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She held his gaze, searching for any sign of hope – any indication that he might still care. But he only stared back at her with resignation, his own eyes glistening with unshed tears.
"Is this what you want?" Ariel asked, her voice choked with hurt and anger. "To just forget your family, everything we ever meant to you?"
Her father hesitated before answering, averting his gaze. "It's not about what I want, Ariel," he said quietly. "It's about what I deserve. To be alone. To shield you all from the hurt I could cause you. You don’t understand."
Ariel's brow furrowed as she studied her father's face, searching for any sign of the man she once knew. But all she could see were the shadows that haunted him – the guilt and shame that had driven him into isolation. She’d had her share of vague assertations and assurances that she didn’t understand the circumstances of things that very much affected her—first, Dale had spoken as though he held some great secret, and now her father was treating her as though she were still a child, ignorant of the world.
"That's a cop-out. Nobody deserves to be alone," she whispered, her voice softening even as she spoke truth. "Especially not you, Dad. We all make mistakes, but we can learn from them and grow."
He shook his head, his expression a mix of remorse and resignation. "Some mistakes can't be undone, Ariel. Some wounds run too deep. Sometimes, Ariel," he said, his voice barely audible, "the best way to protect the ones you love is by staying away."
In that moment, it dawned on her that her father's refusal to attend her wedding wasn't about her. It wasn't about her sister or her half-brother either. It was about Lee – his struggle to come to terms with the choices he'd made and the consequences that followed. And his stubborn refusal to lay those sins bare. Ariel swallowed hard, her heart aching with the realization that her father's stubbornness was rooted in his own pain. She couldn't force him to confront it, she could only choose to hold onto hope – the hope that one day, her father might find the strength to heal and reconnect with his family.
"Maybe," she whispered. "But just remember, Dad, no one asked you to go away. You did that yourself.”
"Goodbye, Ariel," he said, his voice firm.
"Goodbye, Lee," she whispered, choking back a sob.
Ariel left the invitation on the couch and turned, pushing outside in a rush. As she walked away from the Airstream, the isolation and ruggedness of the location seemed to mirror her own heartache. The frigid air stung her cheeks, but it was nothing compared to the pain she felt inside. She had come here hoping to reconnect with her father and invite him to her wedding, but all she had found was rejection and more unanswered questions.
With each crunching step through the snow, she tried to convince herself that she was better off without him. That she didn't need him at her wedding or in her life. But deep down, she knew that wasn't true. Despite everything, a part of her still longed for her father's love and approval.
She thought about her sister and half-brother. They had all been abandoned by their father, left with nothing but memories and heartache. It was clear now that the reason for his refusal wasn't just personal; it stemmed from his own baggage. As she reached the car, she took one last look at the Airstream, nestled in its isolated spot among the trees. She realized then that this was how her father chose to live – alone and away from those who once loved him.
With a heavy sigh, she slid into the driver's seat and started the engine, the car's heater began to chase away the chill that had settled in her bones. With one last glance at her father's Airstream through the rearview mirror, she whispered softly to herself, "I tried, Dad. I really tried."
With that, Ariel put the car in gear and slowly drove away from the remote property, leaving behind the man who still held a piece of her heart. Yet, deep within her, the hope remained – a flicker of light in the darkness, a belief that perhaps one day, her father would find his way back to them, and they could finally heal as a family.
The drive back to Endless Harbor would definitely feel longer and lonelier than before.
CHAPTER TWELVE
"Hey," Miles said softly, his voice warm and caring, "what's going on in that beautiful mind of yours? You seem...troubled."
The moon cast a silvery glow on the tranquil harbor as Ariel and Miles strolled along the wooden dock. She had called him on her drive home and asked him to take a walk—but she wasn’t quite ready to share everything that was swirling within her. The gentle lapping of waves against the worn planks beneath their feet created a soothing rhythm, complementing the soft whispers of the breeze rustling through the barren branches overhead. The scent of salt hung in the crisp air, mingling with the distant aroma of woodsmoke from cozy homes tucked away in the sleepy town of Endless Harbor.
Ariel paused for a moment, her gaze lingering on the peaceful waters that mirrored the luminous night sky. Despite the serenity surrounding her, a heavy sadness weighed on her heart like an anchor. In just a few days, she would be marrying the man who had brought love and joy back into her life. But even as excitement bubbled within her at the thought of starting a new chapter with him, the absence of one person overshadowed her happiness—her father. And her visit to him had not swayed him one bit.
She had always admired Miles for his ability to read her emotions like an open book, and in times like these, it brought her comfort to know that he was there to lend a listening ear.
"It's just..." she began, swallowing the lump in her throat, "I wish my dad could be here for the wedding. I can't help but feel like something's missing without him."
Why did it feel as though her father didn't care? How could anyone—especially a parent—cut off a child so callously? As a mother, Ariel couldn’t wrap her mind around it.
Ariel's fingers instinctively sought the pearl and seashell necklace that hung around her neck—her mother’s. It was a bittersweet reminder of their shared love for the ocean and the bond they once shared. Her father harbored no such fond feelings. She longed for Lee to walk her down the aisle, to share in her joy.
Miles gently squeezed Ariel's hand, his perceptive gaze catching the flicker of sadness that shadowed her eyes. The hushed whispers of the waves lapping against the dock blended with the distant falls of their footsteps on the wooden planks, creating a soothing symphony that echoed the tranquility of the night.
Miles’s eyes filled with empathy. "I know what that would have meant to you," he murmured, drawing her closer to his side. "And I know this day would have been even more special if he were here with us, celebrating our love. But just because he won’t be there, it doesn’t mean the day won’t be special. In fact, if he can’t bring himself to leave behind the past and show up, it’s his loss, honey."
As they continued their moonlit stroll along the harbor, Ariel's thoughts were a turbulent sea of emotions—waves of sadness crashing against the shores of her heart. Yet even amidst the storm of her feelings, the tranquil beauty of the night and the comforting presence of Miles at her side offered a glimmer of hope.
The wind picked up momentarily, twirling the snowflakes into a whimsical ballet before dying down once more, leaving only the whisper of the waves as an accompaniment to Ariel’s thoughts. The peacefulness of the scene seemed to seep into Ariel's very soul, and she felt some of her sadness begin to dissolve.
"Look at that," Miles said softly, gesturing toward the full moon as it cast its silvery light across the water, creating a mesmerizing tableau of shimmering reflections.
"Beautiful," she murmured, her heart swelling with both appreciation for the enchanting scene before them and love for the man beside her. In the quiet magic of the night, Ariel's gaze followed the moonlit path that stretched across the water, leading her thoughts to drift along with the waves. Beside her, Miles squeezed her hand gently again, prompting her to look up at him. His eyes held a warmth that seemed to chase away the chill of the winter night.
