Epilogue
Cassie
I felt bad quitting my job at the store, but Amanda understood. Now that I could check having my candles in a brick-and-mortar store, I felt like a real business owner.
Amanda had been ordering two cases a week for the past few months, and she knew I was barely keeping up. Briana and Devyn had become my part-time assistants and really saved my butt when a local magazine listed Cassie’s Candles as the best gift for the lady in your life, and my sales went berserk.
“I’m back,” I called out to Briana when I walked into the apartment.
I’d left her there preparing shipments so I could deliver the candles to Amanda, but she wasn’t in the back room when I went to go check on her. “Briana?”
She wasn’t there, but there was a note on the table in her handwriting.
Sorry, Cass. Had to go back to the flower shop. An order was damaged, and I need to remake it. I should be able to come back tomorrow, but I’ll text you later.
I checked my phone and saw that she also sent me a text with the same message, so I quickly responded back. No worries. Do what you need to do. We’re ahead of schedule here so you’re fine. And if there’s anything I can do to help, just let me know.
I knew nothing about flower arrangements, but if she asked me to go help her, I would be there in an instant.
I just kinda hoped she didn’t because Daddy was making lasagna for dinner, and it was my favorite.
Even though he only used half the pasta and used eggplant for the other half, it was still delicious and filled my vegetable requirements, so I didn’t have to also eat a salad if I didn’t want to.
Since we really were ahead of schedule and didn’t have any more shipments to pack, I decided to head home early to surprise Daddy.
Maybe even help him. I wasn’t terrible in the kitchen, but I was impatient and hated to wait for things to cook.
I was more of a two-minutes-in-the-microwave type of chef.
As soon as I walked in the front door, I kicked off my shoes and called out. “I’m home, Daddy. Where are you?”
“In the office. Can you come in here, please?”
“Okay.” I very rarely went into Daddy's office. It was just computers and papers and books. And not the fun kind of books that I could color in or look at pictures. He only had the boring kind of books that only had words and no pictures at all.
I opened the door and saw Daddy on the floor with two tiny fluff balls in his arms.
“What is that?” I dropped to my knees and practically fell into his arms. “Are those…kittens?”
He handed one over to me, and I grasped the white ball of meowing fur in my hands and then cradled it to my chest. “Oh my gosh, Daddy. They’re so cute. Where did you get them?”
“A woman came into the hospital today who isn’t doing well. These were in her purse. She said the mamma got hit by a car, and she’s been trying to take care of them, but they needed a better home.”
“Is this their new home?” I looked up at him with so much hope in my heart. “Are these my kitties?”
Daddy chuckled and handed me the second one. “They are, sweet girl. They’re gonna be a lot of responsibility, but I trust that you can handle that.”
“I can, Daddy. I promise.” I lifted my shirt and put both kittens in it like a kangaroo pouch then I wrapped my arm around Daddy's neck and gave him a tight squeeze. “I love you, Daddy. So, so much.”
I’d said that a few times before but he always passed it off as just a term of endearment. But not this time. This time, Daddy wrapped his arm around me and kissed my neck. “I love you too, sweet girl. So damn much.”
“So much that you got me kitties.” I pulled back enough that I could look into his eyes. “Cuz they’re really the best present ever.”
“You say that now, but just wait until they pee on your slippers or scratch up your pretty dresses.”
I frowned as I looked down at my kittens. “They would never do something like that. They’re good…” I looked at their bottoms but couldn’t tell anything. “Are they boys or girls?”
Daddy laughed. “I have no idea. I’m trained in human anatomy, not kittens. But we’ll get them to the vet this week and make sure they’re healthy and have whatever shots they need.”
I held up my kitties and looked them each in their bright blue eyes. They seemed as interested in me as I was in them. “Did you hear that, kitties? Daddy's gonna take as good of you as he does of me. That’s why we love him.”
Briana loves working at the flower shop. It’s fun and brings her joy. But it isn’t until she has to save the day for Duke, the new event coordinator at the Maverick Hotel, that she realizes just how empty her life has been without a Daddy to share it with.