March 29, 1180
"Papa!"Rennie hardly gave her father a chance to notice her before launching herself into his arms. How could she have? He'd been holed up in his study all day, doing whatever it was he needed his privacy for, door locked. She'd been up early this morning--earlier than her mother, even earlier than her baby brother!--and she still hadn't seen him yet today. And to think, one of the cooks had already approached, asking Rennie what she wanted for supper! The day was almost over.
So with that in mind... why would she give her father a chance to catch his breath? She'd begged the cook not to start yet, but it was only a matter of time before Arkon and Alina got hungry and cranky...
"Rennie-Wren!" He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, the hairs on his chin scratching against her face as he pulled back, his breath rather stinky. Still, her father with bad breath was better than no father at all. "Good afternoon so far?"
"Papa, it's almost evening!"
"Is it?" He clapped his hands together in overblown amazement, the way he did with her little siblings when they did some silly thing adults somehow deemed noteworthy. She couldn't say she appreciated it, but she resolved to let it slide. There was no sense wasting precious time on being annoyed. "Wow, I've been in there a while, haven't I?""Uh-huh." Rennie rocked back and forth, heel to toe. "Mama said that you and her are having a talk after supper. Also, Grandpa was here, and he banged on your door for ten whole minutes and you never answered." How had her father managed that? Especially after the cursing had started? Her father must have been having the best nap of his life. "He said that he's coming back tomorrow, and you and him are having a talk then."
"Oh." Her father's overblown smile dulled. "I take it I'm in trouble?"
"Yes!" And really, if anyone had any right to punish him, it was Rennie. But again--time. "Don't you remember? It's my birthday!"And now the smile was gone, the confusion in his eyes replaced with outright horror. Rennie shivered. She didn't think she'd seen her father scared before. Sad, sure--more often then she liked--but scared? Or was 'scared' the right word for this? "Papa?"
"Oh." Whatever it was, it had spread to the rest of his face. He looked like her cousin Dalston always did just before he puked. "Oh, Rennie-Wren... Rennie, honey, I..."
"It's all right. My birthday's not over yet." He flashed her the sort of fake smile he usually reserved for her mother. She'd take it, though. He wouldn't have faked it if he hadn't wanted to smile... would he? "Can we go now?""Um... where are we going?"
That was two things he'd forgotten. Two big things. How did anyone forget two big things in one day? "The kennel. Don't you remember? You said I could have a puppy."
Her father swallowed. "Oh, right... I did, didn't I?"
Rennie nodded, grinning as she glanced toward the window. The sun still had some way to go before it reached the horizon. There was still time. "So why are we still here? Let's go."
"Uh, yes, well..." The fake smile was back. This time, forgiveness was a bit more difficult. "I, uh... I don't think we can go today, sweetie. It's getting to be pretty late, and I've got some things to do--grown up things that can't wait. You understand, right? You're a smart girl."
She felt the corners of her mouth droop, dragging her lower eyelids along. He always said she was smart just before he broke his promises. She wished she was stupid. If she was stupid, he wouldn't have expected her to understand. And if she didn't understand, he wouldn't have let her down. "But..."
"We'll go tomorrow, all right?" He let one hand fall to the side and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear with the other. As soon as he'd withdrawn, she fished it back out. "And just for being patient, you can have two puppies. Two! How about that, Rennie-Wren? Twice the puppy fun!"
Rennie just looked at him. Only for a second, though--just a second before she turned around and set off to find her mother. If he was trying to hurt her, then at least he wouldn't have the satisfaction of seeing her cry.NEXT CHAPTER:
13 comments:
A ton of Severin's grandkids have Great-Grandpa Lonriad's eyes. Rennie is one of them.
Also, I may or may not have forgotten about Naroni's fourth birthday--which was, er, Sunday :S
*facepalm* Hellooo appropriate post.
Oh wow, 4 years already? O.O
Congrats, Van!!! *summons bunny dance squad* Here's to you, your talent and your hard work! I appreciate it more than I can say! Thank you!
Also, poor Rennie! :( It's so sad for her, not only that he forgot her birthday although that in and of itself is more than bad enough, but all the other mess that comes with having Searle for a father.
hehehe
Happy Birthday, Van! Damn, that means I missed DBL's birthday too. LOL
Oh Rennie, it's not your fault. Your father is a useless drunk. Resiliency = not one of his strong points. Searle had better be careful. He could end up destroying his relationship with his children for good.
Ann: Thanks! I'm kind of amazed I managed to stick with a project for this long XD
Once upon a time, Searle was a good father, but clearly that time is not now :S He needs to sort of his priorities. He is still very much in post-breakup mode despite the fact that it's been more than enough time for most people to get over someone, not that Searle was ever "most people" in that regard.
Pen: It's hard to keep track of story birthdays. I couldn't tell you when I started any of my novels without checking the dates on the documents (and I'm sure many of them are embarrassingly old). I had to check the first post for Naroni's XD
Resiliency is definitely not one of Searle's strong points! o_O But yeah, he needs to pull his head out of his ass and realize that his children need him.
Congrats, Van! Happy Birthday to Naroni! *blows obnoxious party noisemaker*
And I almost wish Rennie had let Searle see her cry, as cruel as that sounds. He doesn't mean to hurt her, but if Lettie can't get through to him and Severin can't get through to him, maybe seeing what he's doing to his kids might get through to him.
In any case, that boy needs an intervention, pronto.
It's interesting how Sparron and Searle are kind of see-sawing, isn't it? Searle always seemed like the one who could cope. Usually their break-ups spent Sparron into the tailspins. But now Sparron seems more functional than ever and Searle is falling apart. :(
Thanks Morgaine :)
It's true that Searle doesn't mean to hurt her, but he needs to understand exactly what he's doing.
They do sort of see-saw--one is up, the other's down. Alas, I feel that to some extent, it will always be like that with Sparron and Searle :(
4 years! Can we declare it Naroni-Day?
Poor, poor Rennie. On her birthday, Searle, really? That just sucks. I hope the new puppy doesn't learn any 'nap'-ruining tricks... yes, I do. Just a little.
Indeed, I guess it is XD
Heheh... doubly so, now that it's puppies in the plural ;)
Oh God my heart aches for both of them. I just can't find it within me to hate Searle, even with that doucheish behaviour. But he needs to stop moping over Sparron, and pull himself together before he winds up alienating the people who hold him dear. Else he is gonna lose everything.
I think that was the main reaction to this post at the time too--frustration, but not hatred. Searle really does need to get over Sparron, bad. :S
Oh man... Searle you immense asshat.
And still, I feel so damn sorry for him that I want to pick him up and squeeze the stuffing out of him.
And Rennie too... man this was seriously miserable :( poor kid
poor Searle
poor Lettie.
Ugh :(
Is it bad that some part of me was still going "Yay it's Searle!" I do love that big idiot. He and Sparron are my favourite Naroni characters of all time.
This stage of Searle's life does tend to inspire mixed feelings. :S
Rest assured that I am not done with Searle and Sparron yet. ;)
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