped we would be." I explained to him, feeling the worries trickle back in. He looked at me and shook his head.

"He couldn't ask for two better daughters. You're both beautiful, smart and kind. What more could he ask for?" He responded, trying to convince me. His words did help a little, the knot in my stomach was slowly unraveling.

"I'm more worried about him not being what we hoped he would be." Bea admitted, taking the thoughts I only wished to vocalize and bringing them to the surface.

"No matter what happens, at least you'll know you've tried." West replied to her, looking into the review mirror so he could see her.

The scenery slipped away as we drove, and soon the outskirts of Red Deer were appearing. I took West's phone and put in the address for the diner we were meeting at. Throughout the drive, we made light conversation. It was mostly West trying to lighten the air between Bea and I.

West drove along the busy streets until we arrived at the diner. It wasn't quite what I was expecting. You could tell it was older and slightly run down. It matched the houses in the area. I wondered if this is where he had been living.

As we exited the car, I claimed my place next to West and grabbed his hand for comfort. He gave it a squeeze as he opened the door for Bea and I. We stepped in and I scanned the diner, looking for a familiar face. Soon, my eyes landed on the back of a man who was eating alone. The dark hair matched the photos I had seen and my memories.