Its been too long

> She had been sitting the driveway for about half an hour.
> She had prepped for this. Rehearsed the lines, thought out every possible way this could go.
> She prayed to god it went well.
> Though in 30 years she’s spent on this earth, she’s learned that life is very unpredictable.
> And it will give you all short of little surprises.
> Like having a child.
> “Mom?” Lyra looked to the passenger seat to see her little angel.
> All dressed up and looking almost as adorable as day she was born. A drabbed in a appropriately light blue dress kicking the air with her little sneakers.
> And despite her best effort her hair still a mess after hours of combing. But no matter what she wore, she adored this child. “Aren’t we gonna go in?”
> Lyra just smiled at her little girls’ impatience. Glad she couldn’t see the fear that had frozen her mother.
> But she had point, no sense in delaying the inevitable, she had already called him ahead of time to say she was going to come by.
> There was no running away, Not at this point.
> She almost wish she had brought him along to calm her nerves, but she needed to do this herself.
> With a heavy breath Lyra unbuckled her daughter and got out of the car.
> As She went to go open the passenger door but by the time she had made her way around the car, the little rabbit had already opened it herself and ran to the front door.
> Already caught off guard she kicked the car door shut and ran to the steps. Her daughter already slapping the doorbell again and again.
> Fumbling up the steps she dove and scoop up the little girl into her arms who just laughing at her mothers bemused expression.
> Lyra was about ready to give her an earful until the door opened.
>“Lyra?” She turned to see the familiar platinum white hair of her father, though his expression aged over the years, he still held that warm smile she admired.
>Making sure she had a good grip on her little girl, Lyra took a calm breath.
> “Hi dad.”
> The house hadn’t change much since she was last time she was here. It didn’t even surprise her the couch was still sitting in the exact same spot 8 years later.
> She watched as Lincoln made his way to the comforter, she could see the age in his steps as he groaned taking a seat. Lyra, still holding her little girl, took her usual spot on the far end of the couch, the cushion felt so welcoming.
> Course now did she realize hadn’t said anything to one another since they walked in. Not even a hug or a pat on the back.
> That was mostly due to the tension so thick in the air right now that could have squeezed the life out of both. All the while the youngest one in the room just kicked her little feet in impatience.
> “Uh so, Lyra, how have you been doing?”
> “I’m fine. I moved back to the town, was living in Toronto for a while, I was the third chair.”
> “I know, your mother kept me up to date, I watched your last performance on tv with some of your aunts. You really… played well.”
> “Oh well thank you.” And like the silence drifted right back in. Topics, she needed a topic. Something to get the ball rolling.
> “I’m gonna go get something to drink. Would you ladies like anything.”
> “Sure, I’ll take some wat-.”
> “Do you have any chocolate milk?” The tyke in Lyra’s lap spoke up.
> “I don’t think so. But I’ll check, back in a sec.” The second Lincoln left the room, Lyra practically melted into the couch. It felt like her spine was break in half from how straight she was keeping it.
> “Mom.” But she couldn’t hep but smile at her angel calling her that. “Is that my grandpa?”
> “Yes. That is your grandfather.” She should have introduced her to him at the door, had this whole thing planned out and already she had gone off track and had no idea what to do.
> “Why are you scared of him?”
> “…I wish I knew.”

> “I couldn’t find any chocolate milk. But I found some apple juice.” Lincoln walked back in and handed Lyra her glass of water and her child her boxed Juice.
> Taking seat back in the comfort of the comforter, their regularly scheduled awkward silence had continued.
> She needed to talk, catch up, do anything to just make things normal. But for the life of her, the confidence she had built over the week for this had vanished.
> So caught up in her mental gymnastics, she didn’t notice the weight lifted off her lap as it climbed onto her fathers’ leg.
> The spry child pulled herself onto her grandfathers leg and looked up at him with curious eyes. Lincoln frozen in the moment, not sure what to say or do.
> “So you’re my grandpa?”
> “Yeah, I’m your grandpa.”
> “I know.” She took a sip of her juice. “Dad told me.”
> He did what now?
> “Yeah, I figured he would be the one to talk about it.”
> “Told me not to tell Mom. Said she’d get mad.” Lincoln to Lyra who was already curling up on the couch in shame. “Is it true I got 20 grandmas?”
> Lincoln couldn’t help but laugh, as he pet the little girls head. Lyra was almost surprised by his reaction, she expected so many ways for him to react, laughter wasn’t one of them.
> “Well your might be right, but at this point I’ve kind of lost count.” There it was again, that warm welcoming smile. No judgement, no remorse, or contempt. Just genuine love.
> “Mom was scared to talk to you. Why was she scared?” Lyra looked away, she knew he was looking at her but still couldn’t look back.
> “Your mother isn’t the best at talking about personal stuff like this.”
> “So that why dad told me about you?”
> “Well your father has the opposite problem of talking too much.”
> “He talks a lot.”
> So that’s why he said ‘Just don’t get mad at whatever he says’. She was going to ring that thick neck of his when she got back.

> “Now don’t get too mad.” Lincoln tried to put her at ease.
> “I prepped for this.” All that planning for nothing, she couldn’t help but pout a little.
> “Well take it from me. Plans don’t always work out how you expect them too. Besides I know how hard it was for you to come here.”
> “Oh did he tell you that too?” Lincoln threw his hands up playing innocent.
> “He just told me you were going to be nervous. And honestly I didn’t know what I was going to say either?” Lyra wanted to be mad, but she couldn’t. Story of her life, all the tension gets blown by the innocence of a child.
> “So you’re alright with this?” Lyra said, just wanting to hear the approval.
> “Of course. I got to see my daughter, I got an adorable grand daughter and hopefully this means you’ll come to the next thanksgiving dinner.”
> “Is Liena still trying new stuffing’s?”
> “Last year she was still on a pumpkin binge from Halloween, not my idea of stuffing but she made it work. Your aunt told me this year it might be chocolate.” Lyra chuckled at the thought.
> “Well then you know everyone is going to show up.” Her smiled faded a little, missing those moments with her family. So focused on her life that she must missed out on so much.
> She looked up to see her father standing in front of her, one hand holding her daughter, the other outstretched for her.
> With a gentle grasped she lifted herself off the couch and hugged her father for the time in so long.
> “I missed you dad.” She held onto him, never wanting to let go.
> “I missed you too Angel.” Lincoln whispered back; she could hear the choke of emotion in his voice.
>He sat down on the couch next to Lyra, moving his granddaughter to his lap so he could get a good look at her. “Now then, we haven’t been properly introduced. I’m Lincoln. And what’s your name?” The little girl pushed back her hair a bit so they could both see her big blue eyes and freckled face smiling back at them.
> “My names Alice.”

End.