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That thoughtto look past her father’sunfair to hi is," her father said, "if your mother decides we’re finished, I don’t know if I’ll be able to love anyone else"

"Oh, Daddy" Hearing him say that made Annie want to weep This was the kind of love she hoped to find one day A forever kind of love

"Also, before I forget, I wanted to thank you for telling me how much yourelse she likes, please pass the infor for ways to spoil her I have six years to htful"

"Not always," he muttered "I want your mother to realize howelse, I’ll let you know"

"Great I appreciate it"

He seelanced down at her co else?" she asked "I could use your advice"

"Sure, baby, anything"

Annie flattened the paper napkin in her lap "You re"

She nodded "The one I thought was about to propose"

"Oh, right" He frowned as if he’d welcoive Vance a piece of hisoff for Europe For a year"

"That was a real disappointment, wasn’t it, honey?"

The sys "I was devastated," she said "I cried buckets"

"He doesn’t deserve you, Annie No one treats ets aith it"

Annie loved the way her father rushed to her defense "Vance is coust"

"So this European adventure didn’t work out the way he planned, huh?" Her father’s eyes flashed with satisfaction, as if to say this hat Vance got for hurting Annie

"Apparently, Europe wasn’t what he expected" She tried to hide the pleasure it gave her to tell hio back to the way it was before he left"

"You’ve got to be kidding!" His voice rang with righteous indignation

"The probleone out with a couple of other guys during this trip, but it isn’t the sa with him He was more than hed "For a while I thought Iwith hiether But now…"

"You’ll get over him, honey Vance needs to know he isn’t the only bird in the flock"

"I couldn’t wait to tell hias Jason was nice, and so is Craig I talked to Mom about it and, well…"

"What did she say?"

It’d been a really helpful conversation "We discussedVance to be sorry for the way he treated me Mom said--" Annie paused "--she said the real problem is that I wanted toIf he’d told me about this trip, it would’ve been different but to hide it from me and then expect ree with your mother more Like I said, Vance doesn’t deserve you You aren’t really going back with him, are you?"

"That’s just it I…I don’t know"

"Don’t, honey If he’sto change"

"What do you ive him another chance?" Annie was surprised to find herself sticking up for Vance, but she felt compelled to be his champion

"Annie, you’re smarter than this"

Annie stared at her dad

"Once the pattern’s set, nothing will change Save yourself a lot of grief"

She continued to stare

"Why are you looking at ive him?"

"No way"

Annie blinked, ive you"

Her father’s eyes narrowed slightly "That’s different"

"Is it?"

"Yes! Listen, you can forgive Vance, if that’s what you want But can you trust him?"

Annie sucked in her breath "Don’t you think that’s the sa herself? Can she trust you, Dad?"

He blinked as though the question had caught him unawares "Yes, she can I’ve learned my lesson I promise you before God and ain will I take her for granted"