Page 366 of Saving Forever with the Hockey Captain

"Oh..."

His voice catches.

"...Annie."

No one has called me that in years, not since I left home.

He takes one slow step into the room, then another.

"I knew you'd be beautiful."

His smile trembles. "I just wasn't prepared."

I don't even realize I've started crying again until he reaches me.

Without a word, he wraps me in the safest hug I've ever known.

"I'm still your little girl," I whisper.

He chuckles softly. "You always will be."

He pulls back just enough to look at me.

"But today..."

His smile grows.

"...someone else gets to spend the rest of his life taking care of you."

I shake my head.

"No, Dad."

I glance toward Jamie's mother. Then toward my own. Then back to him.

"We're going to take care of each other."

His eyes fill all over again.

"That's exactly the answer I was hoping for."

My father offers me his arm. "Are you ready?"

I look once around the room.

The place where I woke this morning as Annette...

The room where I laughed with my friends...

Where I gained another mother...

Where my parents let me go with joyful hearts.

I take one slow breath. Then I slip my hand through my father's arm.

"I've never been more ready."

He smiles. "Then let's go marry your hockey captain."