I Was Gonna Be Their Father (G/t) (6)

I Was Gonna Be Their Father

Chapter 6

Victor was under his blanket and waiting for the girls to finish talking. They had been whispering but he was still able to pick up on a few of the key bits. "So Tomi has trust issues? That's a shame. They are going to be an issue for Eskra and me when the girls become part of our family.”

"Hey Victor, you promised me that I could come back up afterwards", complained Cass, pretending to be hurt.

"Here you go, sweetie", said Victor, laying his palm down once again. This time, Cass grabbed Tomi by the wrist and practically dragged her onto the giant palm that awaited them. Tomi, of course, had not appreciated the gesture but she decided not to hop back off. That would hurt Victor’s feelings.

The human duo found themselves on Victor's chest once again. This time they were both laying down underneath the blanket. The three of them were all warm and relaxed as the rain continued to hammer the orange tent. The scenario was perfect. This was the optimal time to ask them to officially become a part of their family.

Victor took a few deep breaths in order to help him relax. He could do this. He had done it with both Sam and Eskra. There was not that much difference. He sat up to a sitting position where both girls were pinned against his chest using both his arms.

"Is something wrong, Victor?" demanded Tomi.

"No honey, nothing is wrong. There is just something that I desperately need to ask the both of you."

"Okay", said the humans simultaneously.

"Girls", he began, looking right at the two precious creatures in his arms, "Now, you are probably wondering why I asked you such a specific question while we were still outside, right?"

The two girls nodded.

"Well there was a reason for that. You see girls, I have always dreamed of having my own big family. I am grateful for Sam and Eskra, but three people is not big enough for me. I am pretty sure the both of you have dreamed of the same thing. I wanted to know the kind of rooms you would like because I want you to live here with us. I... I want the two of you to be my new daughters."

Cass and Tomi were made speechless by the giant's request. After the age of sixteen, it was almost impossible to get adopted. Yet, here they were in their twenties and someone had just asked if they could adopt them.

Cass buried her face into the thick material of Victor's shirt. Tears of joy fell from her eyes as there were no words to describe just how happy she was at that moment. She and Tomi had always depended on each other and had not had very much emotional support from other people. Victor cared for them and he wanted to continue caring for them as their father. She had always wanted to be part of a family and she had felt at home since their arrival. In her mind, there was only one possible response to Victor's question.

Daughter. Tomi had yearned to be called that at some point in her life. Victor was offering her that chance after such a long time. She would finally be able to walk around proudly knowing that she was someone's daughter. Cass, who had always been like a sister to her, would actually be her sister. She would have a mother, a father and a brother on top of that. A small smile crept onto her face amidst the tears that were blinding her. Sadly, the touching moment was short lived.

Tomi's cautious, doubting side decided to come and rain on her parade. "Come on Tomi, why would this man want to make two random girls that his wife lured into the forest his daughters? Or are you so soft minded that you are just willing to accept his offer? Where is the sense in that? You are weak. Weak. WEAK!"

Tomi was breathing heavily as the horrible condescending voice chipped away at her heart's joy when her little episode was suddenly interrupted.

"All of the yes", screamed Cass, "We would be more than happy to be your daughters. I mean it is never too late for anything.  Right Tomi?"

All eyes darted to Tomi. She tried to speak, but no words came out. She tried to find a reason as to why she couldn't stay, but her mind was blank. All she had was that voice in the back of her head yelling at her. 

Cass's blood began to boil with rage. This was the best thing that had happened to them in ages and Tomi was just about to throw it away? Cass would not stand for it.

"Are you serious?" yelled an enraged Cass, "after what we just discussed, this is what you want to do? This is a good thing that you want to throw away, and for what reason? NOTHING!"

"Cass, that's enough", silenced Victor from above. He did not want his daughter and potential daughter to fight. He knew that deep down, Tomi wanted this. Her trust issues were just blocking her from accepting it.

"Tomi, what is it that's making you so afraid to say yes? Did I do something to you?"

"No... No it's just... I do want to... but even then... I....” Tomi did not know what to say at first but then she got an idea. "Well, my job is so far away from here. I worked really hard to get that graduate position and I don't really want to give it up."

Cass listened as Tomi tried to explain herself. Cass had completely forgotten about their new jobs. She breathed a sigh of disappointment. She was going to have to give up one or the other. That was when Victor piped in.

“Where are you going to be working?”

“Kellington”, replied Tomi.

"Tomi, even though I know that that is not the real reason why you are so hesitant, your job is not an obstacle here. Sweetie, it may be a long drive for you, but it is a ten minute drive for me. Tomi, honey, I will personally drive you to and from work every single day. What kind of father would I be if I didn't help you progress in your career? I wouldn't be a very good one, would I?”

The tears that had been brimming in Tomi's eyes had now fully soaked her cheeks. Her flimsy reason had just been debunked. She knew that Victor wanted to crack her open by force.

"Now tell me, what is the real reason that you don't want to be my daughter?" asked Victor.

"I am afraid of being perceived as weak or weak-minded", stated Tomi, her voice breaking, “I had a few bad experiences at the orphanage where people betrayed my trust. I promised myself that I would never be so vulnerable with anyone. I can't even be truly vulnerable with Cass! I figured that you were being so kind because you wanted to trick us or something. In fact, I really do not understand why you want us to be your daughters. We are strangers.”

“You were strangers, Tomi. You girls are not strangers anymore. Random people come into these woods every day. They come and see my wife and I all the time, yet we do not have a family of over fifty people, do we? You two are very much different from all the other people that come here. Those people have families that love and support them. You two do not have that.”

“So you are making us your daughters out of pity then?”

“Good heavens, NO. I want you to be my daughters because I want us to be happy together. Is that such a bad thing?”

“No… it isn’t. I am so sorry for judging you like that.”

After her apology, Tomi broke down. 

"Oh Tomi, you are allowed to be vulnerable sometimes, especially with your family. There is nobody who is strong all the time. Trust me. Look, honey I love you and Cass loves you too. We can all vulnerable with each other."

Tomi smiled a bit through the torrent of tears. 

"Aww, baby girls", cooed Victor, hugging the girls even tighter in order to soothe them both. The poor girls needed him and they needed a family a lot more than he had thought. 

That was no longer a problem though. They had a family now. He had a family now. Everything was complete.

An hour later, the girls had both calmed down and apologised to each other. The emotional outburst had exhausted them both and they fell asleep to the strong heartbeat of their new father. Victor put them on his sleeping mat, draped some of the blanket over them and put his arm like a wall around them. He kissed them both and soon joined them in slumber. They all rested peacefully under the subsided rain, sharing their first night together as a family.