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“You have to love her if you can eat this shit. Damn, I’ve always heard that love is blind, but I never realize it doesn’t have any taste buds either.”
“You know, you really shouldn’t talk about her baking like that. It’s not bad. Some of the stuff she’s made me has been unusual, but it’s never bad.”
“She’s made you more stuff than just this, and you ate it all?”
“Of course. I mean, we did all sorts of things together. Of course she baked for me. What did you think we did all day?” I see Bianca open her mouth, but cut her off quickly. “Never mind, don’t answer that.”
“Dad, it’s a universally known fact that she can’t bake. This isn’t just my opinion. She single-handedly gave food poisoning to the entire English department her senior year.”
I just shrug. I don’t know what to say to that, and I’m not sure I believe my daughter, who is prone to theatrics.
“But youdolove her, don’t you?”
I let out a sigh. “Of course I love her. Do you think I would mess around with one of your friends for the fun of it? Do you think I would risk not only our relationship but the relationship you two have as well if I didn’t love her?”
“If you love her, why aren’t you out there getting her?”
That’s the question I’ve been asking myself all night. “She said it herself yesterday. She’s too good for me. And she’s right.”
“Well, of course she’s right.” My daughter, always the first to raise my self-esteem. “Nobody is good enough for Violet. But you didn’t even fight for her.”
“What’s the point? She’s made her feelings very clear. Besides, she’s young and smart and beautiful. She has her whole life ahead of her. She doesn’t want to tie herself down to a man who’s almost twice her age. She’s going to want to go out and party, meet guys her own age, start a family.”
“Now I really am wondering what the hell it was that you two did together, because it certainly wasn’t talking. Violet hates parties. I always had to drag her along with me, and she always wanted to leave early. That girl dances like a drunken flamingo. It’s not her scene, never has been and never will be. And meeting guys her own age? She’s been trying that for four fucking years, Dad. And do you know why it’s never worked out? It’s because she’s compared every guy she’s met to you, and nobody can measure up. And as for starting a family, well, I don’t know how you feel about that. All I can tell you is that you’ve always been an amazing father to me, and any kid would be lucky to have you as a dad.”
I feel my eyes misting up. “Come here, pumpkin.” She comes around the table and I wrap her in a tight bear hug. I always knew my daughter was amazing, but this is on another level. Not only is she not angry about my relationship with her best friend, but she seems to be all for it. “I’m the luckiest man alive to have you for a daughter.”
“You’re damn right about that.” She pulls out of my arms. “Look, I won’t betray Violet’s confidence by telling you anything she said to me last night, but if you really love her, which your taste buds indicate you do, I suggest you go and actually talk to her.”
Could Bianca be right? Could Violet feel about me the same way I feel about her? All I know is that I have to try. If I don’t, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life. “I think you might be right. I think the two of us need to talk and straighten a few things out.”
“Good. But I’m going to tell you the same thing I told Archer when he came around looking for Hollie after making her cry. It doesn’t matter that you’re my father, I’ll have no qualms about killing you and burying you in the foundation of one of your own buildings, never to be found, if you hurt her.”
Jesus Christ, she threatened to murder one of the most powerful men in Seattle without blinking an eye, just because he hurt her friend. I’m simultaneously in awe of and terrified by her.
Bianca heads for the door and just before it closes, she turns back to me, offering me one last word of advice. “Fight for her, Dad.”
“I will.” That’s a promise I intend to keep.
I spend the next few hours trying to come up with a plan. I need something that will show Violet how I feel about her and let her know how sorry I am for not speaking up yesterday, that I’m serious about us. There’s only one thing I can think of, and the more the idea takes root in my mind, the more I realize that I actually want to do it. I’ll really be putting myself out there, but this situation calls for one of those big romantic gestures you see in the movies, doesn’t it?
I pour myself a shot of my rarely touched whiskey to settle my nerves and work up the courage to send her a text. The amber liquid burns my throat on its way down, and then I pick up my phone.
Me:I’m so sorry about everything that happened yesterday. There are things I need to say to you if you’ll just give me the chance. All I’m asking is for you to listen to what I have to say. That’s it. Can I come over to your place tonight around 8?
I set the phone down on the table, then take a seat and stare at it. I know it won’t make her reply any faster, if she bothers to reply at all, but I don’t have anything else to do.
Five minutes pass. Then ten. Soon it’s been a half hour, and I consider taking another swig of whiskey, maybe straight from the bottle this time, when my phone buzzes.
Violet:Okay.
Well, it’s not exactly an enthusiastic yes, but I’ll take what I can get. I would have run over there right away, but there’s something I need to pick up first. Once I’m back, I have just an hour to shower and get ready to head over there. My hands won’t stop shaking when I try to shave, so I decide to just leave the few day’s growth. She’s never seemed to mind it.
I gather up my things, including her discarded book, and I’m about to leave the house when my phone rings.
Bianca Calling . . .
TWENTY-FOUR
