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"Oh, honey. I'm sorry. But life isn't always the way we want it to be."
"I know that! Just don't talk about it. Please." Her voice cracked again, and Abbott could feel his heart breaking.
"Come 'ere," whispered Abbott as he pulled her into a warm hug. "I'm sorry."
"Don't say that again," Giselle said in a tiny voice.
"I won't, flower."
"And you won't leave me."
"Never."
"Promise?"
"Cross my heart and hope to die." He paused. "Pun intended."
She laughed through her tears. "Right. Very funny."
"Come on! Give some credit to your old man." He grinned and felt her vibrate with giggles. He kissed her head again.
"I love you, dad. I'd do anything for you."
Abbott paused, letting the silence continue, and then said quietly, "Anything? "
"Anything!" she promised and tightened the grip of her arms around him.
He knew he was taking advantage of her vulnerability, but topped the guilt with authority—he was her father. "What if I tell you that I've chosen you a partner?"
She didn't break the hug. "What kind of partner?"
"Life partner, Giselle."
There was a painful, uncomfortable pause. "Dad, I... But—"
They broke the hug and he said, "Please, Giselle, you must know, I would never choose anything for you that is not for your better future."
"Yes, but—"
"You promised," he added with desperation.
"Daddy..."
"I'm not forcing you. I'm just letting you know about my choice."
She heaved a sigh. "Okay, tell me who it is so that I can give you my answer."
They stared at each other, Giselle probably anticipating what was to come, and Abbott wondering if he should say the name, afraid of this moment to be the reason Giselle and Chris's friendship rusted.
But he'd decided. "Chris."
Giselle took a step back as if hit on the chest. "Ch-Chris?"
"Chris," he repeated, nodding.
Her expression revealed as if she'd just realized that Chris was, in fact, a man.
Giselle began softly, "Dad, I've never thought about him that way."
