Dallas.

strange encounter

Tyler

I wake up. My neck hurts. I look around. I fell asleep putting Austyn to bed. This little a$$ bed she has here at her grandfather's house sucks. I am used to the big beds we share and all 3 of us fit comfortably. I get up and go searching for Dallas. John is in the kitchen? "Rough night?" he asks. "I don't even know when I fell asleep. Austyn asked me to read her a book and I just woke up." I tell him. "So you and Dallas haven't talked?" he asks. I shake my head. "Where is she?" I ask looking around. She isn't even on the couch. "I am not sure. I thought she was in the room with you and Austyn. Let me look in the other rooms," he says and walks away while I check my phone to make sure I didn't miss a call or text from her, but there is nothing. He comes back a couple of minutes later. "She isn't here. It doesn't look like she slept in any of the bedrooms either," he says, and I suddenly feel sick. Yesterday, she said she was going to go talk to Adeline and John said she was planning on talking to Beau as well. Did she spend the night with him? "I am going to wake Austyn up and take her out for breakfast and a special day together," I say, trying to take my mind off that disgusting thought that just ran through my mind.

I wake Austyn up and she is happy to pick her own outfit. She is pulling clothes out of the drawers in her closet. She walks back with a bunch of clothes in her arms. "Help me daddy, I'm little," she says and I chuckle. She really is tiny. I help her when she asks for it, otherwise I let her do her thing. After a couple of minutes, she twirls around, "What do you think daddy?" she asks. She is spinning in her hot pink skirt with silver sparkly leggings underneath. She looks like a disco ball. Her boots are hot pink and sparkly and she is wearing a lime green shirt with her mom's face on it. Who made this shirt and why is everything so bright? "Here daddy. I want pig tails," she says, handing me a hair brush and big bows. "Oh," I say. Everytime I have done her hair it comes out horribly wrong, but she always smiles and thanks me. I brush her hair and do my best to part it like I saw Dallas do it. I put one side up, then the other. They actually don't look half bad this time. I put the bow on the right side first, then the left. "All done," I say. She runs to the mirror and studies it for what seems like forever. She turns around, that beautiful bright smile on her face. "They are perfect, daddy. You are getting better. I love you. You are the best daddy in the world," she says. "Well, as the best daddy in the world, how about we go have breakfast at Tilly's?" I ask her. "Yes, yes, yes" she says, clapping her hands. "lets go then princess," I say and go open the door for her. "Wait daddy, my purse," she says and I frown. Geez, when did this little girl get a purse? "Oh and buddy too, okay daddy. We can't leave him. He will be scared if he stays here all alone all day," she tells me. Of course, now I have to drag a bunny rabbit around too. She runs over to me, carrying the very dirty bunny with a mini pink tutu and no shirt. "I thought this was a boy bunny?" I ask her. "He is, but he was cold and his clothes are in the wash, so he has to wear sissy barbie's clothes," she tells me and I just nod and keep walking. Kids' minds are off the wall. How does she even think of this? If someone told me a couple of years ago that this would be my life, I would have laughed. A daughter and pink and bunnies. It is all so different than living the rock star life. I send a quick text to Dallas to tell her where we will be and we make our way to mom's restaurant.

We walk inside and I am so annoyed that we have been running into these people a lot lately. What the f*ck, why are they here? I know they are paying customers, but I hate running into these people. If he is here, then where is Dallas? Maybe I was wrong about her being with him. I feel relieved actually. "Hello to two of my favorite customers," mom comes over and says. "The firefighters are here today," she adds. Luckily, I am wearing shades so she can't see my annoyed face. "They fight fires," Austyn says. "Like Gpa" mom adds "and papa and uncle James and uncle Elias, they are all superheros," my princess says. "Yes, now lets get you a big plate of pancakes," mom tells Austyn who twirls around in circles all the way to the bar area. I scoop her up and sit her down in the chair. I sit next to her and look around. It is pretty busy this early. I order pancakes with a coffee and Austyn orders a hot chocolate with extra whipped cream. "Where is mommy?" she asks me. I don't know what to tell her, so I go with a safe option. "Right now I wanted to have a daughter-daddy date, just us two alone." I say, and she smiles brightly. "Because I am your favorite girl in the world, right?" she asks and I nod. "Of course princess." I say.

The food arrives and after helping Austyn cut up her pancakes, she finally takes a big bite. "MMM, these are the best," she says with her mouth still full. "Chew with your mouth closed princess," I remind her. We eat and chat about her classroom. She informs me that her classroom is having a daddy high five day. She just said the dad's come to school and give high fives, but I will ask john about this. Dallas didn't mention it and I have a feeling Austyn isn't explaining it correctly. I don't think they would ask dad's to just come and high five the students, would they?

It seems to be slowing down and mom comes over to talk to us for a bit. Austyn is in the middle of her new story about baseball, how she hits the ball harder than her uncle Beckham, when mom's face goes white as she stares behind us. I turn around and Beau f 8cking Miller is standing behind me. "Can I help you?" I ask him when he looks from Austyn to me and back. Austyn turns her little face around. "Yeah, can we help you?" she asks him and giggles. "I just wanted to speak to you real quick" he says. "I have nothing to speak to you about," I tell him. Austyn is staring at us and mom reluctantly leaves when a table asks for the check. He isn't leaving so I stand up. "Finish your food and drink," I tell Austyn. She turns and does what I asked her to do. "I know you hate me. I have always hated you. Dallas always preferred you over me and it has always bugged me, but even I have to admit that you are a good guy. You stepped up and I just want to thank you for taking care of my daughter. Looks like she hasn't missed out on anything," he says. I am surprised to hear this. I step away so Austyn doesn't hear this conversation. "Of course, she has never missed out on anything and I will always take care of them. You don't need to thank me. I didn't do it for you," I say. "Oh, I know. Dallas and I already had a conversation. I am sure you already know. I am not trying to bother you or her right now. I just wanted to see her and say that to you. Have a good day," he says. He looks at her one last time and turns around and walks away. I sit back down and I am in my own bubble, thinking about what just happened. That was a strange encounter. In high school, we never clicked or ran with the same groups. He tried to get Dallas to be someone she wasn't and would get upset when she was herself and would be around me. He has always hated me and I am not his biggest fan either. "Can we go?" Austyn's voice breaks my thoughts. "Yeah princess, what do you want to do?" I ask her. She shrugs. "How about we go to little bowtique?" I ask her. "Can I get a new dress and shoes?" she asks me. "You can get whatever you want," I tell her. She hugs me. "You are the best daddy in the world, daddy. I never want another daddy, but you, okay?" she says. "Hey, I will always be your daddy," I tell her. "Promise?" she asks. She pulls back and has tears in her eyes, "What's wrong?" I ask her. "Nothing. I am ready to go," she says and sticks her hand out for me to grab. Why is she suddenly acting this way?

We get to the bowtique and I check my phone and still nothing from Dallas. That is not like her. I get off and get Austyn out and we head inside. As soon as I step foot inside, I instantly regret it. There are little girls running around all over the place. I spot the main Miller witch with her granddaughter eyeing Austyn and I, but she is looking at us like we are disgusting and as if we are disturbing them by stepping inside this store. Well tough sh!t lady, this is a public place and my money is as good here as yours. I think to myself. Why are they everywhere today? Is it always this way out here? Do mom and John and the Reynolds sisters run into them daily as well? It must suck for them. Maybe living far away is good for us, because Dallas doesn't have to see them.

"Oh Tyler Browne, I thought that was you," Gretchen, a girl I went to high school with says, walking over to us. She is wearing a pink apron and a name tag so I assume she works here. "Hello Gretchen," I say. She blushes. "You know my name?" she asks and I nod. I mean even if I didn't know her name, it's on her name tag. "Yeah, we went to high school together, remember," I say. "Well yeah, but you are you and I am me," she says. Austyn just stares at her and doesn't say anything. "Hi, Austyn Reynolds," she says, and something about her name being Reynolds is starting to bother me, but it isn't like I can do anything about it. I didn't sign her birth certificate and Dallas and I are not married. "Hi. This is my daddy," Austyn whispers and wraps her arms around my neck. "Oh, I didn't know. Who is her mother? People around town thought she belonged to Cali and James and then to John Reynolds, then to Alabama and that is why she took off," she says nervously. I know Dallas does everything to protect Austyn's privacy. She doesn't post her on social media announcing that she is her daughter. It isn't that she is hiding her or denying her, but it is safer. This way people won't attack Austyn while she is out with the family. For having her everyday for years, her little face has not made it into the blogs and I hope it always stays this way. But, it looks like people from the town will soon find out. I am just glad that people here keep to themselves or to the same people here. No-one goes around selling stories or calling the news channels or reporters. If we are here, the rest of the world never finds out. We can get away and enjoy being back at home while we are here. It's refreshing. "Dallas is her mom," I say and her eyes widen, then she smirks. "Oh I always knew you two had a thing. Ever since high school, everyone could see that you two were with the wrong partners. You two are soul mates. I went to one of your concerts when I was visiting my aunt in Minnesota and the connection you two have is amazing. In real life, here at home, on stage. It captures everyone and sucks us all in," she says. Out of everything she just said, only one thing stood out and I think Dallas and I will have to talk about it soon. "Can you do whatever it is you do here?" I say. "Oh, of course, come with me, and please tell me your budget," she says. I frown. "There is no budget. My princess gets whatever she wants," I say. "Awwww, she is so lucky," she says.

She has us sit on a pink furry bench. "So, Austyn, you can go to the clothes racks and pick an outfit," Gretchen says. Austyn's eyes light up. "Can I pick from the gold rack?" she asks and the smile is back on her face. "Yes," I tell her not knowing what that even means. She is gone and I pull my phone out. Still nothing. I can feel someone staring at me. I look up and The Miller witch is staring at me. She whispers something to the child and she runs off. I look away, not going to give a crazy murderer any attention. Austyn returns wearing a white dress with a gold tiara, a gold bracelet and hot pink cow-girl boots. She is showing them to me when the little Miller kid walks over. "Who is this?" she asks Austyn. "This is my daddy," she says, and the kid looks at me and runs away. Weird. "I need gloves," Austyn shrieks. Of course she does. She runs off. Her outfit is outrageous, but it is so her. Reminds me of Dallas, always wearing crazy outfits and not caring what others think of them. They always fit her personality, just like this dress and cow-girl boots fit Austyn's personality.

All of a sudden, there is a loud cry. I stand up and the Miller kid is standing over Austyn, the tiara Austyn was wearing is in the miller kid's hands and she is pulling it out of my daughters head, except it is stuck in her hair. Gretchen runs over there and I can hear her telling the kid to stop pulling it. I get there and the Miller witch is there at the same time as I am. "Let go," I tell the kid, who just pulls harder. Of f*ck this, I grab her hands and remove them from the tiara. She begins crying. "How dare you! I am going to file charges for assault. You hurt my granddaughter," she yells. "Teach this kid not to touch what isn't hers," I say. I turn to Austyn. "Are you okay princess?" I ask her, but she shakes her head and tears are running down her face. I remove the tiara and rub her head. "Remember a princess never cries," I whisper, so only she can hear me. She wipes the tears and smiles. "Oh, my son is going to hear about this. He will not like the way his daughter was treated." the witch is still going on. "You go and tell your daddy that Tyler Browne said if you ever touch my daughter again, we are going to have problems. Ring me up Gretchen," I say, and carry Austyn to the cash register. I am fuming at this point, but I can't let Austyn see that. I pay, and get my girl out of there. "Want ice cream?" I ask her. She nods. "Me too, lets go," I say.

We sit quietly enjoying our ice cream. "She is in my class, daddy, and she is always mean. She laughs at me and says I don't have a mommy or daddy and that no-one loves me," Austyn says. "You know that isn't true though, right?" I ask. She nods her little head. Her tiara is now off to the side. "Austyn, is anyone else mean to you at school?" I ask her. "It is mostly her, daddy. She is mean to me and to everyone else. She hits me sometimes and pulls my hair, too," she says so innocently. Like if she didn't just tell me something that is about to send me on a k!lling spree. Oh, that little brat's father is going to get it. We finish up our cones and I decide to end our daughter-daddy date by going to the park. Dallas hasn't responded and John said he isn't going to Stephan's burial because he has to work and I don't know what Dallas wants me to do with Austyn, so as I push her on the swing, I call Dallas. It rings and rings until she finally answers. "Dallas, where have you been?" I ask her. "Ty?" she asks. "Yes, are you okay?" I ask her. "Sorry, the medicine they gave me at the hospital knocked me out. I texted you, telling you I got home," She tells me. I put her on speaker phone and check my messages. "I never got a text from you. Why were you at the hospital Dallas?" I ask her. "my hand, Ty, I need to talk to you about something. I am at the Barbie house, can you come over here?" she asks. "Austyn and I are on the way," I tell her and push Austyn a little while longer. "Want to get dinner and go eat with mom?" I ask her. "Yes yes yes. I miss mommy. I want to have a date with you and mommy," she says. "What do you want to eat?" I ask her. "Pasgetti" she says, and I chuckle, remembering that even though she is advanced for her age, and speaks so much and so well, she is still my little girl and some words are still hard for her.

I place an order for food and we head home. Austyn talks and asks me the most not like her questions. "Daddy, do you love me?" she asks me. "Yes, you are my favorite girl in the world. You are my little princess." I tell her. "Will you still love me if you have more babies?" she asks. "I will always love you no matter what," I say. "Would you ever let anyone take me away from you and mommy?" she asks. "Never," I respond. "Can you and mommy move back here so I can see you everyday?" she asks. "I will talk to mom about it, but you know we have to travel for work too, right princess. There will be times when we have to leave for months at a time." I say. I look in the review mirror and she looks so sad. "I know, but I miss you when you are gone, and I don't want my friends to think I don't have a mom and dad. I want everyone to know that I do have a mom and dad and I want us to live together and do everything together," she says. "Okay," is all I can say, because her little face and all of these questions have me questioning everything.

Austyn opens the door and runs inside and up stairs. I am livid. Dallas knows she needs to lock the damn doors. This girl is going to k!ll me of stress. She knows there is a stalker around and she is acting like she isn't a celebrity and can live like a normal person. I go to the kitchen and pour our drinks and once our food arrives, I head upstairs. I stand in the doorway listening to Austyn replaying everything that happened today. She tells her mother what happened at that little girl-filled store. "Hmmm" is all Dallas says. Austyn goes on and on. "Sounds like you and daddy had a great day," Dallas says. "We did. It was perfect and daddy said he has to talk to you," she tells her, and I decide that is my time to announce myself. "I did. Austyn and I think we should move back here to live permanently, or at least when we are not on tour," I say. "Please, mommy. I need you and daddy here. I don't want anyone to take me away from you. You are my mommy and daddy is my only daddy, please," she begs. Dallas has a look of concern on her face. "Okay sweetie. Do you want to live here?" she asks. "Yes, I love the Barbie house," Austyn says.

I hand them each their food and we all dig in. I have no idea what happened to Dallas, but her hand is wrapped up. "Did you make it to the burial?" I ask her. "No, after the conversation Adi and I had, I thought it was best not to attend," she says. She looks away, so I know she doesn't want to discuss it in front of Austyn. "This pasgetti is good, but not better than Nana's," she says. I agree. My mom makes the best food. "I'm done. May I go play with my new tiara and toys in my room?" Austyn asks. "Of course," Dallas says. Once she is gone, she turns to me, "Ty, I think we need to talk about everything," she says, and I agree. It's about time we laid it all on the table.