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Coffee in hand, I sat down at the table and shoved the plate of shortbread toward him

Dad raised an eyebrow “That’s not exactly a nutritional start to the ”

I shrugged and took the piece he didn’t want He shook his head, but his smile was full of affection

My prolonged study of him, however, caused him to frown “What?”

Worry consumed me It happened when you loved someone as much as I loved my dad “I don’t want to leave until I know you’re okay Bailey can go back I could stay”

Dad shook his head “You depend on the incorown man, Bluebell I don’t need a babysitter”

“I don’t mean it like that, Dad”

“I know you don’t But it’s not your job to worry about me It’s my job to worry about you” His stare was pointed

I sucked in a shaky breath “Are you talking about Mom or Michael?”

“Both”

Cupping ht into his eyes so he’d recognizehoive each other? No Is our relationship in tatters? Yes It’s not a perfect outco to be nonchalant about it Of course, it hurts But I understand her better now and having everyone else back has o of that relationship Maybe I wouldn’t be able to deal with it as well as I am if I didn’t have you If I hadn’t always had you” A happy shihtened my eyes “Have I ever told you how much I adore you?”

Dad’s own eyes shone “You never have to I feel it” He reached over and wrapped his hand around ave it a little squeeze “You know I love you more than life, Bluebell”

The tears splashed down h “I swear the floodgates seemed to have opened and I can’t shut them off”

Instead of s, Dad’s brow furrowed “I’m still worried about you”

I swiped at my tears with my free hand “Because of Michael?”