AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’ll join you,” Thomas said as I turned toward the bar.
“Copper, Jack and an IPA, lemonade for Angel. What will you have?” I asked Thomas.
“I like how you call her Angel.” He studied me for a painfully long second. “Ask me.” He smirked, then told Copper, “Two drafts.”
Did he mean what I thought he meant? “Ask what, sir?”
“For my blessing.” Always a straight shooter, like Madeline.
Copper set the whiskey in front of me. I tossed back my liquid courage and embraced the burn. “You know, I never imagined I’d fall in love and want to get married. Madeline changed all of that.”
The pride and love in his blue eyes hit me square in the chest. “She’s a remarkable woman.”
“She is.” I took a long pull of my beer. “I can’t live without her.”
“She told us the same about you. With a baby on the way, you’ll be forever bound to each other. You ready for forever with Maddy?” He watched me earnestly.
“Yes.” There was no question in my mind.
“No hesitation. That’s all I needed. You have my blessing, son.” He gave me a fatherly hug as Madeline made her way toward us.
She sidled up next to me. “Everything okay?”
“Just catching up, Angel.” I dropped a kiss on her lips. Relief rushed through my veins now that I knew where I stood with Thomas.
My dad appeared. “Storm, Jane and I would like to meet your Angel.”
“I’ll take this to Sara.” Thomas took the mugs of beer and left.
My dad hadn’t met Madeline after the rescue. She’d hid in our bedroom for days. When he left, he said he’d be back soon. For once, he kept his word.
I put my arm around my girl and introduced her. “Angel, this is my dad, David and his wife, Jane.”
“It’s nice to meet you both.” She shook their hands.
“The pleasure is ours.” Jane waved over the girls. “These are our daughters, Hannah and Megan.”
“Hi,” Maddy waved.
My half-sisters sure had grown since the last time I saw them. Dad had told me they were in high school. Hannah was a junior and Megan was a freshman. I nodded to them.
It was strange watching my dad act like a family man. He was never this way with my mom. I wasn’t sure how I felt about it.
“I want you to know, I’m happy Storm found you,” my dad said. “I remember how he doted on you back home in Garrison. He called you a little firecracker. Of course, back then, you were a scrawny little girl. But you’ve blossomed into a beautiful woman.”
Who the hell was this guy? I couldn’t believe he remembered any of that. Jesus, I needed another shot.
Madeline giggled. “Thank you. We’ve both changed a lot. Has he told you the news?” She peered up at me.
I shook my head.
David narrowed his gaze. “What news?”
“Tell him.” She patted my stomach.
“We’re having a baby,” I blurted like an idiot. Being around my dad made me fuckin’ uncomfortable.
David’s eyes bulged. “No shit? I’m going to be a granddad?” He grinned, his stormy gray eyes glittering. “Did you hear that, honey? We’re going to be grandparents.” He threw his arms around Madeline and me, hugging both of us at the same time.
