CHAPTER 5

"Dad, can I talk to you?" I ask him, standing by the doorway. He stops stirring the food and dusts his hands off, turning towards me.
"Of course, what's wrong?"
"Privately?" I suggest, giving him an apologetic look. He nods at me, his jaw still clenched slightly as I step outside onto the porch. The wooden decking creaks underneath me and I take a seat on the swing, staring aimlessly out into the dark woods. Despite it being pitch black and resembles something from a horror movie, it doesn't scare me.
Dad silently takes a seat next to me, the swing creaking from the weight of both of us. I turn towards him, chewing nervously on my bottom lip. I rarely get nervous.
"I'm sorry."
He remains quiet and the guilt inside of me increases. I sigh deeply and swallow my pride, taking his hand in mine.
"I shouldn't have called you and Mum hypocrites. I know I shouldn't listen to the rumours about you two. I want you to know I really am grateful for everything you've both done for me, I'm just a teenager with hormones that get in the way sometimes," I mumble. The corners of his lips twitch slightly and I know he wants to make fun of the hormonal teenager thing. Before he can, I continue -
"The only reason I don't want your surname is because of Uncle Tobias. He really hurt me Dad... I love your name, you know I do. It's just that whenever anyone mentions it, it reminds me of him. Do you understand that?" I ask him, clinging onto his hand tightly. He squeezes it in response and nods slowly.
"I understand Ruby."
I let out a small sigh, pulling my knees up to my chest and resting my head on his shoulder. His arm automatically wraps around my shoulder and he places a kiss on my forehead just like he's done a million times before.
"Thank you for apologising." He says quietly, both of us glancing out into the dark shadows of the trees. The sound of owls and grasshoppers fills the silence between us and I close my eyes, feeling comforted by it.
"I love you Dad."
"I love you more, Ruby Wentworth."
He doesn't turn to look at me but if he did, he'd see the corners of my lips turn upwards into a small smile.
*****
"Ruby, go help Tori with the fire please. We need more wood." Mum smiles, poking the fire pit with a stick. I nod and push myself off my chair, heading into the woods with Tori.
"I'm so glad you're coming with me, these woods creep me out so much," Tori shudders and I chuckle, taking her hand in mine.
"It's not creepy, I come here all the time. If anything does happen, I'll scare them off. Rawr!" I yell into the darkness and Tori giggles, squeezing my hand in hers. We both continue walking and stop at a clearing in the pathway. I begin to pick up sticks and pieces of wood that we'll need for the fire and Tori does the same.