My Father’s Best Friend and I

Chapter 1 Amanda POV I stare blankly on my laptop screen at the fifth rejection letter I have received in the last one month from all the different companies I applied to for work. My physical response is a slow deflation this time round.Gently, I lean back in my chair, the air leaving my lungs in a long, shaky exhale. There are no dramatic tears this time just a weary, rhythmic tapping of my fingers against the table. I might as well give a dry, humorless laugh at the irony of being "highly qualified" yet still unemployed. Eventually, l close the laptop, set my phone face down, and walk away from my desk, needing to be anywhere that doesn't involve a computer or a cover letter. I head downstairs to find myself a refreshment and drown my sorrows into a bag of chips. “Hey honey.” Mum warmly greets me from the kitchen. “Hey mum, I didn’t know you are still around. Aren’t you going for work today?” I say, trying with every fiber in me not to break down in front of her. “Oh, yes yes, am already late for that matter,” she panics “It’s just that Matthew and I wanted to ask about the job applications , how are they going?” Not this again. “They are going on well, I have a scheduled interview next Monday.” I pretend with a smile “Are they?” “ look honey, you have to talk to us about what’s going on, talk to me, I know sometimes Matthew can be a hard nut to crack but he is the one we have, he is the one who helped us after your father left.” “I know mum, I just need some time.” “I hope you know what you are doing dear, Matthew offered to try and talk to some of his colleagues on your behalf, I just don’t understand why you keep denying his help.?” “Because I don’t need it mum, am a grown woman, I can look after myself self quite well.” “The same way you did when those loan sharks came and kicked you out of your house?” “Look Amanda, you need to realize what you want and work towards that, you need to learn to accept help, that’s what family is for anyway, to always help each other out.” “He isn’t family” “He is to me, so that makes him family.” She says while giving me a knowing look. “Am running late, see you later Amanda.” She gives me a kiss on the check and rushes out the door. Mum was right. I needed to grow up and own up to my flaws. It’s just that I couldn’t simply throw everything that happened with her and dad and quickly adjust to her new husband. I didn’t even know about it by the time they separated. I was off for college and by the time I came back for the Christmas holidays, he was gone. They didn’t even bother to inform me about it or at least give me a heads up to brace myself. I couldn’t take in the pressure of how our family was falling apart so I moved out, finished college and continued on to university to do my masters, I got a decent job and started planning my life ahead but it all came rushing down when a bunch of guys were laid off at work with me included. I couldn’t afford my bills or even fully pay off my student loan. My lender ended up ceasing my house and all my belongings and that’s how I needed up here, back home and working in Mrs. Betty’s bakery to keep my head above the waters. Matthew was a good man but he had he liked hitting on me sometimes which was getting uncomfortable day by day, accepting his offer to me left like giving in myself to him indirectly. I couldn’t tell mum about this yet, I knew it would break her heart, he was her world. I just had to get a decent job and leave this house hell leave this city if I could but I just didn’t seem to have any luck getting employed. I quickly finished the breakfast mum had left for me on the table and headed to my room to prepare for my shift at the bakery. I set the water temperature to how I like it, alittle far from cold, undress and soak my body into the bathtub. I can feel my muscles relaxing and my spinning head coming to a stop. I lean back and let the hot water do its magic. I can’t seem to recall the last time I saw or even talked to dad. He never reached out, he never asked about my school or health. Throughout the three years of college and two years of university, he was absent, he didn’t even show up on both my graduations. Happy for him that he got a new life after all. I let out a deep sigh. Quickly washing my body, I step out the bath and into my room, choosing a white tank top and denim ripped jeans, I hurriedly put on my underwear, pull on the jeans and the tank top, I uncurl my hair, I had black hair like my mum, dull brown eyes and chubby cheeks much from my liking and far different from how hot moms’ facial features were. I apply alittle foundation to cover up my new pimples,concealer, blush and pink lipstick to give me a simple chic look. I stare at my self in the mirror satisfied before grabbing my tote bag , black scarf and heading out. I lock the house and throw my spare into my bag before starting up my mini cooper, like my friend Abby liked to call it since it resembled Mr Beans’ green Mini car in the multiple series of his we watched. I park outside the bakery and head inside for my shift, my shift was always from nine in the morning till seven in the evening. “Hey Cole, Hey Gary, Hey Vicky.” I happily greet my workmates on today’s shift. “Hey” “Hey, nice scarf.” “What’s up, Am” Cole grunts back “ Mrs. Betty said you should help her deliver that to Street B47C house number 11.” Gary says while pointing to a package neatly set by the counter. “Okay, sure, did she say what time!” I say as I grab my apron and dress up, then proceed to stand behind the counter My job was to record in the orders and send them to the baker, stand in as the cashier and baker clerk since Martha, the previous cashier and baker clerk was off for her maternity leave. “Before noon today, Amanda so I guess anytime now.” He mocks “Got it.” I give him a sweet smile which I know he hates “ Order for table six.” Cole says then hands me the note pad. “ Two slices of chocolate brownie one strawberry cupcake.” I tell Mr. Madison, the shop baker. Work continues on with a few customers coming in and out, regular high school students from across the street. At exactly eleven, I grab the package and head out for its delivery. According to its weight, it feels like a baked cake and judging from the candles and plates on top, i concluded it was a birthday cake. My home town, Bannack was a small town in Montana which made is fast and easy for me to locate the delivery destination. It was a small house, painted white and pink with kids toys scattered all over the small courtyard. I smiled inwardly as I killed the engine, carefully removed the cake of the back seat and headed for the front door. The box didn’t have a name so I think I would have to just shout for someone inside to hear me. I made it to the front porch and knocked at the door but got silence, complete silence that if it wasn’t for the scattered dolls, you would think this house was abandoned. For a house full of little kids, I would expect utter chaos inside. “ Hello, is anybody home!?” I screamed as I continuously knocked at the door. Luckily, the door knob twisted and the door slowly cracked. “ Hello Amanda.” I stop. The world just... stops. The cake in my hand feels like it weighs a hundred pounds, the thick box digging into my palm, but I can’t move. My heart is slamming against my ribs so hard it’s sickening. I know that jacket, the way he shifts his weight. I wait for the air to come back, but it doesn't. "...Dad?"