My dad's voice for the first time since the day I returned his Telecaster chilled me to the core. Erin and uncle Dre sat down at his desk as my dad remained at the door. I went and stood dead center of the room as he began to get his thoughts together before he spoke.

"Andre what happens today man? I trusted you to keep and eye on her!" He scolded.

"Prince I'm sorry! I told you I didn't think she would run the other way! She never came to me about any of it. I never knew she left." Uncle Dre replied a little worried.

"Daddy come on don't be so hard on him I told you it wasn't his fault." I said.

"You mean to tell me that because you think you saw your mother that give him the excuse to still not be with you?"

"Dad it wasn't like that! I wasn't far I was just two stores away! Why are you getting so mad?"

"Carlyn this woman could have taken you without a second thought! You don't know what could have happened!"

"Daddy I'm old enough to know when to fight somebody off! I'm 16 years old! Why re you treating me like a two year old?"

"Because we don't know if she's really your mother or what she's capable of! You said she's been watching you and now that we know that whoever she is claiming to be is out here somewhere you need eyes on you at all times!"

"But dad-"

"I don't want to hear it Carlyn! You are my child and nobody is doing anything to take you away from me!"

The room suddenly fell quiet and the tension was so thick you could hardly breathe. I was angry at my dad but I understood where he came from. We didn't know if this lady was truly claiming to be my mother or just some crazy bitch that knows who my mother is and somehow got those pictures from her.

"Prince we know you mean well but give her some credit. She found me and we got her to safety quickly and we didn't hesitate to bring her home. She did the right thing you can't blame her for all of this." Erin said.

My dad let out a sigh of confusion and hurt. He leaned against the door and looked up at the ceiling.

"I shouldn't have left you without Tony today. I should have sent him with you."

"So you're blaming me for this aren't you?" Uncle Dre snapped.

My dad looked at him but didn't say anything verbally but his facial expression gave off otherwise. Uncle Dre sucked his teeth and shot up from his chair.

"You are blaming me! Come on man you can't be serious! After all the shit we've been through over the years? After I put my ass on the line for you and Regan? I've been there for you when you didn't have shit! Not to mention having your back when you damn near lost it all! And you wanna come at me for something that I've been apologizing for? Come on dude what happened to you? Thought we were boys! Brothers even! I begged my mama to take you in when you needed a place to crash! I've been on your side! Hell I still am! I love Carlyn just like you do and if she had come to me I would have gotten her out of there and you know it!"

Uncle Dre was yelling at my dad with such emotion that my dad stepped away from the door and came up to him slowly.

"Cymone's I'm sorry! I just- I don't understand! How do we even know that this is her mother? Does she even know about me?"

My dad circled his desk before sitting down folding his hands and placing his elbows on the top and letting his hand come forward to his face. I've never seen my dad look so overwhelmed with fear and anger at the same time.

"I shouldn't be angry. I should be thanking the both of you." He said sadly as he took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

"What can we do to help Prince?" Erin asked.

He was unsure how to respond at first so he just sat silently.

"Erin give us a second." I said to her.

She just simply nodded and left out of the office closing the door behind her.

"Daddy what are you thinking?" I asked.

Uncle Dre stood up and went behind the desk and placed his hand on my dad's left shoulder.

"Come on Skip I was outta line man. I'm just as confused and hurt as you are. You know I'm always gonna be here for you no matter what you need. You're my baby brother you know that don'tcha?"

My dad sat up in his chair and let out a deep breath.

"Yeah man I know. I'm sorry for making you feel like this was your fault. I didn't mean to make you feel like that. I'm just concerned. I will do anything to keep my children safe."

It warmed my heart to know that my dad had loved me that much that he was willing to do everything in his power to keep me from any danger. Uncle Dre looked up at me.

"Carly? You wanna talk to him now? You think you're ready?" He asked.

My dad and uncle Dre looked to me worried that I was going to say no.

"I'm ready." I sighed.

"I'll leave y'all to it then. Tell him everything Carly. I love ya kid. If you need me I'm right outside."

With that uncle Dre left the room and it was just me and my dad sitting at his desk face to face. A huge knot formed in my stomach and a lump in my throat.

"Daddy? I don't want you to be mad. I just don't want to see her again."

His eyes looked sad as he watched my face as a tear began to fall.

"Carlyn I want you to stay home this weekend." He said.

"But dad what about Tre's game? You said I could go!"

"Is a boy more important than your safety?" He asked me sternly.

"Well no but-"

"Then there it is. Until this is over I don't want you going out for a while."

"But dad-"

"Carlyn! No! Now that's it! I need you to tell me exactly what happened prior to you running off."

I was already mad that I had to relive the moment but now I had to cancel my Saturday night plans to see Tre play his game at school.

"She just came up behind me and asked me if I needed help and I told her no. She walked away but I could feel her watching me so I told her that I wasn't going to steal anything. That's wen she started to tell me about how she had a kid about my age but pulled out baby pictures of her. The one picture she handed me was a picture myself at the playground I was ditched at. That was when I left. She was the lady I drew last night."

His eyes shot up at me in fear.

"Carlyn tell me honestly did you know she was following you?"

"Dad no! This is all happening so fast! I didn't know that this crazy lady was my mom until she told me! And I don't even know if it's true! You don't believe me.....do you?"

I think I was ready to throw as many objects across the room as possible out of anger. I think he knew it so he stood up and tried to talk me off the ledge.

"Sweetheart I believe you. You know I do but I have to be sure on all fronts that she doesn't have any official legal ties to you anymore and that is if she's even your mother. There's a lot of loose ends the come along with this now. I don't know what I would do if I were to....."

His eyes got ready as he looked at me.

"I've had enough loss in my life. I don't want to lose you too."

My heart shatter as his tears fell. He tried to his them but it was pretty obvious that he was scared.

"Daddy don't cry. Please don't cry." I said as my voice shook in sadness.

"Come here my love." He whispered as he took me in his arms.

He began to cry for the first time in front of me.

"I love you so much. You're my little girl."

"I love you too dad. Please don't be sad anymore. Please?"

He kissed me on the forehead and took a tissue and wiped my face.

"We'll get to the bottom of this. I promise you. You are mine and nobody is changing that."

As my dad held me tightly I knew he was ready to put up a fight to keep us together no matter what it took. There was no way he was going let this woman tear apart. Now or ever.