Dear Diary

Chapter 108

The rest of the week went by with no major turmoil, and soon Sophia found herself waking up that Saturday morning with an odd feeling laying on her chest. It took her a moment to remember what day it was and her hand immediately moved to the chain around her neck. The necklace that Luke gave her hasn't left her neck since that afternoon she received it.

She glanced at the letters of her name as she felt the cool sensation on her fingertips. She couldn't help a small smile from forming. Luke really was unlike any other boy she's ever met. Although he was miles away, he still managed to make her birthday feel special.

The sound of knocking on her door brought Sophia out of her thoughts and she frowned as she looked at her closed bedroom door. 

"Come in?" she asked confused.

When her door slowly opened and she caught sight of her father, Sophia instantly sat up in her bed shocked. Her heart jumped in uncertainty. What was he doing here? She knew he was home last night, she heard him arrive late, but she thought he had left early this morning. What was he still doing here at nine o'clock in the morning?

The atmosphere in her room grew tenser as each silent moment passed while her father stood in her doorway. Sophia glanced at his face, trying to find any hint of what he was thinking, but his face was as guarded as it always was. 

She was so confused at seeing him. She knew what this day meant to him. If there was any day that he really made himself scarce, it was today. So she was beyond baffled at seeing him standing right in her doorway.

She watched him straighten his uniform, an indication that he was about to leave for work, when he spoke.

"What do you want to do this evening for your birthday?"

Those words shocked Sophia so that she almost turned to stone. Her mouth opened and her eyes widened as she stared at her father in absolute shock. 

Did ... did she just hear him right?

"P-Pardon?" She couldn't help but let her shock show through the tone of her voice.

A muscle in her father's jaw ticked ever so slightly and his dark chocolate gaze flickered to his boots for the briefest moment before finding her gaze again. If Sophia didn't know any better, she would think her father was feeling rather awkward over the conversation.

"What would you like to do? Go out for dinner?" he asked again and Sophia blinked trying to think.

"Um..." 

She was still in such a state of shock that she couldn't even think properly. Her father waited, watching her closely, that Sophia felt that she needed to give an answer quickly before he changed his mind all together. 

"Um, we don't have to go out... I mean, I could make us something here."

Sophia didn't miss the flicker of surprise that crossed her father's eyes. 

Of course, he would be surprised that she could cook. He hardly knew anything about her. But Sophia chased away that thought. Her father was finally attempting to reach out to her. It's a chance she's waited for her whole life and she didn't want to miss it.

Sophia's dad nodded his head once in her direction. "Very well, I'll see you tonight at seven then." 

And with that, he turned and left the room, his confident footsteps carrying him down the stairs and soon out the front-door.

Sophia continued to stare at her open door stunned for a moment longer, as she allowed what just happened to process in her mind, before her eyes widened and she flew out of bed.