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Daddy raised a finger, and my father had a hunch to cut it off with the pair of shears sitting next to the sink. I wanted to say something, but my words dissolved on my tongue every time I parted my lips.
“I didn’t know. I swear I didn’t know that the project already had a team in place. If I had known that, I would have reconsidered.”
My dad sawed out a bitter laugh, “Really? Since when do the rich reconsider?”
“Daddy.” I hissed, not realizing I got the attention of both of them with my sudden outburst. “Jude’s a good guy Dad. He's an amazing guy, actually. Please hear him out.”
“I’ll apologize about the bidding. I honestly wasn’t aware, and my team came in and took it from under you. But let me fix it. Please. I love Pearl, and I know I have no right to be standing in your kitchen, but I need you to understand that she’s the love of my life, and I’m not leaving this damn house until I have your blessing to keep her forever.”
“Are you really in love with my twenty-year-old daughter?” He asked as he swung the washcloth over his shoulder.
“I am. I don’t see her as a little girl, but as a woman, I want to spend the rest of my life with.” Daddy reached out for my hand and intertwined my fingers with his.
“Well, she’s my little girl.” My dad spat, tossing the washcloth across the kitchen.
He raised my hand and brought it to his lips. Even in the direst situation, he calmed my nerves. His eyes softened as he looked at me before turning his attention back to my dad. “I found out yesterday that the construction job was bigger than my team anticipated, and we will need more help.”
“I have a construction company, and I–.”
“One that needs business.” Daddy said, interjecting him.
My dad stuffed his hands in the front pocket of his jeans and expelled an exhausted breath. “I’m not workingforyou.”
“I’m not asking you to. But I am asking you to workwithme, besides me, like a partner.” Daddy reached out his hand and slowly walked over to my dad. “Come on. What father wouldn’t want to be working side by side with the man who’s going to marry his daughter.”
Seconds passed as silence thickened the air, and when I thought all hope was lost, my dad gave in and shook Daddy’s hand. I couldn’t contain my excitement and jumped up and down like a child before calming my nerves. I could tell by the look on my dad’s face that he wasn’t totally convinced about Daddy, and I knew he had a shit ton of questions, but the hardest part was finally over.
“So how did you meet my daughter anyway? You’re not local to Stonebridge.” He folded his arms across his chest and waited with bated breath.
I was chewing the inside of my cheek so hard that the alkaline taste seeped onto my tongue. I never considered the lie I would tell him if he ever asked. Then again, I didn’t see Daddy coming into my life like a rogue wave either until he had my heart wrapped around his finger.
Daddy took my cheeks into the palm of his hands and cut his glance back to my dad. “The best possible way. Fate.”
Two Months Later
"Are you sure you don't want us to do a grocery run?" Daddy asked as he stretched the sheet over the bed and smoothed it with his hand.
"Yeah. The girls and I will go shopping later tonight. After all the orientation stuff." I said as I set the box of stuffed animals on the floor.
The day after, Daddy and I told my dad about our newfound love; the summer flew past. Daddy hired my dad and let his team lead the project. By the time August rolled around, Daddy was spending the weekends at our house. Poker with the guys on Saturday night and dinner with us on Sunday night.
My dad came in, holding a large box in one hand and my suitcase in the other. "Sweet pea, make sure you unpack your suitcase. Don't leave your clothes sitting for months. They'll get moldy."
"If they get moldy, we'll get you some more." Daddy winked and placed a small kiss on my lips.
The action was fleeting, and I was thankful. Kissing a man in public already made me jittery with nervousness. But kissing a man that was twenty-plus years my senior in front of my dad made me want to crawl and hide. Luckily my dad was too preoccupied to notice Daddy's stolen kiss.
"Where's the girls anyway?" Dad asked.
I shrugged and told him they would probably move in later today and reminded him that it was 10 AM on a Saturday. Once Daddy pulled us out of our financial hole, he gifted my dad a large sum of money to ensure he stayed on top of everything.
My dad didn't want to take it, proof that his ego played a big part in every decision he made. Daddy wouldn't take no for an answer and threatened to wire transfer it to his bank if he didn't take the check.
"What are you thinking about, birthday girl?" Daddy stood behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist as we looked at the Chicago skyline.
"Nothing, just taking it all in," I said, lifting my shoulders nervously.
Daddy turned me to face him and placed his forehead to mine, "I'm only a call away. If you need me, call me. Promise?"
