“Trust me, she’s going to get it.”
CHAPTER 38
FINN THOMPSON
It’s been two days since I came home with Maya and Skye. To say they’ve been action-packed is an understatement. Maya gets Skye ready for the day as I head downstairs to the kitchen, where my father is preparing himself breakfast. He glances up at me and flashes a smile.
“Hey, son,” he says brightly. “How are you?”
I hum as I head to the fridge. “Doing well,” I admit. “You?”
“Just pleased to have you and Ivy home,” he says with gratitude. When I turn around to face him again, he’s plating himself up some freshly cut fruit. He points to the plate. “Help yourself.”
“Thanks,” I say as I pick up a slice of melon.
My father’s gaze flicks over my face for a moment. “How are you feeling about being at home? I know the last time you were here, things were really different.”
I sigh. If by different he means drinking every day, turning up to work drunk, and ending up at the hospital, nearly on my deathbed, then yeah, things are very, very different this time around.
“It’s a new experience with Maya and Skye,” I say simply. “So I’m making sure to focus on that, rather than on my past.”
His eyes glimmer at me as I speak. “I’m very proud of you, you know that?”
I tilt my head downwards. “Just getting my life back on track.”
“And that’s why I’m proud,” he says as he squeezes my shoulder. “What matters to you is that beautiful little girl and the woman you’re in love with.”
My heart clenches painfully as I meet his eyes. “We’re not together, Dad.”
“Not yet,” he says before grabbing a piece of melon for himself. “But I’ve seen you together over the past few days; you have something special.”
I chew on the inside of my lip. “I don’t want to get my hopes up. She might decide that she can’t fully get over what I did, and dealing with a relationship might be too much, and I get it. I’m the one who fucked up, so I have to live with the consequences.”
“Finn,” my father sighs. “We all make mistakes, and we all deserve second chances to prove ourselves, especially when we know we’d never make the same mistake again. You think I was perfect to your mother? Hell no. I did some shitty stuff, and I’m very lucky and grateful she gave me another chance because I wanted to be the man she dreamed of.”
“That’s all I want, too,” I whisper.
“Then keep working on yourself, son,” he says as he pins me with a stare. “And you’ll get there. I just know it.”
My eyes flick between his slowly as I manage a nod. “Thanks, Dad.”
The sound of footsteps coming down the stairs has my ears perking up. I twist around to find Maya carrying Skye as she meets us in the kitchen. She’s wearing red trousers and a black top, and Skye is matching with a red and black tartan dress, tights, and red bows in her hair.
“Hey,” I say as her brown eyes find mine. “Everything okay?”
“Everything is great.” She grins as Skye flashes a gummy smile.
“Matching outfits?”
“It was an unintentional colour match. But it’s also Christmastime, so it's easily done.” She laughs softly. “She looked so cute, I couldn’t not put her in this today.”
“You both look…” I trail off, unable to keep my eyes off of them. “Beautiful.”
Maya’s cheeks darken before she looks at Skye. “Hear that? Daddy says you’re beautiful.”
“Morning, Maya,” my father says.
“Good morning, James.”
