AllFreeNovel
Share Us
His chest filled with air and decompressed as he slowly let it out.
I’d always believed we were firmly in the same camp when it came to my mother. My sister was a wild card. My brother . . . who knew what was going on with him? Now, I wasn’t sure. For the first time in my life, I understood his confusion. Love was a powerful thing. A stupidly powerful thing.
“I’ve been bitter for so long. I’m tired of feeling that way. Of pretending I’m not.”
I stared at him incredulously. “There’s no better man than you. I wish I was half the person you are.”
We both looked at Trish. She’d been quiet up to this point.
“Do you want to have a relationship with her again?” she asked.
“I—” His hesitation was an answer all on its own. Conflict scored his face. “No. I learned my lesson the first time. It was just hard seeing everything I’d wanted and lost in front of me again.”
This time it was Trish who squeezed my hand. Her eyes were pained. I loved her even more for caring so much about my father.
Dad nuzzled Ella’s nose and whispered something to her I couldn’t hear. “I should let you get the truck packed up.”
His eyes refused to meet mine as he settled Ella back in her stroller.
“Dad.” I stopped him with a hand to the shoulder when he started to walk away. A lump formed in my throat. “I don’t want her to hurt you again.”
Slowly, he turned to face me, his skin ashen. “I’ve never stopped hurting.”
Trish quietly disappeared inside the truck to give us a moment alone.
My chest tightened to the point I thought the pain would crush my rib cage. “Just . . . be careful. Life’s too short for you to be unhappy.”
He gripped the back of my neck and pulled me in for a hug. “I’m so proud of you. Haven’t told you that enough.”
“Thanks.” I needed his embrace as much as he needed mine.
“I’m glad you found the other part of you.” He pinched my cheek. “Trish loves you, you know. The kind that doesn’t ever go away.”
“I love her too. Both of them. So much that some days I think I might smother them with all the love.”
“There’s never too much love. Don’t forget that.”
“I’m glad you came to us, Dad.” I dropped my chin before I lifted it again. “I’ve wondered if she wouldn’t have left us if we’d be as close as we are now. I’d like to think so, but if not, I wouldn’t trade what we have for anything. Not even her.”
A strangled noise escaped my father. “Neither would I.” We stared at one another a moment before he cleared his throat. “I’ll come by to pick up my girl in the morning.”
“It eases Trish’s mind knowing you and Marlow watch Ella. Thanks for that.”
“I promise, it’s more of a gift to me than it is to her.”
“That was unexpected.”Trish clutched Ella to her chest, as she was prone to do when she was uncomfortable, once Dad left and we were ready to go.
I scrubbed a hand through my hair. “I’m stunned. Although I should’ve seen it coming. Why won’t she let us go?”
“I don’t know.” Trish moved next to me, bumping me with her shoulder. “Whatever happens, we’re here for him.”
“Thanks.” I nudged her shoulder back.
“Oh shoot. I wanted to tell him about the location Mr. Hardaway found for the restaurant.” Her face fell in disappointment as my heart expanded. She’d blended into my family perfectly. They’d accepted her as one of our own, and in turn, Trish wanted to share all her joys with them.
“We could call him,” I offered, already slipping my hand in my pocket for my phone.
“No. No. We’ll tell him in the morning.” She was radiant. “It’s perfect, isn’t it?”
