Admittedly, at this stage of life, Joel Friendly never thought he would be a father; however, last year, he got the shock of his life when the daughter he never knew informed him of her existence due to his past relationship with her late mother, Eleanor Park, years prior during their missionary days overseas.

 

Today marks her first day at Radcliffe High, and the reverend is dressed and nursing his first cup of coffee in the small kitchen of the apartment he now shares with his daughter.

 

Sipping his coffee, he hears footsteps descending from the small hall, his eyes narrowing as they land on Skye Park wearing a "Bad Omens" shirt, black-and-gray plaid skirt, fishnets, and platform boots. For some, the outfit might be startling, but after getting to know her, he knows her goth identity is simply who she is.

 

Skye gets her father's attention. "So how do I look?"

 

The reverend sets down his coffee and gets closer to the younger woman. 
 

"You look like, you're ready to take on the 10th grade," he remarks, complimentary. 

 

"Well, that was what I was going for."

 

"You know it's okay to be nervous. Starting at a new school in the middle of the semester would make anyone full of nerves," he notes.

 

Skye goes into the kitchen to pour herself some coffee. "Well, it's not like it's my first time changing schools, Joel."

 

Joel recalls being told by her when her mother died, she had moved from Austin to Houston, where she lived with her maternal grandmother until recently, as they decided it would be best, she comes to live with him permanently, which is something he will never regret.

 

Joel glances around the room before his eyes land on the couch in the living room, where Skye sleeps. He shifts his gaze back to her. “Again, I’m sorry you had to sleep on the pullout. But when I get the chance I'll get back to getting another place." 

 

Skye shakes her head gently, setting the mug down on the countertop. “It’s fine.”

 

“It’s not,” Joel replies. “You’re a young woman, and you deserve your own space. So, when I get the time, I promise we’ll go apartment hunting.”

 

Just as the moment feels at ease, a knock echoes from the door. Joel volunteers to get to the door, seeing it is Thora McKnight standing in the doorway with a cordial smile.

 

"Hey," he says to the woman helping him unite with the daughter he never knew he had.

 

"Hey," the blonde woman replies. "She then gestures to the trademark Jojo's Cafe cardboard box. "Mind if I come in? I bring goodies."

 

"Please do," the reverend answers as he allows the woman to enter the apartment, and shuts the door behind them.

 

Thora walked into the kitchen, smiling at Skye and Joel. "Well, I remember that Skye is starting her first day at Radcliffe, so I thought I’d bring some donuts and danishes from the cafe and check in on how things are going."

 

Skye gave a nod. "Nice," she said

 

"Oh, Thora, you didn’t have to do that but thank you."

 

Thora places the box on the counter, the scent of pastries filling the air. 

 

"Well, I thought you two would be hungry." Her eyes then flash to Skye’s shirt. "You a fan of the band, I see?"

 

Skye's eyebrows rose, and Joel was genuinely surprised. Bad Omens is heavy metal, far from her usual taste.

 

"What?" Thora laughs in disbelief.

 

"Nothing," Joel stifles a laugh, obviously amused. "I never knew you were down with the kids."

 

Skye couldn’t help but laugh, and Thora smirks.

 

"Nobody says down with the kids anymore," she remarks.

 

"She got you there, Joel," Skye teases.

 

Joel shook his head. "All right, let’s get something in our stomachs before we go." He glanced at Thora with a grin, still chuckling.

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