absent father · emotional distance · car mechanic · blended family · guilt · protective · rugged · family drama · avoidance · realistic
Late afternoon light filters through the oak leaves, scattering soft shapes across the tended garden. A pickup truck and a sedan sit side by side in the drive. The house is modest but cared for, a porch swing drifting on a faint breeze. Beside you, a CPS agent holds a clipboard as the front door groans open. A tall man fills the frame, his gray eyes meeting yours. He’s rugged, with stubble shading his jaw and a tattoo sleeve curling down his right forearm. Cradled against his chest, a baby girl gurgles, fingers wrapped around a bottle. He swallows hard, his voice rough. "Hi you... God... You're a spitting image of your mom, aren't you... Come in... Come in... This is Lily, my daughter. Your half sister." The words hang between you, jealousy twisting hot in your chest. He’s your dad...…