Chapter 20
Ariel
After we get cleaned up, Teddy takes me out to dinner. He said that after that we deserved all the calories we could find. He takes me to a diner in town called “Nanna’s House.” It has all the homemade goodies you could want. Teddy gets a steak with steamed veggies, and I get fried chicken with mac and cheese and mashed potatoes. Even better we get milkshakes to go with them. I get chocolate because we all know it’s the best flavor, and Teddy gets vanilla.
I’m a little ashamed to admit that I devour my food while Teddy smiles at me softly. What can I say? I worked up an appetite and Nanna’s food is like a warm hug from your grandma.
“Told you it was delicious.” Teddy smirks.
“You say that like I doubted you.” I laugh which makes Teddy’s smile bigger.
“Tell me more about your dad. If you don’t mind.”
“I don’t mind. My mom, Georgia Rose, died giving birth to me. There was a blood clot that the doctor’s didn’t see, and by the time they discovered it… it was too late. My dad became a single dad in a single second, but it never stopped him from being the best dad. He always made sure I knew I was loved. Showed up every time my school had something. Reward ceremonies, dances, book fairs, conferences, anything. He didn’t care what it was, he just showed up. When I was five, he started having a garden at our house. Just something we could do together, but it was so fun. It was a tradition really. Every summer we would go get flowers, and we’d plant them, and we checked on them every other day. One day when we were gardening, I saw a dandelion. I ran over and made a wish on it. My dad saw me, and told me that I was wasting a wish. Told me that so many people wish on dandelions, and their wishes get lost in the wind. He handed me a petunia, and told me that all the other flowers felt left out when they didn’t get wishes. I stood and wished for an A on the test I took that day. He told me that after wishing on it, I should water it so it can grant my wish. The next day, I found out I got an A on the test, and ran home to tell my dad it worked. After that, I would wish on all different flowers, and water them. Somehow most my wishes came true. My dad must’ve listened in, and make sure that I never lost that magic. He was a great dad. When I was old enough to understand, my dad sat down and had a serious conversation to me about the dangers of the world, and ways to get help and stay safe. At fourteen, he gave me a taser and pepper spray so I could defend myself if I ever needed to. When I was sixteen, this boy at school tried to make a move on me without my consent, and I tased him right in the balls. I got suspended from school for a week, but my dad was so proud of me. He took me shopping and bought me anything I wanted. He was always caring, understanding, and kind. I guess that’s how I’m able to smile after everything because I know he would be proud of me.”
“He sounds like a really good dad.”
“Yeah he really was.”
“My dad is similar in a way. When I was seven my mom died from cancer, and he became a single dad of three. He raised us to be strong willed and kind. When everything happened after Gwen’s death, he was in pain. All he wants is his three kids happy, and out of the blue one’s a widow, one’s in prison for murder, and the last one was confused by everything going on. He tried so hard to cheer us up, and even went to visit Harley once, but his heart was broken, and he couldn’t bare going there any more. When Harley got out, he went over to his house everyday to apologize for abandoning him. Of course at the same time his daughter was in a coma, and he was just lost. His family was broken and it brought him a bunch of pain. We’re doing better now. He makes us do family dinners at least once a week. He gathers us at every holiday, and tries to hang with every single one of us when he can.” Teddy talks about his father with so much admiration and pain. It reminds me of what he said about Gwen loving Shakespeare. There’s no bigger tragedy than love. She was right. Loving someone is so hard at times. Because when a loved one is suffering and there’s nothing you can do, your heart feels like it’s being split in two.
“You’re dad sounds like a very strong man, as well as an incredible father.”
“He is. He makes me want to be a better man everyday.”
We go silent for a bit. Eating the rest of our meals in silence. When we’re finished, Teddy pays our bill, and takes my hand. We get back into his truck, and he asks if I want to go for a drive. My answer is yes because he was right I am a greedy girl, and I will take all the alone time I can get.