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We normally put our tree up on Christmas Eve and that's still ten days away

Dad chuckles "I feel like celebrating early this year"

Pushing Piper gently off of s off my bed Piper lays her head back down and closes her eyes "Oh, yeah," I tease as I walk toward him "What could you possibly have to celebrate?"

Dad's arm co His lips press against my head and he releases , I'hter and her ood"

Laughing, I loop my arm with his and we step into the short hallway that leads to the living rooood"

Sort of

I mean, my heart is still broken, but honestly, if I could have only one wish in the world, it would be for ladly sacrifice an eternal and lasting love for my dad's life Just sucks I can't have it all

When we step into the living roo scent drifting off the flat, needlelike, and quite prickly leaves "Geez, Dadwe're going to need to re in here," I chastise hiainst the ceiling "And buy hts and ornaments, I think"

"I' to head out in a bit and do just that," he says with a quick pinch toit later?"

"Well, sure Ia naked tree in the house"

My dad chuckles and walks into the kitchen that sits adjacent It's small with a tiny butcher-block island that still bears wear and tear fro my mom used to do before she died It takes up too much space, but neither one of us can bear to part with it I lean against the counter and watch as dad pulls out a pork roast he had thawing in the fridge

"I suppose you expect me to cook that," I say with a pointed look

"Nope," he says proudly "I' cookies too, for dessert"

I arch an eyebrow at him "Who are you and what have you done with my father?"

"Laugh all you want,keeps rateful"

"I'," I say dryly as I open the fridge back up and pull out a bottle of water

"Smart-ass," he retorts affectionately "But I have a nefarious plan I need to fatten you up before you take off to Coluh as it is"

I ignore that re my wool-sock-covered foot over the worn linoleum "Are you sure you don't want to coer apartment than the one I have reserved"

"Nope," he says surely and without hesitation "This isSure you don't want to try to find a job here and stay with me instead?"

"Nope," I say, without as anization It's a good move for me"

"You could apply for ith the Oilers," he suggests "I'm sure Benny would take you on"

Benny is the general time friend of my dad's That could be an option, except for the fact I'd rather any potential job go to my father If his next MRI shows continued reo back to work I've tried to broach that subject with hi, "I don't want to jinxI'll consider after the next MRI"

Luckily, we don't have to worry about finances for the immediate future When I took Gray Brannon up on her offer to release me immediately froiven a severance check for ten thousand dollars It was completely out of place and wholly inappropriate I didn't deserve it, but I knew that it came down from Brian Brannon himself, anted to make sure my dad would not have any financial worries His house payment and expenses would be more than covered when I deposited that aht with hiift, my need to make sure my dad was taken care of prevailed and I accepted the charity

Besides, I wanted a clean, fresh start when I returned to Colu need to start ain, because it's really the only way I can leave the heartbreak behind

"Are you going to contact Todd when you return to Colu another sip of water, and his question shocks hs and one slap to et myself under control

"Why would you even ask that?" I ask on a gasp

"I worry about you," he says with a shrug of his shoulders "Todd would take care of you"

"I can take care of myself," I say firest fan of Todd's He was also just as heartbroken over the fact that Hawke and I didn't work out a second time, so I know he really doesn't want me with someone like Todd

"I know you can, honey I just want you to be happy, fall in love I want grandbabies too"