“Let’s go, slowpoke,” Mr. Chargill says to Mason as he heads toward my dad.
An arm falls around my shoulder and glancing to my side, I see Julian grinning. “I haven’t seen him this happy in all my life.”
I follow his line of sight to where Dad is standing on top of the dune. “I’m king of the world,” he shouts and almost loses his balance, but luckily Stephanie is there to grab hold of his arm.
“Honestly, Warren. You’re not yesterday’s child anymore,” she chastises him.
“What are you talking about. I’m in my prime,” he argues.
Layla and her father head back in our direction, and I gesture in their direction. “Let’s go meet my future father-in-law.”
As I approach them, Layla excitedly tugs on her father’s arm. “Daddy, this is my Falcon.”
The way she introduces me brings a huge smile to my face and eases some of the nervousness that’s been building.
I reach a hand out to Mr. Shepard, who looks like he could be a park ranger in his safari gear.
“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Sir. Layla has told me so much about you.”
He takes my hand, and after shaking, he doesn’t let go. He stares at me for a good minute, but I don’t drop my eyes from his.
“Now I understand,” he finally speaks to me.
“Sir?”
“I understand why my daughter loves you.” He tugs me closer and then he hugs me, which has me giving Layla a what-the-hell-is-happening-look over his shoulder.
She just smiles at us.
Mr. Shepard pats me hard on the back, and when he lets go, he says, “Words can be deceiving, but a man’s eyes never lie.
“John,” Stephanie calls out, and when he looks at her, she waves.
“Let me go greet the rest of the people,” he excuses himself.
I tilt my head and look at Layla. “That went okay, right?”
“He approves of you,” she shrieks, a wide smile on her face.
“I’d say it went well,” Julian says from next to me.As we stop at the beach and we climb off the Jeeps, I don’t know who’s more at awe of the sight before us.
“U-wa,” Lee murmurs from next to Lake, and I smile because I love when she gets so swept up at the moment that she switches over to Hangul.
“Welcome to the place God made in anger,” Theo roars with his Africa accent, and it just lends to the amazement of it all. “Portuguese sailors also called it the gates of hell.”
For as far as the eye can see the Atlantic ocean rushes to shore, clashing with the oldest desert on the planet.
We all stand in silence for a long while, and when our tour guide walks up the stretch of beach, he begins to hum a tribal tune which is swept up by the wind, and it makes it sound like… Africa.
I go to stand next to Dad.
“I’ve accomplished so many great things in my life,” he whispers. “But standing here I feel humbled. I’ve missed the feeling.”
I place my hand on his back, and as my gaze drifts over the CRC family, both old and new, I feel unbelievably thankful.
Layla comes to stand on Dad’s other side, and I take a couple of steps backward. She hooks her arm through Dad’s and lays her head on his shoulder, and then she whispers, “Thank you.”
Dad shakes his head. “I’m the one who’s thankful. You’ve given me one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever received.” She glances up at him, and when their eyes meet, he whispers, “An experience.”