Father never took time off from work. It just wasn’t even considered. I should have known that day something was wrong when he had one of the maids bring me to his office.
“Good morning, Father. Are you well?”
As I’ve mentioned, my mother is the steel rod in our home. I didn’t suspect anything at first. He simply looked at me and turned to look out the window. The estate is on a bluff overlooking all of Bismark.They own as far as the eye can see. All the homes that are visible from any window in the house, is owned by the Cheatham’s. Honestly, my father does not need to work. He could sit back and watch the money roll in. Though he’d have to be around mother. So I suppose that is why he doesn’t.
“Mellihanna, have a seat.” The hair on the back of my neck stood up. Father never calls me by my name. I’m ‘Mel’ by nearly everyone that knows me, but my father always called me Hanna. His mother was Hanna and when I was born, my father insisted that I carry his mother’s name.
“Father, is everything alright?” I sat stiffly in the chair across from his desk, nervously picking at my nails. He wouldn’t look me in the eye.
“Mellihanna, you will be escorted off the premises shortly. Please do not cause a scene and do not fight it. You will not be welcome on our property any longer, and should you attempt to return, you will be faced with a difficult situation. One I’d prefer to not go through myself, so do us both a favor and do not return. That is all. You may leave. Jeoffrey!” I’d been dismissed.
“DISMISSED, Mellihanna. No more.” He turned and finally met my eyes. His face was red with anger. I do not know what happened, why I’m being dismissed, anything. I know the look he is sending my way. I’d only seen him use it with his staff and my brothers. I was shaking. I stood to leave and he said, “Oh. One more thing. You may not leave with anything from this house with the exception of the clothing you are wearing.”
I looked down at what I was wearing. I’d been about to go out in the garden when I was collected, I hadn’t even put shoes on yet. “May I put on shoes, Father?”
“Do not call me ‘Father’. I am Mr. Cheatham. There are boots in the hallway. You may take those with you.” I stopped listening after he told me not to call him “father”.
“Yes, sir.” I refused to call him Mr. Cheatham. I would not allow him to kick me that low. I thought at first when he spoke that this was a test. I still did, even when Jeoffrey left me at the property.
I don’t any longer. I remember that scene in his office with confusion and anger. What happened next I remember with contempt and hatred.
