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“You’re the oldest,” Harper said. “Go on.”
Angie trudged into the room her mother had exited.
Her strong and robust father—the daddy who’d swung her high in the air and caught his little princess in his arms—lay motionless, helpless.
“Oh, Daddy.” She sat in the chair next to him and took his hand.
“My princess,” he said, his voice cracked and hoarse. “I want you to know, I didn’t—” He coughed.
“Don’t, Daddy. It’s all right.”
“I didn’t…change the will. I never would have.”
“It’s okay. I understand. You wanted what’s best for me. I’ve been a spoiled brat. But I’m learning. I won’t let you down.”
“I know you won’t. You’re a good girl, princess. Good and strong. You can handle Bay Crossing. Harper’s needed here at Cha Cha, and it will be his one day. Catie will stay at McCray Landing with Chad. So though she’ll have an interest in Bay Crossing, it’ll be yours.” He coughed again.
“You’re talking too much,” Angie said.
“Yes, I’m afraid you are, Mr. Bay,” a nurse said as she entered. “Your monitors are going crazy outside.”
“Daddy,” Angie said. “I know all this. Don’t try to talk anymore. Just let me say a few things.”
He nodded, and the nurse left.
“I love you, Daddy. No one could have asked for a better father. You think you spoiled me, but I’m okay now, I promise. I’ll handle everything that comes my way.” She smiled and squeezed his hand. “And I have a secret. Promise you won’t tell anyone.”
“I promise,” he ground out.
“I’m in love, Daddy. Completely in love for the first time, and it’s because of you. Because you made me see what a spoiled little brat I had become. So I started changing my attitude, and I found love.”
His cracked lips looked like they were trying to smile.
“Good, princess. Good. You deserve the best.”
“I love you so much, Daddy.” Tears streamed down her face as she pressed her lips to his cheek. She wanted to stay, wanted to hold him to her forever. But Harper and Catie were waiting. There wasn’t much time. She blinked her eyes and steeled her resolve. “Goodbye, Daddy.”
“Goodbye, princess,” he whispered.
She hurried out of the room so he wouldn’t see her break down. He needed her strength. Her father was the strongest man she knew, but what he had to do now took the most courage anyone possessed.
He needed the strength to die.
Chapter Ten
Three hours later, it was over.
Angie drove home. In an ivory daze, she showered and put on some sweats. Then she lay on her bed and cried herself to sleep.
She woke up to her cell phone. Didn’t bother looking at the number.
“Hello?”
“Angie?”
Rafe.
“I got your number from Amber. Are you standing me up?”
