Part 1.

A bell jingled; one sounded so frequently that heads did not seek to catch a glimpse of her entrance. With drizzled hair, Georgie walked in, her arms interlocked trying to eliminate the numbness from the cold. However, the aroma of freshly ground beans instantly gave her warmth.
“A large white chocolate mocha to-go, please,” she said, rolling the request off her tongue almost routinely. Her eyes were drawn to a family of four laughing in the corner of the room. Their faces were familiar; they were regulars. They were smiling. And it wasn’t before long that the corners of Georgie’s mouth lifted and she found herself smiling too.
“That comes to $4.50, thanks Georgie.”
“Thanks, Don,” Georgie Beamed. “I’ll see you later.”
She started humming an effortless tune as she took her first tingling sips of coffee. Without forewarning, the pocket of Georgie’s red overcoat vibrated and a melody began to accompany her humming. She answered.
“Sweetie, someone’s here to see you. Are you far from home?”
“Who’s there? I’ll be home in five. Tell them to hang around.”
“It’s your father. He’s waiting in the car. I’ll tell him that you’re coming.”
Georgie answered her mum’s words with silence; she had very few words to say. Out of confusion, and perhaps a hint of bitterness, she muffled a reply and hung up. It took years for Georgie to bury the hurt that had been inflicted on her. Although this pain had managed to seep through the cracks over the years, she didn’t know how she could possibly face it all at once. The man who abandoned her sixteen years ago – the man who continued to send her bundles of disappointment when he pleased – was at her doorstep. At the one place where she felt secure and loved. She hesitated for many moments, but finally her feet came to a decision.
Raindrops burst into glass fragments as they hit the shining roads. Georgie ran across wet streets and zebra crossings tinged red and green, sheltering herself with the palm of her hand. In the near distance, she recognised a rusty Mercedes Ute parked on the road outside her home. She approached warily, and her heart jumped for the split second that her eyes locked with his through the rear-vision mirror. It was still drizzly outside, but he stepped out of the car in his dusty boots, torn jeans and flannel shirt, forcing the door closed behind him. Holding his arms out wide, he greeted Georgie with a crooked smile.