My Father's Ring

By Chrystal Dales

A young girl looses her dad to soon in life. With his death she is forced to face life and all it's challenges all on her own. She feels lost as she travels around and deals with the death of a man who meant so much to her. She Finally settles down in Ucuelet, British Columbia where she meets a young man. Emerson who reminds her of her father by the way he acts and talks. She finds herself falling for him but tries so hard to keep her distance building a wall to protect herself from getting to close to him.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jul 21, 2014
• ISBN: 9781496918789

Chrystal Dales

Chrystal originally hails From Wainwright Alberta.  As a single mother of two, her hobbies include dirt biking and reading. This is Chrystal’s first full length novel and she hopes to continue her passion for writing.

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© 2014 Chrystal Dales. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 06/16/2014

ISBN: 978-1-4969-1879-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4969-1878-9 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Prologue January 2002

Chapter 1 January 2005

Chapter 2 April 2009

Chapter 3 April 2009

Chapter 4 April 2009

Chapter 5 April 2009

Chapter 6 July 2009

Chapter 7 July 2009

Chapter 8 July 2009

Chapter 9 October 2009

Chapter 10 Emerson

Chapter 11 October 2009

Chapter 12 Emerson

Chapter 13 October 2009

Chapter 14 November 2009

Chapter 15 December 2009

Chapter 16 December 2009

Chapter 17 December 2009

Chapter 18 April 2010

Chapter 19 Emerson

Chapter 20 April 2010

Chapter 21 June 2010

Chapter 22 June 2010

Chapter 23 June 2010

Chapter 24 July 2010

Chapter 25 July 2010

Chapter 26 August 2010

Chapter 27 Emerson

Chapter 28 October 2010

Chapter 29 October 2010

Chapter 30 December 2010

Epilogue Emerson

This book is

dedicated to my dad, Geoff Dales who passed away from ALS on May7, 2014.

He was my biggest fan and he will

always be my hero.

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Prologue

January 2002

The brisk morning air surrounded and chilled me to the bone. My body vibrated from the cold as I was lying in my bed with the blankets only covering half my body, down my back and one leg. The other leg was bent and uncovered with my PJ pants bunched up above the knee. My face was pressed into the pillow and my arms were folded up underneath fluffing the pillow just enough to be comfortable. My hair was wildly tossed above my head and I only had one blanket left while the other three lay crumpled up on the floor beside my bed.

I really didn’t have a great sleep last night because I kept waking up and hiking my blankets up off the floor and arranging them back on me. I can’t remember what I dreamt about but I tossed and turned all night. Telling by the way my covers where messed up and halfway on the floor, I tossed more than turned.

Winters in Alberta were very harsh and extremely cold. It can get to minus forty degrees outside and sleeping in the basement of an old farm house probably didn’t add to the problem of the cool temperature in my room. The snow came up past the window but you could barely see it through the frost that clung to the glass. My room was always cold so I slept with at least four heavy mink blankets and it felt like sleeping with a bunch of dryer lint because they were so soft.

I laid there with my eyes still closed. I really didn’t want to get out of bed and I was definitely procrastinating. I stretched then rolled over to shut off my alarm clock, which was sitting on the night stand beside my bed, before it startled me later when it went off. I tugged my blankets all the way up to my chin then lay back down with my eyes blinking. I looked around my room and my vision was still blurry. Across the room I could see my dresser that held a bunch of photos in different style picture frames. It looked they were placed randomly on top of the dresser. I had a few model vehicles placed in between the frames. Whether they were trucks or cars my father got me a model of an old vintage vehicle every year for Christmas. We would spend the rest of the day building them. I displayed them on my dresser because they hold sentimental value of the time my father and I spent together building them.

I glanced around my room and I could see the sun peeking through the crack in the black curtains, hanging from my windows. I preferred the dark and I loved the fact that my mother found me some black material and made me some curtains out of it. She would rather I had more pink in my room but I grew up with my father as my best friend and practically lived at the garage with him. My mother always called me a tomboy and to be truthful it really didn’t bother me. I was never the kind of person who liked to go shopping or get my nails done. I would rather be under a car with a wrench in my hand and covered in oil or grease. I hated dresses but I would put on a pair of dirty old coveralls in a heartbeat.

I knew I had to get up but I didn’t want to leave the warmth of my bed; it was comfortable. While lying here I couldn’t help but think that right now my life couldn’t get any better. I am a sixteen year old girl with two wonderful and loving parents. I’m still living at home with absolutely no worries except what the next project will be. I was doing great in school with high marks in all my courses, but school comes easily to me. I also have two older siblings, Mindy and Jordan. They have already moved out and are now attending college. Mindy is in her third year of college and Jordan just started last year. I haven’t really had a good relationship with them but it wasn’t bad either. I remember as a child that they use to play together all the time while I spent very free moment with our dad. We got along but they mostly spent their time with our mother.

Two years ago I met a boy named Brent Skiver at a school dance. We have been dating ever since. He was shy at first and really romantic. Now he must feel more comfortable around me. He just isn’t the same around me anymore. He would take me to parties and spend the whole night with his friends instead of me. He would get drunk then tried to make out with me. I can’t say that he always like that mostly only when he drank. He would come over to the house and we would lay on the couch downstairs and talk or watch TV. He was the most popular boy in school and I really had no idea why he chose me because he could have had his choice from any girl in school. I was really surprised that he asked me out because there were girls in our school that swooned over him non-stop. He never really paid much attention to them though. Every guy at our school wanted to be him and every girl at the school wanted to date him.

Both my parents are the best parents in the world. But my relationship between my father and I is definitely a lot stronger then with my relationship with my siblings; even with my mom. He and I have been extremely close since I was born. He always jokes around by telling me that I was practically born in the garage. He keeps saying that my first toy was a wrench and says that I was always covered in everything that was in that shop. He says that I was able to change oil by the age of two and my mom always says that I was never happy unless I was with my dad at the shop. I would either watch him from my playpen or hand him tools when he would set me free to roam around. As I got older I started helping him loosen bolts on the vehicles.

My mother thought that I was a colic baby because I use to cry all day. As soon as my father would get home I would stop. He used to come in and pick me up right away, even before he got his coveralls off. He was the one that would feed me, bathe me and put me to bed. When he was gone to work in the morning and my mother would come in to get me from my crib she wouldn’t be able to console me in anyway throughout the day. So after only a few weeks of this they learned and decided that my father would take me everywhere with him…they say it was just easier.

Don’t get me wrong. My mother and I have a healthy relationship now. She and I would go to town together to do grocery shopping and sometimes watch movies together. It just wasn’t the same because I told my dad all my secrets. He would drop everything to listen to me. Mom is the stern parent with rules and punishment. I would never disobey her because I have a lot of respect for her. She tries to get me to talk to her but for some reason I don’t. I feel bad that we couldn’t be closer but I couldn’t help it either. I have been this way since I was born. I have to say that I’m bound to laugh at her every time she tries to make dad discipline me. In my father’s eye I could never do anything wrong and he always tried to stick up for me. He just looks at me with a smirk on his face and it always ended with mom rolling her eyes and just doing it herself. She never once grounded me but would say that they were disappointed in me when I did something they didn’t think was right.

I wasn’t a bad child but sometimes I have been known to make some mistakes and bad choices along the way but I was definitely a good kid. I barely went out and I mostly stayed at the shop with dad. I always did my homework and chores before I did anything else. I think the worst thing that I have ever done was stay out two hours past my curfew but it wasn’t my fault.

Ayden, it’s time to get up! I heard my mother’s voice appear from the top of the stairs. I didn’t realize that I had fallen back to sleep until my body jerked and my eyes shot open.

I quickly folded back my heavy blankets and got dressed as fast as I possibly could. The cool air surrounding my room ripped through my body and I shivered until I threw on some clothes. I dressed in my normal style of jeans, a long sleeve shirt under a t-shirt and a hoodie. I hated the way girl sweaters hug tight to your body so I always shopped in the men’s section of the store for mine. Most of my clothes came from my mother who tried to dress me like a girl but I always found a way around it.

After I was finished getting dressed, I rushed to the bathroom to throw my hair into a pony tail and brush my teeth. While I stood there I studied my features in the mirror, like every woman does, even if they are a tomboy like me. I spit out the used up tooth paste that was in my mouth then ran my hand through my strawberry blond hair, that hung just past my shoulders. My mother always says that I am so naturally beautiful because I never have to wear makeup but when I do, on a very rear occasion, she says it brings out all my features just enough. She loves the color of my hair and gets disappointed when I have tried dying it other colors. I always tell her…People pay to have my hair color and I pay to have other peoples. She never finds that funny but I have heard dad stifle his laugh once or twice.

I could always find something wrong with my appearance. The only features I really like about myself are my eyes because they are just like my father’s. They are blue but they almost look grey and they squint every time I smile. I did however get blessed with my mother’s body type. We were both skinny and never have to watch what we eat but with that I got my father’s height. So where my mom is tall and skinny, I am short and skinny. But like the saying goes…Everyone is their own worst critic.

I was laughing quietly at myself when my head snapped towards the sound of my mother’s voice. "Come on Ayden breakfast is ready.

Okay I’m com’n! I yelled back then glanced one more time at myself.

I left the bathroom and bounced up the stairs. I paused at the top and debated on starting the Dodge but when I glanced out the window, I noticed that dad had already started it. We were going to get my 1969 Dodge Charger from the garage today. We had finished fixing it up and took it there so dad could paint it. I wanted it a crazy plum purple with a black stripe on the back. I was getting excited to see it all finished and get the chance to take it for a drive. While I stood staring out the window I smiled to myself because I knew dad was just as excited as I was. I stood there and watched the white smoke billowed out from the stacks. As far as I’m concerned it was the best part of the Dodge besides the Cummins motor. My attention was quickly drawn to the kitchen when I heard mom banging around. I stood there for a moment before I decided to head that way for breakfast.

Good morning, I said and kissed my mom on the cheek.

It was a routine that we’ve have done since I can remember. I think it was my way of making up for always spending time with dad and not her. Maybe it was just my way of telling her that I love her and appreciate everything she does for me, even though I spend all my time with dad.

Good morning. Both their voices rang out at the same time.

Breakfast smells good, I mentioned then glanced over at dad. He was sitting at the table with the paper up hiding his face.

Thank you, mom replied and flipped the pancakes. She made them every Saturday, mostly because dad bagged her to.

So kiddo, are you excited to head to town? He asked handing me the classified section of the paper. We were looking for a vehicle to fix up for mom because she needed a new car; her old one was dying slowly. Plus her birthday was coming up and we had no other idea what to get her.

Yeah of course, it’s been two years since we got my car and now I finally get to see it all finished. The smile on my face made my mother roll her eyes. Awe mom. I know you’re just as excited as I am. I joked as she set our plates down on the table in front of us. I got up and after giving her a one armed hug, I set my section of the paper down on the table.

She couldn’t help but laugh. Morgan, you know she takes after you. She winked at him then smacked his arm gently; she was just playing around.

The proud smile on my father’s face made both of us burst out laughing. Yup that’s my girl. His chest puffed out and that made us burst out laughing again.

So kiddo, are you going to drive your car to Brent’s graduation ceremony? He asked as he folded the paper neatly and set it down beside his plate.

Actually Brent and I are arguing about that right now. He wants to drive his Chevy and I want to drive my car. I replied and started digging into my breakfast.

Brent’s Chevy was nice. Dad just finished lowering in and making it look like a city street truck. It was too low to the ground with lights that would glow underneath it as he drove. It was definitely a truck you wouldn’t take on a gravel road but it would be great if he lived in the city. I was definitely more into the older vintage vehicles. I preferred the old muscle cars and the vintage pickup trucks. I wasn’t really into the fancy dropped trucks or newer vehicles.

Oh Brent is such a nice boy. He is always so sweet to you. Mom swooned. Dad just smirked at me from across the table then rolled his eyes.

Yeah… I replied not as enthused as she was.

He was my first boyfriend and my mother absolutely adored him. I wasn’t exactly sure why he wanted to date me because he was graduating this year. He was going to go to college next year and he told me that he would come home every chance he gets. I knew that he would find someone better suited for him while he was there but it was nice to think that maybe this could work out. I liked him but I still wasn’t sure if it was love or if it was just teenage lust.

Well why don’t you take Brent’s truck to the pictures and ceremony then drive the car to the grad party because you will probably have to drive him home anyway. Dad suggested and shrugged off mom’s earlier comment about Brent.

That would be a good idea but I’m not going to the party. I replied but kept my eyes on my plate and waited for mom to speak up.

Why aren’t you going to the party? She asked almost sounding disappointed.

I really don’t want to go and watch everyone get drunk then make asses of themselves. I definitely don’t want to put up with Brent after a few drinks… I replied.

I was never the type of person to hang out at parties and drink. I would always decide to be the designated driver or I would watch everyone else make fools out of themselves. Drinking never really appealed to me while I watched everyone else.

The phone rang before she could reply. Hello? Mom answered it. Oh yes she is right here, mom smiled at me as her voice sang out and she handed me the phone.

Speak of the devil dad grinned.

I rolled my eyes. Hey, I said already knowing exactly who it was because of the smile on her face.

When do you go and pick up the car? Brent’s voice was on the other end.

When we are done eating breakfast. I think that dad’s even excited. He already started the truck before I got up. I joked looking across the table at dad then I kept eating even though my mom thought it was rude but I wanted to get going.

He laughed. Would you mind if I stopped by the house when you get home? I want to see the car and spend some time with you. He said and I knew exactly what he meant when he said he wanted to spend time with me.

He has been trying to get me to sleep with him for the last month and no matter how many times I told him that I wasn’t ready yet, he kept trying. He wasn’t really pressuring me into it with stupid excuses but it was annoying all the same. It wasn’t like he was a virgin and with knowing that it feels like he was more comfortable about it then I was because I am.

I rolled my eyes and I could tell that dad caught me. I really didn’t want to explain so I just waved my hand like it was no big deal. Dad kept his eyes on me and I shook my head and made a sour face at him so he would look away. I knew dad wouldn’t drop the subject but he would leave it alone for now, well at least until I was off the phone or until we were alone.

Okay, see you soon babe. He said then hung up. I hated nick names and he knew it but he continued to do it anyway.

Without saying good bye I hung up the phone. I continued to eat but I could feel dad’s eyes on me. I wasn’t about to look up and make this moment awkward as mom was at the stove cleaning up her mess. I really didn’t want to take to either of them about this situation. It was awkward and uncomfortable to even think about it. I knew dad wouldn’t say much and mom would try to tell me about the birds and the bees. That’s exactly how she would start the conversation.

So why did you roll your eyes? Did he say something to you that you didn’t like? He asked still staring at me.

He wasn’t going to give up easily because he didn’t like anyone upsetting me and I told him everything that has happened between Brent and myself. Instead of running to my mother like every other teenage girl, I ran to my father and told him every time Brent said something wrong or treated me unfairly. Every time I was upset about something I ran to my father and like every other man in the world, he would tell me that he would take a round out of him.

I finally looked up at him. It was nothing. I really don’t want to talk about it right now, I replied then got up to place my plate at the sink.

I knew that he would bring it up again when we were in the truck. He wouldn’t let it go and I really didn’t want to tell him about this but I knew I would. I always gave into him; I was definitely the definition of a Daddy’s girl.

So we will talk about it later then? He asked with one eyebrow raised.

Yeah, later, I replied then started to help mom clean up.

I started putting away all the stuff on the table in the fridge or the cupboard that it belonged in. Dad wasn’t finished eating yet so I stared rinsing the dishes and filling the dishwasher.

Okay kiddo, let’s get going, dad said and picked up his plate and placed it in the dishwasher.

My mother stopped what she was doing and spun around. She looked at dad with crinkled eyebrows and a serious expression on her face.

You two better not take too long. She looked from dad to me then back to dad. Morgan you promised that you would help me clean the house today. She pointed at him with a spatula and a stern look.

Yes dear, he replied and saluted her like she was a general in the army.

She smacked his arm and smirked at the same time. Dad slid his arms around her waist and I left the room. I walked into the porch and grabbed my jacket from the hook on the wall. They were starting to goof around and like every other teenager, I felt uncomfortable around it…even a little grossed out.

Dad took a little longer to get out the door than I did but he eventually reached the truck. I watched as he hopped through the snow the same way I did and I giggled quietly to myself. He looked foolish but I probably did to. When he climbed in I was playing with the stereo trying to pick a good song.

The truck was a standard so it didn’t take long for dad to pull out of the drive way. I tried to pretend that I was busy to avoid what was coming. We drove for a few minutes before the inevitable question popped up again and I grinned awkwardly.

So tell me what Brent said? Dad asked and glanced over at me with curiosity all over his face and one eyebrow raised.

I really don’t want to talk about it, I replied kind of embarrassed. I told my dad everything but this wasn’t something I really wanted to discuss with him.

Kiddo, you know I’m not going to drop it, he said knowing that I would eventually give in.

Fine…I know that you won’t want to hear this but he thinks we have been together long enough now that we can take our relationship to the next step. But I keep telling him that I’m not ready yet. I’m only sixteen, I replied and put my head down.

I knew that dad wouldn’t make this awkward but I knew that he really didn’t want to hear that his baby was thinking about sex. He would ask me if I wanted him to threaten him or if I wanted him to beat up Brent.

Do you want me to talk to him, he said and his eyebrows crinkled.

He hasn’t really liked Brent all that much since we started to date but I don’t think that he would like any guy. He was very protective and was just waiting for an excuse to get rid of him. It made me feel really safe to know that my father would be there to protect me from anything. Especially from boys and in my father’s eyes Brent was dating his baby, he didn’t really trust Brent not to hurt me.

No it’s okay, he is not pressuring me or anything but he keeps hinting that we should and it’s getting annoying, I answered. But anyway I really didn’t get a chance to look in the paper this morning, I said trying to change the subject. Did you see anything for sale for mom’s birthday?

No, I can’t believe how hard it is to find something for her. He hesitated then gave in that I really didn’t want to talk about Brent any further.

It’s only because we are looking for one. I smiled and nudged his arm then began to riffle through the case full of CD’s. We stayed quiet for a few miles down the road then dad got a strange look on his face. He glanced over at me and I couldn’t help but stare at him with a puzzled expression.

After grad, are you still moving out to Vancouver Island like we planned? He asked.

Dad and I have talked about my plans of moving to Vancouver Island and opening a garage in Ucuelet, British Columbia. Once I graduate from school, I want to move out there and find a shop for sale and start my own business. It was my dad’s dream from when he was a child but he never got to live it because he ended up in Alberta with a beautiful wife and three children. He would never complain about owning a garage in Bon Accord and living in a small town but I could tell that he wishes that he would have pursued it before we were born.

Once I get my business started, dad and mom will retire out there and help me with the garage. Dad will help me in the shop and mom will keep the paper work in order. It was going to be a family run business and it was something I was looking forward to. I couldn’t wait to own my own garage and finally see the place that dad dreams about.

Yes of course, that is our plan and I wouldn’t want it any other way. I’m actually looking forward to moving out there, I replied wondering why he would even ask. I have never changed my mind since he suggested it. I even went on the internet and looked it up. I love the fact that there is falls located near there. I can take my days off and go for walks, I added getting really excited but then I remembered that I still have two more years left of school.

Have you thought of a name for your garage? He asked.

Not really but how about The Parker’s or just Parker’s, I replied without putting much thought into it.

He just shook his head at me with a sour expression on his face. You have to come up with something better than that. He laughed at me.

Why? What would you suggest then? I asked smiling and waiting for him to respond.

I sat there staring at him while I waited and suddenly his expression changed. I didn’t like his expression so I stayed there frozen as I stared at him. As we were driving a semi heading in the opposite direction as us was coming towards us in our lane, dad quickly turned his head and looked over at me. But before I could look at the object that I could see in the corner of my eye, I felt the seat belt tighten against my chest and my head snapped forward. The whole driver’s side lifted in the air as it tilted the truck slightly to my side.

When my eyes opened again, my dad had fear on his face and horror in his eyes as he gripped the steering wheel so tight that his knuckles turned white. We were floating in the air as I could feel the truck spin in the air from the momentum of the crash. My head was snapped back as the truck hit the pavement and I hit my head on the head rest. I could hear the crunching of metal and glass shattering around us. It was the most horrifying sound that I have ever heard. The seat belt knocked the wind out of me cutting off my screams.

Dad! I managed to yelp out at the top of my lungs.

The pain in my head and body was so intense that I really couldn’t manage to concentrate on anything else. We were pulled ever direction in the cab as it rolled down the pavement, bouncing us off the twisting metal. My vision was blurry because of the warm liquid that was leaking into them. My head had bounced off the side of the truck a few times when it tipped to my side then landed back on the roof. I could hear the metal scrapping along the pavement.

The truck slid from the momentum of it rolling and I was coming in and out of consciousness as we hung there helplessly.

Ayden! Ayden! Kiddo are you okay?! I could hear the sound of my dad’s voice but it faded in and out as I tried to figure out what was happening.

When I could finally keep my eyes open long enough I looked over at my father. We stared at each other with panic and fear filling our eyes. The truck finally stopped sliding and we frantically tried to struggle out of our seat belts as the pain surged through our bodies. I looked over at my dad to see if he was having any luck getting out of his seatbelt because I wasn’t and I froze with fear as soon as my eyes focused on a figure with white smoke surrounding it, heading right for us. I could hear the screeching noise of tries skidding along the pavement.

Dad! I screamed.

Ayden! Dad yelled with horror in his eyes but he wasn’t looking at me, he was looking passed me. I managed to turn just in time to see the under belly of a lifted up truck, screeching towards my side of the truck.

I blacked out to metal crumpling, glass shattering, blood dripping down our faces and the horror in my screams. I knew that neither one of us could ever make it out of this alive. There was no way either one of us would survive this accident and for some reason I felt at peace. I wasn’t frightened and I let the darkness take me with ease. I wasn’t scared as I waited for the moment that I would see my father again and for some reason that filled me with comfort. Visions of my dad started appearing as the crunching of metal and our bodies being thrown about the cab was all I could hear and feel. Suddenly all the pain in my body seemed to disappear.

I saw my dad holding me up in the air and spinning me around as we both laughed. I was only twelve and had two strawberry blond pigtails moving with the momentum of us spinning around. The next was a vision of my dad dancing with my mother in the kitchen and then suddenly I was standing in my father’s shop working on my 1967 Dodge charger, we were laughing and bugging each other. He had one arm over my shoulder and had a very happy expression on his face. It was just like the photo he kept on his dresser.

Then we were sitting on the deck at our house and I had my head on his shoulder. I was crying over something stupid that Brent did and all he did was run his