3 A Home with Just Dad

I returned from school, dutifully performed my daughterly duties, and then slouched on the couch, aimlessly flipping through channels.

"Why is it that when you're geared up for something good, the boring ones take over?" I mumbled, incessantly pressing the next button. A car honked in the front yard, signaling Dad's arrival. Excited, I tossed the remote and rushed to the door, finding Dad already out of the car with his lab coat and briefcase.

"Dad!" I exclaimed, rushing into his waiting arms. Nine hours had felt like an eternity without him; after all, it was just him and me. Dad, an orthopedic surgeon at one of New York's finest hospitals, always brought an air of warmth.

"So, how was your day?" he inquired.

"Somewhere in between interesting and mundane," I replied, handing him his briefcase.

"I don't like the sound of that. Share some gossip with your old man?" he urged.

"Dad, it's just school stress," I assured, though my thoughts lingered on the Olivia incident.

'Witch,' I silently cursed.

"Sure about that?" he asked as we entered our Mediterranean-style home.

"Yeah. Anyways, I cooked dinner," I mentioned, steering the conversation away.

"Hope it's not yesterday's burnt bacon and eggs," he teased.

"Oh, come on, Dad. That only happened because I got engrossed in the TV show," I defended.

"The Kardashians?" he guessed.

"Nothing much, just cool to watch," I shrugged.

"Okay, if you say so," Dad chuckled, settling on the couch.

"No, you're not sitting here. Go upstairs, shower, and come eat dinner," I insisted, trying to shoo him off the couch.

"Fine, fine, I'm going," he relented, heading upstairs with a bemused look.

After he left, I arranged the tableware and set the table for dinner.

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Later, I focused on internet research. Dad enjoyed the dinner, and now Kyle and I were tasked with presenting on 'The American Revolution' in three days. I pondered how tomorrow would unfold, especially with Olivia's reaction to us being partners.

"I feel tomorrow has a lot in store for everyone," I yawned, foreseeing potential drama. Before I knew it, I succumbed to the land of dreams.