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Dad’s smile wobbles. “I was h-hoping you w-would say that.”
“But not to be a veterinarian,” I add. “I want to take some business classes, work toward a degree. If it’s okay with you, I’d like to keep Animal Haven and grow the business.” That might be a pipe dream. I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to afford to expand, but that’s what this conversation is about—dreams—and this time I’m not letting mine get away.
“Animal H-haven is yours, Mo. It h-has been f-for the last s-six years.”
I shake my head. “I’m not sure what the value is on a business like Animal Haven, but I want to do this the right way. I don’t expect you to just give it to me.”
“I w-want to. Let me d-do this, M-mo.”
Sharon kisses my dad on the cheek and turns to me. “Let him do this, Monroe. He’s talked about signing it over to you for a long time now. He’s just been waiting for you to want it. He didn’t want to push it on you.”
Smiling, I laugh. “Okay, Dad. Thank you. And I promise I’ll do great things with it.”
“I know y-you w-will.” His smile is bright. He watches me for a second and then asks, “What a-about the house?”
“Well…” I look around at my childhood home. “I don’t know. What would you like to do with it?”
“Y-you live here until y-you get through s-school and get s-settled, and then we’ll s-sell it. Unless you w-want it?”
“You want to sell it?” I don’t know why his answer surprises me. This house holds a lot of good memories, but even more bad.
“It’s j-just a house, M-mo. It’s been m-more like a prison to b-both of us over th-the years, and I’d l-like for that t-to change. But if y-you want it, y-you can k-keep it.”
“No.” I shake my head. “I think your plan is good. Once I get on my feet and can afford a place of my own, we’ll sell it.”
Sharon pats Dad’s hand and stands up. “You two are making so many big decisions tonight. I feel like this deserves a celebration, and I’ve got a fresh plate of brownies.”
“My favorite.”
Sharon smiles back at me. “I know.” She winks and slips out of the room.
“I’m happy for you, Daddy. I’m glad you were able to find someone who makes you smile the way she does.”
“Th-thank you. She’s s-special.”
“I know she is. You deserve someone special.”
“I’ve been trying to tell him that for years,” Sharon says, laughing.
She hands me a napkin with a giant brownie on it. Pulling a tray from the corner of the room, she clips it on Dad’s wheelchair and sets his brownie there.
I eat my brownie silently, watching Dad feed himself. Sharon doesn’t fuss over him or hover, but when a chunk of brownie lands on the side of his lip, she wipes it off and smiles warmly. That’s when I know for sure I’ve made the right decision.
One of many right decisions to come.
She’ll care for him with a gentle, loving hand, and I can’t ask for more than that.
“If you two are good here, I’ve got a few more errands to run.”
Dad looks up as though he just remembered I was in the room, and Sharon answers. “Sure, sweetie. We’re good. Take your time.”
I wad my napkin up and toss it in the trash before returning to give Dad and Sharon each a kiss. On my way to the door, Dad stops me.
“What a-about Rhett?” he asks.
My heart skips a beat as I turn around. “What about him?”
“What does h-he think about y-you going b-back to school?”
