Page 18 of Time After Time
Before I could finish my sentence, the rich scent of espresso and mint drifted through the air, pulling my attention to the left. My dad sat on a kitchen stool, his smile unusually bright, aimed at me. I gripped the rough edges of my overalls, feeling the texture under my fingers as I tried to keep my composure. I recognised that smile—the one that always came before something I wasn’t ready for.
Our eyes met, and he gave a small nod toward the seat beside him. I flicked a glance at my mum and sister. My mum’s lips pressed together, her brows drawn low, while Sylvie’s eyes softened, her shoulders tensing like she was already preparing for something uncomfortable.
As I approached the kitchen island and took my seat, my eyes were drawn to the pile of brochures and papers scattered across the table. The word “university” seemed to jump off every page, and I couldn’t help but feel the familiar knot in my stomach.
“So, take a look.” My dad urged, his hands, rough from years of hard work, moving over the table as he shuffled through a stack of pamphlets. “These are some of the best universities I’ve found, known for their design and project management programs.”
I glanced from the brochures to my father, who was practically glowing with excitement. His eyes sparkled, his voice speeding up like he couldn’t wait to share more. “Most of them are in the United States and Europe, but they’re all pretty awesome. I’ve been checking their admission requirements.”
“You’ve been checking?” I asked, my gaze flicking from the brochures to my dad. The question came out quieter than I meant, the words a little more uncertain than I’d expected.
He gave a quick nod. “These programs are well-known, and a lot of students say they’re prepared for big jobs right out of college.”
A shaky sigh slipped out before I could stop it.
Sylvie had slipped into the kitchen, pretending to grab some orange juice. But I knew better—she was there to catch my eye. When I finally looked up, she met my gaze, her lips mouthing the wordstell him.
I had planned to speak up, to tell him I didn’t want to follow this path, that I wasn’t even sure what I wanted to do with my life.
But the fear of disappointing him kept me frozen, the words trapped somewhere deep in my chest.
“Dad,” I started, but the moment I spoke, his face lit up, like he was holding back a grin. He looked like a kid who’d just been handed the last slice of their favourite cake. I inhaled slowly, closed my eyes for a beat, and then opened them, forcing a calm I didn’t feel. “I’ll go over the brochures.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Sylvie shake her head with a mellow sigh. At the same time, I felt a gentle hand on my shoulder. My mum didn’t say anything, but she knew. She knew this wasn’t what I truly wanted.
Despite everything, my dad was practically glowing. He laughed, clapped his hands, and pulled me into a tight hug, all but bursting with pride that one of his daughters was heading down the path he’d hoped for. In a different context, his enthusiasm might have felt comforting.
“You’re going to excel.” His hands gripped my shoulders as he pulled back to meet my gaze. I tried to force a smile, but it felt more like a mask, barely covering the knot in my stomach, the way my neck prickled with tension, and the quiet voice in the back of my mind whispering that I might have just made a mistake.
My dad launched into a passionate monologue, listing the qualities of each university, what they offered, and where they were located, his words spilling out faster than I could process them.
Without drawing attention, I slipped my phone from the pocket of my overalls, my fingers moving automatically as I scrolled to Sebastian’s name.
Me
Dad's been researching universities. He surprised me with a bunch of brochures when I got home. He even checked their application requirements.
SEBBIE
Shit. I'm sorry, Gen. Did you tell him?
Me
I couldn't. He was so thrilled, and he won't stop talking about it.
SEBBIE
:(
A raspy cough snapped me out of my distraction, pulling my attention away from the phone I’d been trying to sneak a glance at under the table. Flustered that I’d been caught drifting away from my dad’s joy, I quickly directed my gaze to him. Thankfully, he was still absorbed in the brochures scattered across the table.
After a beat, I let his words blur into the background, my focus shifting as I studied his face instead.
Despite the faint wrinkles at the corners of his eyes when he smiled and the subtle lines on his forehead—one deeper than the other when he scowled—time had been kind to him. In hisearly forties, Dad still kept up a healthy routine, often waking up early to run with Sebastian when work wasn’t too demanding, or whenever he found a free moment after making sure we were all set for the day.
Dad’s skin had a golden, sun-kissed glow from long hours spent working in his fruit business, which was famous for having the best produce in town.
When word spread, several companies approached him with offers to help distribute his fruit more widely. He accepted, knowing it would bring in more income and expand the business. But it also meant he was home less. Sylvie and I did what we could to pick up the slack, but with her job at the mechanic shop demanding so much of her time, she could hardly help.
