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“Of course I’ll help you achieve that goal. It’d be my pleasure. Like I said, I have the money already set aside.” His shoulder hitches. “I’m still going to keep paying child support until Megan graduates, and I’ll definitely offer her college funding if she wants it.”
“So you’ve been paying child support all this time?” I shake my head, still reeling from his earlier revelation.
His head jolts back. “Of course I have. You’re my daughters. I…” His voice trails off as another dark look storms across his face. “Did your mom tell you I haven’t been?”
I swallow. “She never said either way. She just told us that you’d moved on, found a new family, and… didn’t want us anymore.”
“That’s not true.” He gives me an emphatic look, and then his shoulders slump with a sigh. “I mean, yes, I have a new family. And I’d really like for you to meet them when you’re ready. But… I always wanted to be a part of your life. And I’ve missed you every single day.” His eyes fill with tears again. “I love you, Mickey Blue. That’s never gonna change.”
Before I know what I’m doing, my chair is scraping back over this shiny restaurant floor and I’m bolting out of my seat. I round the table with quick steps while Dad stands and spreads his arms wide. Barreling into his chest, I wrap my arms around him and close my eyes, breathing in his scent, which is so familiar even after all these years.
Dad sniffs, holding me against him while I’m transported back in time to those days when he’d hug me tight after a basketball game or carry me on his shoulders as we walked out to the parking lot after watching the Dodgers play. All those moments he made me laugh, read to me, watched movies with me. He understood me better than my mother ever could, and hedidwant me.
He wanted me, and he’s missed me.
And now he’s here, and it’s a chance to start again.
CHAPTER56
ETHAN
“So, no offense, but I officially hate your mother.” I tap my thumb on the steering wheel, agitation coursing through me as we drive back to Hockey House.
Mikayla snorts and shakes her head. “Asher’s right. She’s a full-blown bitch. I can’t believe she lied to everyone that way.”
“She robbed you of years with your father,” I huff. “In an effort to punish him, she ended up majorly hurting you too. Stupid woman.”
“I know.” Mikayla rests her head back against the seat, looking surprisingly calm. “It kind of sucks that she’s just getting away with it.”
“She’s not.” I shake my head, reaching for Mikayla’s hands and threading our fingers together. “She lost you, and that’s a heavy price to pay.”
Her smile is sweet, her eyes flickering with gratitude. “And he’s back in my life again.” I glance across to watch her smile grow even bigger. She squeezes my hand. “Thank you for making me go today. Thank you for… finding him.”
“Anything for you, Mickey Blue.”
She laughs. “That nickname is reserved for my dad and him alone.”
“Aw,” I whine, then wink at her. “Doesn’t matter, I preferlil’ mouseanyway.”
Her soft chuckle is music to my ears. After all those tears in the restaurant, those brutal revelations, I thought the day might be a bust. But after their lengthy hug, Mikayla and Michael sat back down, and a waiter tentatively approached the table.
“Order whatever you want, guys. It’s on me,” Michael said.
I took him up on his offer and had the best steak of my life while Mikayla devoured a plate of eggs Benedict. Having eaten like a pigeon leading up to this, it was great to see her getting her appetite back. We talked about everything from Michael’s family and the resort in Cali to what Mikayla’s been doing. He was stoked to hear that his daughter was still best friends with Rachel and wanted updates on her too. Then he showed us pictures of his wife and their three children—Maddy, Marcus, and Kyle.
“They’re six, nearly five, and three. And they will be so excited to meet you.” His eyes danced, then washed with sadness when he asked, “Do you think… do you think Megan would like to meet them too? Will she be willing to see me?”
All Mikayla could do was shrug. “I can ask. I mean, we’re not that close, but I can definitely text her. Pass on your number.”
He nodded, obviously grateful that she was willing to try.
I was worried things would get depressing again after that, but Mikayla started talking about me, and her dad was super interested in my hockey and the fact that I want to go pro. It seemed to brighten up the conversation again, and by the time our second round of coffees rolled around, we were all laughing as he told me stories about what a terror Mikayla could be when she was little.
“She defined the terrible twos.” Michael laughed. “The number of times I had to carry her kicking and screaming out of public places. She was one determined young lady.” His eyes softened with affection as he smiled across the table. “I’ve always loved your spirit. I knew it would serve you well as an adult. But oh boy, it was a pain in the ass when you were little.”
I cracked up laughing while Mikayla slapped a hand over her face and turned bright red.
All in all, a great brunch.
