Read Trust Me for Free Online

strange
but oddly familiar man with them. 
    Her mother looked strained, to say the least, was the
first to speak, “Alaina, this is Tom Simmons, your father.”
    Alaina had been taken completely off guard and her
only response was, “My what?”
    “Honey, it's your father.  He decided he really wanted
to see you graduate.”  It was obvious that her mother was having as great
a difficulty dealing with the situation as Alaina.  Francine Warner was a
composed woman who was not easily upset.  Her small form was rigid with
obvious tension. Her light blond hair was mussed as if she had been running her
hands through it. 
    Alaina looked at her stepfather, Stanley Warner and
then at her biological father and wondered where he had been all of her life
while Stanley had taken care of her.  The two men were the antithesis of
each other. Tom Simmons' dark brown hair was unkempt and a bit too long. He
wore jeans, a t-shirt and sneakers, and his face appeared aged and haggard from
years of hard living. Stanley Warner, conversely, was immaculate in his
appearance, dressed in a gray suit.  His sandy brown hair was neatly
trimmed and combed as usual, his kind and gentle face looked years younger than
his true age.
    She tried to stem the resentment flowing through her
veins but it was difficult.  Meeting her real father was what she had
always wanted, but as he stood before her all she could feel was anger. 
Sarcasm filled her voice as she looked at her father and said, “Nice of you to
show up.  Aren't you just a little late, by about twenty-four years?”
    Her mother intervened, the anxiety still clearly
written on her face.  “Alaina, please give your father a chance.  It
was difficult for him to come here today.”
    Tom Simmons, who up until this point had remained
silent, chose this moment to plead his case.
    “Alaina, I know you’re angry, but please give me a
chance to explain.  I really want an opportunity to work things out with
you.  I know I’ve probably chosen an awkward time to re-enter your life
but if I didn't do it today, I would’ve never had the guts.  Please don't turn
me away.  I really want to get to know you.”
    As Alaina stood there looking at his pleading face she
couldn't miss the sincerity in his eyes.  She also remembered all of the
times as she was growing up that she had wondered what her father was
like.  Now he stood in front of her offering her childhood dream. 
She realized that it would be absurd to her turn her back on his offer although
she wasn't quite sure if she could ever resolve her anger at his
abandonment. 
    She looked at Tom Simmons and said, “All right, why
don't we meet tomorrow for lunch.  Tonight I’m having dinner with my mom
and dad.”  Her statement was quite clear.  She was not going to drop
everything for him and she would always consider Stanley Warner her father.
    Tom Simmons looked grateful at her response. “Here's
my cell number Alaina.  Call me tomorrow and we'll have lunch.  Oh,
and congratulations on your graduation.  I'm very proud of you,” he turned
and looked at Francine and Stanley Warner. “Thanks both of you for being so
understanding I hope I haven't caused too much of an upset.”
    Stanley responded, “Oh, it's been upset all right, but
I’ve a feeling things will work out for the best.” He, quite surprisingly, did
not seem at all threatened by the sudden appearance of Alaina's real
father. 
    Alaina marveled at his strength and unflagging support
during a time that must be as difficult for him as it was for her. 
    She grabbed the arms of both of her parents and said
with a smile, “Come on you two, how about that graduation dinner you promised
me? Oh, and I guess we should bring Allen too.” She laughed as she gave her
brother a teasing grin.
    Tom Simmons took his cue and said, “Goodbye. I'll look
forward to spending some time with you tomorrow, Alaina.”  With that brief
farewell, he turned and walked away.
    Alaina