Work Text:
“Let’s go feed the ducks.” Chris already had his jacket on and was halfway out the door.
“Dad, wait up,” Sophia said as she scrambled up from the couch and followed him down the hall.
They took the elevator in silence. Before arriving at ground level they leaned back on their heels and then rocked forward onto their toes in unison, the kind of thing that can only be a dead-giveaway that you’re family. Sophia rolled her eyes and followed his quick pace out of the building and across the street to the park. They walked briskly for a few minutes, the only sound the swishing of both their track pants and light traffic in the distance. It was early still on Sunday.
Chris stopped suddenly near the Lewis Carroll statue; there were reminders of her everywhere. He could never escape his thoughts for long.
“You saw her leave didn’t you?”
Sophia didn’t know what to do. She had always been fairly certain of what was going on, but no one involved had ever flat out addressed it like this - not even her mom.
She was still calculating the right answer when he spoke again. “It’s okay.” He hung his head. “I know you know.”
Chris worried his lip with his teeth as he examined his daughter’s face for a long time. “I shouldn’t have put you in this position. We should have talked about it a long time ago.”
Sophia leaned in to her dad’s shoulder, pressing her nose to the familiar ratty teddy bear hoodie. “It’s ok, dad. I’ve always known.”
She exhaled a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding in for far too long. “Does mom know?”
She could feel him nod against her cheek and was relieved.
“Is it too weird for you?” He grabbed her by the shoulders and held her back so he could see her face again.
They both had tears in their eyes.
“It’s not so we— I mean, it kind of makes sense.” She tried to be reassuring and strong because she could see he needed it. “You love her.”
Chris nodded, the tears threatening to spill over but just barely staying put. He held her wrist for a moment, seized by an indescribable pride. “I love you.”
“I love you too dad.”