Page 121 of A Love Like Candle Light

“Doesn’t matter,” Dad objects, followed by a relieved chuckle. “Oh, thank fucking God.” He leans his head back, putting the heels of his hands against his eyes. “I’m so fucking proud of you, Erik. Tell me about her.”

So I do. I tell him every detail about my meeting with her. The first one and the second one. He listens so closely I’m surprised he’s not whipping out a pen and paper to take notes.

When I explain to him how her parents never knew about the circumstances of her adoption, his face falls.

“I figured something like that might be the case,” he mumbles, wringing his fingers. “I’m glad she got adopted by a nice couple at least.”

“She seems to have had a nice life by all means,” I assure him and reach over the table to grasp his shoulder.

“Good. I’m glad.” Then something in his face changes and he turns to Kylie.

“Now tell me about you. What made you move to Wayward Hollow? It is a little far away from, well, anything.”

“I got divorced,” she explains with a shrug. “Getting away from everything seemed like a good idea.”

“Oh well.” Dad sighs. “Definitely wiser than some decisions I made.”

“We live and we learn.” She giggles and I can’t stop staring at her. I figured there might be awkwardness, or apprehension about being here or my dad from her side, but nothing. This probably isn’t much different from when she first met Bobby.

“Tell me about Erik as a child! Embarrassing stories to tell by the campfire preferred.” She leans a little closer to him, mischievous twinkle in her eyes.

“He was always a calm child. Literally. Wouldn’t talk. I brought him to specialist after specialist to find out why he kept quiet. Turns out he just didn’t want to talk. When he finally did, he already hit me with full sentences.”

“Erik!” She playfully swats my shoulder, then turns back to my dad with a smile bright enough to light the entire room. “Seriously?”

“Seriously. Reading was always more his thing. Even before he knew how to, he’d sit in a corner and hold a book in front of his face the wrong way around, figured people would live him alone that way. Only his sister was allowed to sit by him. He pretended to read her the stories when actually, he memorized it and when to turn the page.”

Kylie’s hand flies in front of her mouth as she bursts into laughter. “I’m sorry.” She wheezes between giggles. “The image is hilarious. And it tracks so well.”

“Nothing much has changed,” I confirm with a nod and let her infectious giggle lift the corners of my mouth.

“Anyway, son. How is the investigation coming along? Do you know which poor soul you can thank for your meet-cute?”

Kylie blushes. Squeezing her hand, I give him a quick rundown, before visiting time is up. One of the officers approaches our table and I give him a nod. Considering I’m in the same line of work, they tend to give me some leeway, but it’s about time we head home anyway.

“It was lovely to meet you, Anthony.” This time Kylie is not surprised by the hug my dad pulls her into and returns it way more relaxed.

Then he pulls me into one and it says so much more than words ever could. “Keep the picture,” I mumble and push the paper against his chest. His eyes turn glassy again.

“Thank you.” I know he means much more than the piece of paper. “You two get home safely.”

“Will do.”

He stares after us as we leave. As soon as we’re past the first set of metal gates, Kylie reaches for my hand again.

“Are you okay?” I ask her. She nods enthusiastically as we make it outside.

“I imagined the whole prison thing to be a lot scarier than it was.” I open the car door for her and she climbs inside, buckling herself in as I round the car.

“Thank you for taking me along.”

“Thank you for coming along.” I grab her chin, turn her face to me, and capture her lips in a quick kiss.

“Now, let’s get home before Kieran teaches Abby some dumb tricks.”

“Knowing him, that’s a very real fear to have.” I draw back and start the car.

Chapter 43