"Boys next door…"
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Taste of a Sequel
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Gotta hold on easy as I let you go
Gonna tell you how much I love you
Though you think you already know
I remember I thought you looked like an angel wrapped in pink so soft and warm
You've had me wrapped around your finger since the day you were born
You're beautiful baby from the outside in
Chase your dreams but always know the road that'll lead you home again
Go on, take on this whole world
But to me you know you'll always be, my little girl
When you were in trouble that crooked little smile could melt my heart of stone
Now look at you, I've turned around and you've almost grown
Sometimes you're asleep I whisper "I Love You" in the moonlight at your door
As I walk away, I hear you say, "Daddy Love You More"
You're beautiful baby from the outside in
Chase your dreams but always know the road that'll lead you home again
Go on, take on this whole world
But to me you know you'll always be, my little girl
Someday, some boy will come and ask me for your hand
But I won't say "yes" to him unless I know,
He's the half that makes you whole,
He has a poet's soul, and the heart of a man's man
I know he'll say that he's in love
But between you and me
He won't be good enough
You're beautiful baby from the outside in
Chase your dreams but always know the road that'll lead you home again
Go on, take on this whole world
But to me you know you'll always be, my little girl
(Tim McGraw - My Little Girl)
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I run my hand through my thinning hair… While it certainly doesn't feel like it's almost been twenty five years; that would be an obvious tell tale sign. Along with the splashes of gray. Bella insists that I look distinguished - not old. I'm not that old…
"Dad, can I have forty bucks?" Faith holds out her hand, it's more of a demand than a request. My girls make me feel old. I can't believe I'm the father of seventeen year old girls. Where has the time gone? I could remember toothless grins at seven like it were only yesterday. The past decade has just vanished in the blink of an eye.
"Didn't your mother just give you money yesterday?" I groan and silently count to ten in my head… Of course if I snapped, it most certainly wouldn't be the first time…
"Yeah, so…?" Faith shrugs.
"So…Get a job," I note gleefully with a smile. "You're old enough."
"What happened to school being what's most important?"
"That too…" I nod and continue clicking away with the mouse. "What do you think your mother would like for our twenty-fifth anniversary?"
"It'll cost you twenty…" That palm passes into my line of vision again. Reluctantly I reach for my wallet and hold the bill just out of reach…
"A new vacuum, she complained it broke or was clogged again yesterday." She reaches for the twenty fast, but I'm still faster…
"Dad!" She squeals and I let out a short laugh… "Get out of here, I'm busy…" I consider taking Bella on that honeymoon we never had. Come to think of it we haven't traveled anywhere really since having the girls… I'm certainly not about to start now.
"Dad, can I…?" I peer over my shoulder to see Grace coming in, more than likely with a similar request and I quickly cut her off before she can finish. "Whatever it is, no."
"But dad…" She whines… That hasn't stopped since they were four…
"No, get out of here… Wait! Put some clothes on! How many times do we have to tell you…" I feel like broken record.
"Its what's in," she chimes like it's an acceptable excuse to be flashing bare curves. It's easier to pretend they don't exist if I'm not reminded each time they pass my line of vision in skimpy threads… Did my money buy that, really?
"I don't care, change. Or I suppose we'll move to Alaska where long johns are fashionable…" That one leaves in a huff too…
"Honey," Bella calls. I quickly close out the web browser and spin around in my chair to give her my full attention. Even then she claims I don't listen half the time… I'm a man, don't expect me to remember specifics about things I never wanted to know in the first place. Be glad that I vaguely remember some of the more important details… especially when it comes to girl stuff. I'd have been content keeping most of that stuff a mystery…
"Not you too?" I laugh softly…
"You already talked to them?"
"Yes, both of them. You didn't give them anymore money did you?" I inquire.
"No - no," she shakes her head. "Did you say they could go camping with the Mitchells?"
"Hell no!"
"Well, they're packing…"
"What? No!… Faith, Grace - get your asses in here pronto!" I shout at the top of my lungs, which happens on a daily basis, sometimes more than once. Being a father is a hell of a lot harder and definitely less glamorous than I'd ever envisioned. I don't know why I thought things would be different and that history wouldn't repeat itself. I suppose on some level I thought by being a better father, none of this shit would happen - at least not to me.
The girls enter and immediately start squabbling and hanging onto Bella for her to reason with me. I raise a hand to my head because already my head is pounding at the mere thought of the girls going anywhere with Brad and Zach… I don't like their parents either; they approve of it - whatever this is…
"No! Didn't I tell you to put some clothes on?" I can feel that large vein protruding from my forehead, throb-throb-throb… Immediately Bella insists the girls change and reminds them dinner will be ready in an hour… They leave, still squabbling and whining… Faith is the ring leader and Grace is the follower, which is fitting considering that's exactly how they came into this world. Without a doubt I know if it weren't for Faith pushing boundaries - Grace would fall in line.
"That's it, we're moving to Alaska…" I throw my hands up and spin around in my office chair…
"Edward," Bella chides - sinking her glorious fingers into my shoulders to rub the tension away…
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After dinner, the girls go out… I watch them leave from the living room window with a perfectly painted scowl. I give the boys the evil eye and motion with my fingers that I've got my eyes on them…
"Trouble…" That's what they are. Because of them; our girls are so… not goal oriented. Unless you count making up and breaking up with the idiots next door - like it's a sport.
"Hm? Did you say something?" Bella tilts her head in my direction and briefly stops her knitting project…
"Why do we let them go out with…. That kind of boy…" I growl and huff, mostly to myself… It seems to fall on deaf ears with Bella. She's always romanticizing our history - and somehow thinks that the girls will end up just like us… Which I can't say is a bad thing, but is it wrong that I want more for our girls? I have yet to relay that to Bella without coming across as a dick. The last time I tried, I ended up sleeping on the couch for two days… Two days!
"Edward, be real… There isn't a boy in this town that you'd actually consider allowing either of the girls to date…" She shakes her head softly and resumes her needlework…
"Well see, there's a good reason for that. While you keep saying boys will be boys, I once was a boy… and I'm too young to be a grandfather." I close the curtain and move to sit in my chair, my scowl still eminent…
"The girls are gone, let's go upstairs…" Bella tilts her head in the direction of the staircase and leans forward to rest the mess of yarn and needles on the coffee table…
"Are you serious? I can't," I groan…
"Since when?" She laughs softly and pats my knee for me to get up…
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A/N - I had so much fun with Boy Next Door that I'm up for writing a sequel; Boys Next Door! We'll get to see an older, more mature Bella and Edward. Plus an inside view on all of the characters now that they're grown from Edward's POV. All of the original characters will make an appearance along with a few new ones.
I need a break from writing this story and want to wrap up a few of my other pieces before the sequel will post. It's been a great two years and I can't thank you all enough for your continued support!
THANK YOU!
Rather than goodbye - this is where we say, see you soon!