Colin had just arrived at my house, and he waited in the living room while I finished getting ready. Wilhelmina had insisted on having an engagement party for us, and although Colin and I both balked at the idea initially, we gave in because our friends had become very much like family and we wanted to honor that. It was to be an intimate affair with just a few of our closest friends, and Wilhelmina had promised to set up a taco bar at her house for lunch. Sure, Colin had the money to make it extravagant but neither of us wanted that.
There was a knock, and I finished applying my lipstick before heading to the door. I wasn’t expecting anyone, so I assumed it was probably a solicitor. When I answered the door, I felt the blood drain from my face.
“Daddy?”
It had been three and a half months since I’d last seen him, but he’d aged a little in that amount of time. The skin under his eyes was puffier, and he looked incredibly tired. “Abigail.”
I just stood there, shocked that he was on my doorstep. I wasn’t even sure what to say.
“Can I come in?” he asked.
“Yes, of course.” I opened the door and stepped to the side so he could pass by me. “This is a surprise.”
He walked in and stopped short in the entryway, his eyes landing on Colin. “It was a last-minute decision, and truth be told, I was afraid you might refuse to see me if I called you.”
My mouth opened and closed, and my knees suddenly felt weak. “Have a seat, and for the record, I wouldn’t have refused.”
He stopped to shake Colin’s hand before sitting down. “I’m glad you’re here. You said some things at Rodolfo’s…some things that…” He placed a fist over his mouth, appearing like he was having a difficult time saying what was on his mind. “What I mean to say is…”
Colin and I didn’t say a word. I didn’t jump in and try to smooth everything over, but I did sit on the couch and I waited, ready to listen.
“What I mean to say,” my father repeated, “is this. I thought about what you both said and I realized that you’re right Abigail. I always prioritized work over family, and you were hurt the most because of it.” He turned to Colin. “And you…you reminded me that if I didn’t do something about it, there might not be room in Abigail’s life for me any longer.”
I bit down on my bottom lip and glanced down. “I can’t believe you’re actually here.”
“I can only stay for a couple of hours. There’s a work thing I have to attend tomorrow, and I almost didn’t come because of the time constraint.” He swallowed. “I needed to tell you something, and I wanted to be here in person when I did.”
“What’s that?”
“I love you. I always have and I always will. We both know I haven’t been a good father. I made my choices and now I have to live with the consequences, but I hope we can have a better relationship going forward.”
Tears burned my eyes, and I fought to maintain control. “I want that too.”
“Your mom has always lived her own life, and I know that was hard on you growing up. I should have made it easier on you. Instead, I was selfish, and I regret my choices.”
I got up from my seat and hugged him. “I love you too, Daddy, and I’m glad you came.”
We had time before the engagement party started, so we talked for quite a while after that. I shared with Dad some of the struggles of my youth, and how it hurt that he downplayed my self-injury at the time. He was apologetic and asked for my forgiveness. I, in turn, apologized for my rebellious behavior at the time and for not being as respectful as I should have been. I also shared about my paintings being shown at the Greg Gordan Gallery, and he was impressed. He didn’t show as much enthusiasm as I’d hoped, but he genuinely seemed happy for me.
I had a feeling things weren’t going to change between us overnight. After all, you couldn’t fix a lifetime of poor communication in one day, but I was thankful he’d made the effort to reach out to me. He was here and that meant everything.
Dad was able to stay for most of our engagement party, and he got a taste of Wilhelmina’s fun and flare, and Tammy’s good sense. He promised he would come to the wedding, and I believed him. Nick wasn’t able to make it to the party, and that was probably for the best. After I said no to his proposal, he took it hard for a week or two, but then he bounced back and decided it was time to start over. He got a job offer in Los Angeles and decided to take it. We’d said our goodbyes a few weeks ago, and we both said we’d stay in touch. I wanted the best for him and prayed for him all the time.
At the end of the party, after Dad left in his rental car to go to the airport and everyone else had gone home, Colin walked with me to his car.
“You up for walking down memory lane?”
I smiled. “What does that mean?”
He reached in the back seat of his car and pulled out his fedora and my cloche. “Thought we might walk around the mall in these and then get dinner afterward.”
My mouth dropped open. “Where did you get my hat?”
“Saw it sitting in your living room. You were busy talking to your dad, so you didn’t notice I had it my hands.”
“You rascal,” I said, pushing lightly on his shoulder. “I can’t think of a better way to end the day.”
“We were supposed to wear these together out in public. What happened?”
“Life happened. Guess it was one of those things that got pushed aside.”
He bent down and kissed me. “Let’s not let life crowd out things like that. Sometimes the little things are the very moments we should pay attention to the most.”
“I agree.” I wrapped my arms around him and buried my head in his chest. “Now, let’s go have some fun.”
We walked around the mall that day wearing our hats, utterly happy and content with our place in life. We even stopped by the hat shop and talked with Laura for a few moments. She didn’t seem surprised when she saw my engagement ring.
“I knew something was about to develop between you two,” she said with a gleam in her eyes. “That one right there,” she pointed to Colin, “he was looking at you like you were the cat’s meow.”
I glanced at Colin and winked. “Were you now?”
“And you, missy,” Laura said with laughter in her voice. “You were trying to act like he didn’t affect you, but I got the feeling you weren’t immune to his charms.”
“Oh, believe me,” I said. “I wasn’t, and I’m still not.”
“Go live your lives and be happy,” Laura said with a smile. “And stop by my shop now and then.”
“Thank you,” Colin said. He slipped something into Laura’s hand and pointed to the basket hat high on the shelf. “Make sure no one ever buys that one. I’m going to convince Abby to wear it one day.”
Laura grinned. “You got it.”
Colin took me by the hand as we exited the store. Once we were out of earshot, I looked at him. “What did you give her?”
“A check for fifty thousand dollars.”
“Why did you do that?” I asked incredulously.
“Sentimental reasons. I’m going to make sure that hat shop never goes out of business.”
“And you really think I’m going to wear the basket hat? Have you lost your mind?”
He laughed. “Pretty much. Lost it the day I set eyes on you.” He kissed me lightly on the lips. “Lost my heart that day too.”
“You didn’t lose it,” I said, patting the place on my chest where my own heart pounded rhythmically. “Because it found a place right here next to mine.”
***
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Check out the first book in the Blind Date Disaster Series! Blind Date with a Blue-Collar Billionaire
Description of Blind Date with a Blue-Collar Billionaire
Can her blue-collar man prove he’s different from all the rest?
Lindsey Clarke was doomed. Every serious boyfriend she had fell for her more beautiful cousin, Destiny. When it happened yet again on the eve of her thirtieth birthday, she was devastated and wondered if she would always be delegated to second best.
A friend suggested a blind date, and Lindsey went along with it in order to get her mind off her wounded heart. Once she met Grayson Hall, she was star struck. Not only was he good-looking, but he was kind and sweet as well.
Grayson Hall owned the largest general construction company in Los Angeles. He had everything he could possibly want except love from a good woman. After being burned by a girlfriend who was only with him because of his money, he was determined to keep his financial status a secret from Lindsey. Following a disastrous first date, Grayson determined to make it up to Lindsey. Soon, he was falling hard and could easily see a future with her.
But when a terrible lie threatened their relationship, Grayson had to prove he was the kind of man she could count on.
And Lindsey had to make a decision. Was Grayson the man he said he was? Or was he no different than the men who dumped her for her cousin?
This is an inspirational Christian romance about the power of forgiveness and how one woman learns to trust God during difficult times.
Take me to Blind Date with a Blue-Collar Billionaire!
Other Books By Evangeline Kelly
Blind Date with a Blue-Collar Billionaire
Collision of Wills
The Ruthless Billionaire
The Unwanted Assistant
Lawfully Blessed
Love’s Sacrifice
Lawfully Protected
Road Trip
Shaken
Matchmaker
Blind Date with a Billionaire Professor (Blind Date Disasters) Page 21