Chapter 15 Love in Bloom
Chapter 15: Love in Bloom
Emma
It was late at night when Jack finally returned with my dad. Mom had been worried sick; she’d refused to eat dinner. I, on the other hand, was hurting from the things Jack had said before leaving. I waited patiently, hoping we”d sort out whatever it was when he returned.
“Jack!” I screamed the moment the door opened.
“Smith!” Mom called as dad followed behind Jack.
“Where the hell did you find him? Where have you been, Smith?”
“I… I can explain. I”m sorry for making you worried. I had to be somewhere,” Dad stammered.
“You were not at the guest house, were you?” My mom asked.
There was a quick exchange of glances between the two men, and I was puzzled at the sudden bond. What had happened out there? Why were they getting along? What were they hiding?
“He was at the guest house. That”s exactly where I found him,” Jack defended.
“So, what took you two so long to get back?” I questioned.
“We decided to go out and bond over a few beers,” Jack answered.
He kept a straight face, but I could tell that he wasn”t being completely honest. I was also still mad at him for the things he had said earlier.
With crossed arms and a raised eyebrow, I announced in a passive aggressive tone, “I packed my things and I”ll be leaving first thing tomorrow morning,”
“Why??” both Dad and Jack chorused.
“Dad, because Jack said he doesn”t need me here and that I should return to the clinic.” I ignored the look of shock on Jack”s face.
“No, no, no, child. Emma, he didn”t mean it that way. I”m sure he was pulling your leg, right Jack?” He turned to Jack.
“Right, I was only teasing you, babe.”
I couldn”t understand what was going on. Mom was watching with parted lips as well.
How did this happen? What exactly happened? I kept asking myself.
“Jack loves you. I”ve done my assessment of him and I give you both my consent to go ahead with your relationship,” my dad said.
“You are serious, aren”t you?” I couldn”t help asking to be sure that I wasn”t hearing him incorrectly.
“I’m serious, Emma. Your mom and I are returning to Florida tomorrow. You are free to stay and continue with your art job,” he encouraged.
It was the first time I heard my dad supporting art. I strolled over to where he stood and wrapped my hands around him in an embrace. “Thank you, Daddy. You don”t know how much this means to me.”
“And I”m sorry for being so selfish over the years about your personal interests. And for being an asshole to Jack here. He”s a good man.”
This time, I strolled over to Jack and pressed my body against his.
“What did you do?” I whispered as I hugged him.
“Nothing, babe.” He shrugged in a way that said there was something.
“You scared me when you asked me to leave.”
“I didn”t mean it and I”m sorry. You”re never leaving, okay? Never!” He assured me with a kiss. I had missed those lips the entire day and now I couldn”t wait to ravish them.
“Can you two get a room?” my mom called out as she walked towards my dad.
“Yes, ma”am,” Jack answered, lifting me off the floor to go get a room.
My insides rumbled with excitement at how smoothly things had been resolved. Though I knew there was something my dad and Jack weren”t saying, I didn”t want to ruin the moment by being an investigator.