Chapter 12 A Feeling of Awareness II
NANCY’S POV
By evening, the strange tension that had followed me all day still hadn’t faded.
Diana and I were in the kitchen. She had a big bowl of salad in one hand, which she was scooping cream over and stirring, while I had been tasked with arranging the dishes and cutlery on the dining table.
I’d spent the rest of the day with Diana and her friends, namely Chloe and Mason. Diana had suggested we visit a cafe after school, and without hesitation, I agreed.
It wasn’t like I had anywhere to go, and I felt like it was a good measure to get to know her friends better. We talked, joked, laughed, and exchanged memorable events.
Diana spoke mostly about when we were younger, and I did the same, keeping my talks limited to the things that happened before I decided to run from him.
Even though Mason asked, I didn’t reveal a peep about my parents or my family, and up until the moment we left the cafe, I couldn't help but feel that he was restraining himself from asking more.
I did my assigned task absentmindedly and was jolted to reality when Diana made a loud hiss, “Be careful, Nancy.”
“You’re going to stab the table,” she warned, and I glanced down only to see that she was right. I indeed was already stabbing the table.
I switched the fork out for another, then muttered apologetically, “Sorry.”
She gave me a sideways glance with a look of concern, “What’s wrong with you? You have been acting weird since we left school.”
“No, I’m not,” I said too quickly, but that only served to compound what she said.
She gave a loud snort, “You’re a terrible liar.”
I glanced briefly at her but chose to ignore her remark and went on setting the table instead.
Tonight, the house was oddly quiet, but it still retained its feeling of warmth and felt very much loved in.
The soft hum of the refrigerator was the only sound that filled the silence.
I couldn’t help but notice the absence of a particular somebody, and after minutes of mulling it over to myself, I finally asked Diana, making sure my tone was as casual as I could possibly manage.
“Does your Dad usually get home late?”
Diana paused mid-step with a stack of glasses, pursed her lips for a second, then shrugged, “He sometimes does.”
“Sometimes?” I asked, wanting to know more
She shrugged again, “Yeah.”
“I don’t know the details, but he usually has drinks with friends after work.”
“Oh,” I nodded, trying my best to make sure I didn’t sound like someone who was fishing for information, but I couldn’t help but dwell on what she said.
Drinks with friends?
What kind of friends?
Could it perhaps be a woman?
I realised where my thoughts were leading me and immediately pulled myself out of my reverie. Even if Mr. Landon went out with a woman, it was not my business; it definitely shouldn’t be my business.
But somehow…I was still concerned.
“So, won’t he show up for dinner?” I asked.
Diana gave me a straight-laced glance. “What? You miss my Dad?”
I erupted into a coughing fit, shocked by her question.
She chuckled at how startled she’d made me, then muttered confidently, “He will show up, he eventually always does.”
Right on cue, the sound of the front door opening echoed through the house.
A wide grin splayed on Diana’s lips, “See, I told you so.”
I’d heard it too, the sound of the door opening, and soon after, I heard the sound of approaching footsteps.
I don’t know why, but my stupid heart decided to pick up the speed of its beat, which didn’t even make any sense.
While I tried to regulate my breathing, Mr. Landon walked into the room, loosening the tie around his neck as he stepped into the house.
Although he'd spent the entire day at school and only a couple of minutes out, he still looked as prim and proper and ever, as though even the slightest speck of dust couldn't get to him.
Somehow, I found that annoying, because it felt like I couldn’t compare even if I wanted to.
His gaze roved the entirety of the room the same way he had done earlier in class, landing first on Diana, then on me.
The brief moment of eye contact sent a small spark of awareness through my chest.
“Hey, Dad,” Diana said cheerfully.
“Good evening.” His voice was calm, though there was a kind of raspiness to it that I hadn’t noticed in his voice earlier.
I wondered if it could be because he was tired, but realised I was staring too deeply at him while trying to figure that out, and quickly averted my gaze.
Diana pointed toward the table and then said, “Dinner’s ready. Go wash up and come down.”
I didn’t expect Mr. Landon to actually nod, judging by the way she’d said it, but he did.
“Give me a minute.”
Then, his gaze flickered towards me again. It was just for a moment, but a strange and unreadable feeling passed between us before he turned and headed upstairs.
As soon as his figure disappeared, I let out a breath i didnt even realise I was holding, and it didn’t escape Diana’s notice.
Her brows wrinkled, and she glanced towards the stairs, then back to me, “You two have been acting strange today.”
“Who? Me?” I pointed a finger inward at myself, then chuckled, “I’m not.”
“That just proves that you are,” Diana replied, squinting her eyes suspiciously at me.
I avoided her gaze and pulled the nearest chair out, taking my seat.
A couple of minutes later, Mr. Landon returned, and like a bee drawn to honey, my gaze found him immediately.
He had switched his work shirt for a regular tee that put his muscles and broad chest on display. He had just washed his hair, too, because it looked damp.
The man looked as delicious as candy, and I couldn’t help stealing glances at him as he ate.
Few minutes into dinner, Diana called. “Dad.”
Mr. Landon glanced up.
“Yes?”
“Why were you so harsh to Nancy earlier?”
My fork froze halfway to my mouth. I wasn’t expecting that question.