AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"I'll call one for you, don't worry. And I'm definitely coming to the party," she replied sweetly.
I smiled at her response, and her words of assurance made me feel better. I knew that with her by my side, everything would work out fine.
***
I pulled up to the main building of the boarding school, and as I stepped out of the car, sounds of laughter and music filled my ears. I made my way over to the play area and through a crowd of excited children, and there in the middle was my daughter, wearing a crown and hugging her friends. I felt so proud as I watched her in all her joy and innocence.
I spotted Faith in one corner and made my way over to her. She had been my daughter's guardian angel, and I was forever in her debt.
"Faith, I can never thank you enough for all of this. Even when I put you and the children in danger, you still helped. Thank you," I said as I gave her a warm handshake.
"Christine played a key role as well. I don't know what happened between the two of you, but I hope you can forgive yourselves and move past it," she replied with a smile.
I nodded at her, feeling grateful for her words of wisdom. I gave her a last wave and made my way over to my daughter, who was still laughing and giggling with her friends.
I scooped her up into my arms, and she grinned up at me, her crown askew on her head.
"Daddy! We're going home!" she said amid her giggles.
"Yes, sweetie," I replied, feeling a surge of happiness at the sight of her joy. As we made our way back to the car, I felt such gratitude for all the people in our lives who had made this moment possible.
As we pulled over in our driveway, I noticed a small crowd of people gathered outside our house. It was Mrs. Tom, her three kids, and a few of Amanda’s friends from her kindergarten. They all were holding cardboard signs with various phrases. "Amanda, welcome home!" read one, while another said "We love you, Amanda!"
My daughter squealed with delight as she got out of the car and ran towards her friends, her arms wide open. She hugged each and every one of them, beaming with joy. Then she went and hugged Mrs. Tom, who welcomed her with open arms.
Then my daughter saw Laura, who was just coming up the driveway to join us for the welcome home party.
"Daddy's girlfriend!" Amanda shouted, causing me to blush with embarrassment.
We all went inside and were immediately greeted with the sight of colorful balloons and streamers and the aroma of freshly baked cookies. We settled in the living room, and Mrs. Tom brought in a tray of snacks for the kids. The room was filled with laughter and chatter as the children munched on their snacks and shared stories about their time apart. My daughter was beaming with happiness, and I was content to see her enjoying herself.
As I sat there, surrounded by my loved ones, I felt deeply grateful for all the blessings in my life. But most importantly, my daughter had returned home safely, and she was surrounded by people who loved and cared for her. As fate would have it, by putting her needs first, I had ended up with all I had ever wanted out of life. It was a beautiful moment, one that I would cherish forever.
Epilogue
Anthony
Laura's voice crackled through the phone, her impatience palpable. She sounded like a woman on a mission, and I knew from experience that it was best to just go along with her requests, no matter how strange or seemingly pointless they might be.
The request this time was for five watermelons. Five! As I pictured the weight and bulk of five giant watermelons, I felt a sense of trepidation.
"How do I do that? Carry five big watermelons out of the store?" I asked her half-jokingly.
But Laura was not deterred. "Please, baby," she cooed, her voice softening as she cajoled me. "You know I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important."
As I made my way to the store, I couldn't help but wonder what Laura and Amanda were up to. They had been planning this watermelon party for months now, and yet I still had no idea what it actually involved. The neighbor's kids seemed to be in on it too, which only added to the mystery.
As I loaded the five massive watermelons into my cart, I could feel their weight bearing down on me, and I wondered what I had gotten myself into. But I gritted my teeth and pressed on, determined to see this through to the end.
I struggled to transfer the watermelons to the trunk of my car, feeling their heft with every step. But finally, I drove them to the picnic spot where the party was being held, a sense of curiosity and excitement building within me. What was this watermelon party all about, anyway?
As I arrived at the party, I was greeted by a scene of pure delight. The kids were running around in shirts with watermelon drawings on them, their faces beaming with joy. The adults were lounging on blankets, sipping drinks, and chatting—their laughter carrying on the breeze.
"So this is it, huh?" I said to Laura, feeling a little sheepish about my earlier doubts. "Well, I’m busy, and I can’t stay long."
But my daughter had other ideas. "Daddy, stay," she pleaded. "Laura can't drive. Who will take us home?"
With a resigned sigh, I took a seat on a blanket with Laura, feeling like I was being pulled into their watermelon world against my will. But as I watched the sun setting over the trees and the kids laughing and playing, I thought that maybe this watermelon escape wasn't so bad after all.
