Chapter 36
Chapter thirty-six
Kate
Nerves riddled my body as my parents and I came to a standstill in front of the window that overlooked the backyard. Millie sat on the swing Tristan had installed the prior week while the man himself stood behind her, pushing her higher and higher.
Laughter carried across the yard and spilled through the open windows. There’d been a lot of it over the past week and a half. Maybe even more than there’d been for the last three years.
“I like it.” My mom’s cheery voice sliced through some of the nervousness.
And even though I appreciated her and wanted her approval, the daddy’s girl in me held my breath as my father kept staring out the window. His jaw ticked in that way that told me he wasn’t happy.
“What do you think, Dad?” I couldn’t hide the tremble in my voice, even if I tried. “It’s a good neighborhood. Great schools and—”
“You got married.” My dad’s gaze finally whirled to mine.
A tear splashed over his lid and rolled down his cheek.
Another followed. “I didn’t even get to be there.
To give you away, to hold your hand, or witness you promise your life to the man you love.
” His wrinkly hand came up to tap the left side of his chest. “It hurts. We asked you if it was true, and you lied, Kate. Do you trust us that little that you couldn’t share this important thing. ”
It was my turn to cry. I’d confessed about our quick courthouse trip. When the words were out of my mouth I’d wanted to take them back. It wasn’t that I didn’t want my parents to know, I was simply having a hard time with how much I’d hurt them.
“I’m sorry,” I said weakly. “So, so sorry. In the beginning, it was nothing more than an arrangement between two people who weren’t even friends.
I wanted to keep Millie and being married, on paper at least, would help me do that.
Tristan had his own reasons, none of which involved feelings for me. ”
Taking a breath, I licked my dry lips. “We didn’t mean for it to happen, but somewhere along the way, all that playing pretend grew into more.” I shook my head. “Into everything.”
Unable to help myself, I snuck another peek at Tristan and Millie. He was still swinging her, but his attention was on us. Even with all the distance, it was impossible not to see the way his features twisted with concern.
I met my dad’s stare once more. “I don’t regret marrying him, but I hate that I left you out of one of the most important days of my life. If I’d known things would work out this way, I would’ve never—”
My mom’s arms were around me before I could finish the rest of my sentence.
“What kind of life would any of us lead if we could predict the future? Love is supposed to catch us off guard.”
Mom’s tone was soothing, but instead of calming me, it ramped up the guilt.
“I’m sorry,” I sniffled again.
Jaw ticking, my dad shuffled from one foot to the other. He was getting ready to leave. I just knew it. The thought of watching him walk away from me was too much. I closed my eyes and burrowed deeper into my mom’s shoulder.
My tears fell faster. My heart shattered a little more with every bone-rattling sob leaving my body. Mom’s hand smoothed up and down my back while she whispered something about fate and things happening at exactly when they were supposed to.
I tried to listen but when another pair of arms wrapped around me from behind, it was all I could focus on.
“Not fair,” my dad’s broken voice reached my ears. “I’m not being fair. I’ve always wanted you to be happy, and it might not have gone according to the script in my head, but even a blind man can see you are.”
Mom let go and my dad pulled me into his chest. I cried even harder.
“I am happy,” I said into my dad’s shirt. “So very happy, Dad.”
“That’s all—” His voice cracked. He cleared his throat a few times before he spoke again, “That’s all a father can hope for.”
“Everything okay?” Tristan’s concerned voice breezed into the room.
Lifting my head off my dad’s chest, I peeked around his arm to see the man who owned me so completely. The same worry he’d had in his tone was stamped all over his beautiful face.
I gave him a watery smile. “Perfect.”
My dad’s arms banded tighter for a few breaths before he dropped a kiss on top of my head and turned toward Tristan. He held out his hand. “Welcome to the family, son.”
Tristan’s eyes widened with shock as he stared at my dad’s hand for a long, long moment. He didn’t move, didn’t even blink. Just kept his eyes trained on my dad’s fingers. Seconds ticked by, one, two, four. I held my breath, unsure of what to do or say.
Then his gaze slowly lifted as he stepped forward and pressed his palm against my dad’s. “I’ll take good care of them, sir.” The conviction in his voice melted me straight to my core.
Jerking his chin in a quick nod, my dad yanked Tristan into a hug. Those beautiful eyes that always seemed to look straight through me widened as far as they could. A myriad of emotions flitted over his features before he finally realized and accepted what was happening.
Slowly, so slowly, he lifted his arms and hugged my dad right back.
My heart grew two sizes too big, and those damn tears returned with a vengeance. Like before, my mom’s arm slipped around my shoulder, and she pulled me into her side.
“Everything’s going to be just fine,” she said. I didn’t have to look to see the smile on her face. It was all it took for my own lips to stretch wide.
“Yeah,” I whispered. “It will be.”