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“Father. ” He paused as she called out to him. “I’m getting married. Carolyn informs me the wedding is in six months. ”
He grunted roughly. “That woman’s a busybody. ”
Strangely, his voice was filled with a fondness she hadn’t expected.
“Yeah, she is,” she agreed. “But I’ll need someone to give me away,” she said hesitantly, wondering if she was only hurting herself with the words.
He turned slowly. It was his turn to be shocked, filled with disbelief.
His lips opened. Closed.
“I don’t deserve to,” he finally whispered. “I never expected to be able to. ”
“If you want to,” she said, aching for the years lost, the father she realized she never knew. “Love me, love my husband, Father. ”
He blinked roughly. “He stole my daughter,” he growled. “But I was doing a lousy job taking care of you anyway. And I would be proud…damned proud, Kimmie, to give you to him. I sacrificed your love for my own selfish pride. But I’d be damned proud to give you away. ”
She licked her lips warily. “I never hated you. ” She couldn’t say anything more. Right now, she was stunned, unable to explain to herself how this had happened.
He nodded jerkily. “I’m thankful for that. Now, I have a country to try to help slap back in shape for my grandkids. You keep that man you’re marrying in line. ” He pointed a finger at her demandingly. “He’s too damned stubborn and sure of himself. Gives the rest of us a bad name…” He pressed his hands nervously into his pockets again. “Love you, Kimmie. ”
He turned and left abruptly then, weaving quickly around Jared as he passed him in the hall.
Kimberly met her lover’s eyes. He stared back at her in surprise, his lips quirking in sudden amusement.
“Your father has issues,” he said with all seriousness.
She shook her head, a smile curving her lips as he came to her, his arms wrapping around her.
“You’re worth every sacrifice, Kimberly. He only realized that,” he said as he pulled her to his chest a second before her tears flowed again. “Every sacrifice. And trust me, dealing with that pious father of yours is going to be a sacrifice…”
She laughed tearfully at the teasing tone of his voice, because there had been nothing pious about her father. Nothing self-righteous. He had made a sacrifice she had never expected.
She held onto Jared tighter, realizing the gift she had been given in his love. The acceptance, the patience and sheer depth of emotion that now bound them. There had been no sacrifice. Even if she had never seen Briar Cliff again. This, this moment in his arms, was worth losing it all.
