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“Please, both of you, come and sit down.”
I nod and do as he asks, walking over in solemn silence and sitting close to Ryker for protection. I feel safer right next to him, even though I know my father would never hurt me. When I look up at his face, I see that I’m the one who hurt him.
“Thank you for coming,” he begins. “And I think that I want to speak first.”
“No, Dad. I think I need to speak first,” I tell him. “Because I don’t think you understand what’s happening here. Ryker and I fell in love three years ago. We’ve been desperate to get back to one another since...and by chance, we made it. We found one another and we rekindled what we felt before. I know you don’t understand that…”
“You’re wrong. I do understand,” my father interrupts, surprising me. I blink.
“You do?”
“I saw it in the way you looked at one another,” he says quietly. “I sensed the love between you right away. I didn’t want to admit it, but I knew instantly that I was seeing love unfold. And I wasn’t happy about it, for sure, at first.”
I feel relief wash over me for a second. Knowing he accepts me and Ryker is only half of the story, though. We have way more issues to layout on the table. My father looks me in the eye.
“What I don’t understand is when you became so angry with me. I know it wasn’t good of me to not show up yesterday when you needed me but you’ve always known the importance of my work.”
“Exactly,” I say stiffly. “I’ve always known that work comes first for you, no matter what. I’ve always been second best. And that’s why I stopped caring about your opinion. I knew I had to be with Ryker even if it hurt you. I’m sorry if the truth hurts you Dad but you’ve hurt me so many times. All I wanted was for you to show up...and yet that always seems too much to ask.”
There’s silence in the room. Maybe I took things too far. But my father slowly nods and I get the sense that I’ve gotten through to him.
“You’re right. I’ve not been a good father. Or a good husband to your mother,” he says slowly. “But you are the most important people in my life. My family, I love you more than anything. And that’s why I see now what I need to do. I’m going to quit the firm.”
“What?” Ryker says, speaking up for the first time. My father turns to him.
“I’ve let our work become a distraction. I didn’t have a clue what was going on in my own daughter’s life. I haven’t seen my wife in over a month. It’s time for me to take early retirement. God knows I don’t need the money. I need to put my time and focus into my family instead, the company is yours, Ryker. At least now, I know you’ll be keeping the company in the family.”
Ryker nods slowly and I take a moment to process. I look up at my father.
“You’d leave it all behind, for me and Mom?”
“Of course I would,” he says gently. “And the fact you don’t know that is exactly why this needs to happen. You girls are my world. And whatever your future holds with my best friend, I want to be a part of it. I’m going to be a better dad from now on.”
I rush to hug him tight. He’s said all the right things. I haven’t forgiven him fully for the years of hurt, but this is a good start. And knowing he approves of me and Ryker is all I need right now. When he hears the news about the baby too, I know that we won’t have to pretend at happy families.
We’ll finally be one.
Extended Epilogue
Two months later…
Ryker
I knew that I wanted to marry Taylor the day after we made love for the first time. I woke up beside her in my bed and knew that ‘girlfriend’ would never be a fitting title for her. No, she needed to be my wife. And that’s why we’ve pulled together a wedding in only two months, ready to start our life together as a family.
It’s been hectic the past few months. Taylor and I got engaged, moved in together, and she started her new job at the place she interviewed the day we reunited. I took sole responsibility for the firm, giving Taylor’s father the chance to fly home and be with his wife. He’s had a big hand in the wedding planning too, wanting this day to be perfect for his little girl and his best friend. And now, I’m about to watch him walk Taylor down the aisle.
The music begins and Taylor appears in the back of the church. The small group of guests gasps at her elegance and beauty as she glides down the aisle in her white lace dress. Her baby bump isn’t really starting to show yet, but knowing our baby is growing inside her makes my heart swell. Her curls fall angelically around her shoulders and she smiles at me so sweetly that I feel an ache inside me for her. We haven’t been apart for more than a few hours since we became a couple. I visit her at work and we make love on our lunch breaks, or she comes to see me in the office where we can get away with anything we want. We spend our weekends naked in bed together, or dining out together, or even just watching TV with our arms around one another. We’re so in love that I can’t imagine life without her now.
