A sad look makes me keep quiet, as he continues, “I didn’t have a chance to raise you, Evie. I missed out on so many important parts of your life. I’d like a chance to make up for that. I’d like a chance to be your father. I want to take care of my little girl. I can’t let you live here. It’s not safe. I worry every time I have to leave you here.”
“Daddy,” I whisper as I place my hand on his arm. When he watches me with so much intensity, as if my following words might either make or break him, I smile. “Of course I will. That way I can make sure you eat a decent meal every day.”
Surprise flashes over his face. “You will? Did you just agree to let me take care of you?”
I nod as I start to laugh. “Yes, Dad.” My laughter fades away, and my bottom lip starts to tremble as I say, “Mostly I want to be a family. You don’t have to take care of me. I just want to feel what it’s like to have a family home.”
He moves our plates so fast to the coffee table and wraps me in his arms, that a breath rushes from me.
“I’m going to give you all of that and so much more. I’m going to make it up to you, Evie. I promise.”
I nod as I curl deeper into his embrace. I close my eyes, and for the millionth time, I send up a prayer of thanks that I found my dad.
We pick up our plates, and each takes a bite of food. I observe Dad’s face to see if he likes it.
As he chews, his eyes slowly drift close, and a look of pure appreciation fills his face. He swallows, and a moment later he opens his eyes. They’re shining with tears when he whispers, “It tastes exactly the same as your mom’s.” He smiles as he teases, “I’m so damn grateful you don’t cook like me. I burn everything in sight.”
When we’ve finished our meals, I make us some coffee.
After sitting down again, Dad asks, “Can we go walk around at a mall tomorrow? I want to see what kind of things you like.”
I let out a little burst of laughter. “I’m not a huge fan of shopping.”
“Not?” The surprise on his face is quite funny. “Your mom loved to shop. What do you like to do?”
“There is one thing I’ve always wanted to do,” I say, biting my bottom lip.
“What’s that?”
“Jump out of a plane.”
His mouth drops open. It seems I’ve just shocked my dad.
Then he grins at me, looking all proud.
“Finally, you got something from me besides your eyes.”
My eyes widen with excitement. “Does that mean you’ll take me?”
“As long as you’re strapped to me, we can jump out of planes as many times as you want.”
I let out a shriek of joy as I throw my arms around his neck.
“And can we go paragliding, and bungee jumping, and rappelling, and –”
My words are cut off when Dad starts to laugh.
“We can do all those things.”
∞∞∞
What was I thinking?
I can’t do this.
I try to take a step away from the edge, but being strapped to Dad’s chest stops me.
Oh crap.