AllFreeNovel
Share Us
No longer ashamed of Dad, I said.Ready for new friend to come over?
I got an answer quickly.Dad in garden and wants to see new friend.
“He says he’s free,” I muttered.
“Great! Now,” Shane said briskly, “are you ready?”
I nodded, and he took my hand and led me to the car. He opened the door for me, and once we were settled in, he turned in the driver’s seat to face me. “Where to?”
I gave him directions to Aspen Skies, and when we got on the highway, I figured I’d better fill him in on a few details. “Dad had an accident a few years back. He’s in a wheelchair, but he’s not sensitive about it. Also, my mom died when I was little. Dad never dated, but he’s found a woman he really likes at Aspen Skies. I’ve never seen him happy like this before, so I’m stoked about it.”
“Wow, Ana, I’m sorry,” Shane said as he shifted lanes. “That must have been hard for you when you were younger.”
“It was,” I said, “but it’s okay. Dad and I talk about Mom a lot, and he’s the best dad in the world. So you don’t need to feel sorry for me or anything like that.”
He shook his head. “I don’t. I’m just sad that you experienced something so heartbreaking when you were young. My parents are divorced and hate each other, but they both love me, so I can’t complain.”
“Well, you do seem pretty loveable,” I said before I could stop myself.
He looked over and grinned while I did my best to swallow my tongue. In just a few minutes, we were pulling into the parking lot.
“This place is beautiful,” Shane said.
“Right? Sometimes living in Denver, I forget to notice how gorgeous the mountains are, especially in the fall. Dad has a great view from his room, too.”
We headed around back to the garden. As he’d said, Dad was sitting there with his back to us, staring at the skyline, a mug of coffee in one hand. There was another mug beside him on the table with steam rising off the top. Margaret must have just stepped inside.
“Hey, Dad!” I called as we crossed over to the table. He turned in his wheelchair, and his eyes lit up when he saw us.
“Indiana! New friend! Come join me.” His blue eyes twinkled as I leaned down to give him a hug. “My goodness, you look nice. I can’t remember the last time you were so dolled up. New friend must be pretty cool,” he said, not quietly enough, and I looked away, embarrassed.
“Mr. Aaron, it’s so nice to meet you,” Shane said, shaking Dad’s hand firmly. “I’m Shane Dalton. I work with your daughter.”
“Isn’t she great?” Dad asked earnestly. He had no chill when it came to me, which was one of the things I loved and hated about him.
“She is. One of a kind,” Shane said.
“I tell her that all the time. She usually just ignores me,” Dad confided. “Would you like something to drink?”
“We can’t stay too long,” Shane said, and I felt relief course through me. “I live in New York, and I flew to Denver today to hang out with Indiana. We have some reservations we can’t miss, but I really wanted to meet you, and I heard the feeling was mutual.”
“Sure is,” Dad said and grinned. “That’s so nice, coming all the way from New York to take her out. Such a gentleman. Since you can’t stay long, would you like to come back to my room and see some of her artwork before you go?”
“No!” I cried at the same time as Shane said, “Absolutely.”
Dad chortled. “Bring Margaret’s coffee inside for her, will you, Ana? She’ll be back in a bit. Let’s show him Chuck the Duck!”
I groaned and did as he told me, and Shane walked next to Dad’s chair as they headed toward the building.
“There’s a saltwater tank in here,” Dad said to Shane as they passed through the door. “She loses her mind over that thing whenever she comes by.”
Shane leaned down to whisper something in my dad’s ear, and Dad grinned broadly. “Spot on, sir! That’s the way to her heart.”
“Wait, what are you two talking about?” I asked as I set Margaret’s coffee on the counter by Rita’s desk.
“Oh, nothing,” Dad said, twinkling at me again.
I heard Shane’s gasp when we finally got to Dad’s room. He turned to me, his eyes bright, a quiver in his voice. “Are all these your…creations?” he asked.
