Page 129 of My All American Girl

Meg’s eyes narrowed slightly. “And what if you get bored or feel like you’re missing out on something? Flying was your passion, wasn’t it?”

I nodded, appreciating her protectiveness over Sarah. “It was, but passions can change. Right now, my passion is being with Sarah and supporting her dreams. I’ll find my own path, but it won’t be at the expense of our relationship. I’m looking forward to trying new things.”

Karen gave me an encouraging smile. “That’s good to hear. Relationships are about support and compromise.”

Sarah took my hand and gave it a squeeze. “We’ve talked about this a lot, Mom. Dean and I are on the same page. We know there are going to be some things we have to work out, but at least we’re both on the same page about what we want.”

Meg didn’t look entirely convinced. “I just hope you know what you’re getting into, Dean. My dad is protective of Sarah, to say the least.”

“I understand,” I said, trying to convey my sincerity. “I respect Mo, and I hope that in time, he can come to respect me again as well. I’m still the same man I was three months ago when he asked me to look after Sarah.”

The conversation continued, slowly becoming more relaxed as we talked about lighter topics. Karen told stories about Sarah, embarrassing her while making me laugh. I could see the warmth in Karen’s eyes as she talked about her daughter. I felt like I had won her over. She was on board with our relationship. Meg remained cautious, but she seemed to be warming up to me, albeit slowly. One out of three. I might be able to sway Meg to my side, but Mo was going to be a different story.

As the night began to wind down, I glanced at the clock and realized it was time for me to head back to my hotel. I stood up, stretching a bit. “I should probably get going. It’s getting late. Thank you so much for the tea and conversation.”

Sarah walked me to the door, her hand still holding mine. “Thank you for coming, Dean. We have a lot to talk about and work out. I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“Definitely,” I said, leaning in to kiss her softly. “Good night, Sarah.”

Just as I was about to step outside, the front door swung open. Mo looked a bit unsteady on his feet as he glared at me. A cab pulled away from the curb, indicating that he hadn’t driven home in his current state. That was a good thing. He was more than a little drunk.

“Dean,” he grunted, his voice rough. “We need to talk. Now.”

I nodded, my chest tightening. “Of course, sir.” I glanced over my shoulder and saw the look on Sarah’s face. “It’s fine,” I assured her.

“Dean maybe now isn’t the right time,” she whispered.

“Now is as good a time as any,” I said.

Mo turned and walked toward the garage. I followed with heavy steps. This was the conversation I had been dreading, but it was necessary.

Once we were in the garage, Mo turned to face me, his expression stern. “You and I need to get a few things straight,” he said, his voice steadier than before.

I nodded, meeting his gaze. “I’m listening, sir.”

He sighed heavily. “Look, I know you care about Sarah. But this situation is complicated. She’s my daughter, and I want the best for her. I need to know that you’re not going to hold her back or cause her any pain.”

“I understand,” I said, keeping my tone respectful. “I love Sarah, and I want what’s best for her too. I would never do anything to hurt her or hold her back. I’m here to support her.”

“And what about your own life? Your career? You’ve given up a lot to be here with her. Are you sure you’re not going to regret that decision?”

“I’ve thought about that a lot,” I admitted. “You know how much I love flying but my priorities have changed. Being with Sarah is my priority now. I’m willing to make sacrifices to be with her.”

He studied me for a long moment, as if searching for any sign of insincerity. I looked directly into his eyes and let him see just how sincere I was.