The conversation was not at all uncomfortable, though I felt like her dad was questioning what was going on between us. He kept glancing between us with an unreadable expression. I wished I could read his mind, but I wasn’t sure I would like what I read.
After dinner, I sat on Anna’s couch and watched Margie with Anna, Ally, and Millie. She was playing with the bear Millie gave her, and she was talking about all her favorite things. The three women were very engrossed with everything she said.
“And Daddy got me a special Barbie for Christmas last year. She’s so beautiful. She
has a pink dress, and it’s so pretty. I’ve never taken it off her. I don’t want to lose it; it’s too special.”
I found that Barbie at Target a few months before Christmas. It was on sale, so I got it for her, hoping she would like it. I remembered how hard it had been to hide it from her. I wanted nothing more than to see the look on her face, but since money was extra tight around the holidays, I wasn’t sure if I was going to have the money to buy her Christmas presents or not. I saved the doll, and though I did get her another gift, a book she asked for, I was glad I found that Barbie. The look on her face when she opened it meant everything to me.
I loved watching Margie play with Anna and her family, because her eyes lit up every time she spoke. She already loved them. She needed more women in her life. I knew they could teach her things that I would never be able to. She needed female role models.
I loved seeing how much they spoiled her. It was also something she needed, something I had always wanted to be able to do for her. Tammy’s family wasn’t really in the picture since her passing, so, unfortunately, Margie didn’t spend any time with them.
I watched as Anna interacted with my daughter, and I couldn’t get over how perfect it felt. That was when I realized I had fallen in love with her. I started to feel this way before that night, but I wasn’t one hundred percent sure until I watched the way she was with Margie.
As I was immersed in the scene in front of me, I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned to see Tom looking down at me.
“Come with me for a minute,” he said, and I followed him into Anna’s office.
We sat down in the two chairs that were on opposite sides of the desk. It felt a little awkward, like I was interviewing for a job. I didn’t know what to expect. My palms were already a little sweaty.
“Beautiful little girl you have there,” Tom said.
“Thank you. She’s my pride and joy,” I said.
“Then you know how I feel about my girls.”
“That I do, Tom.” It was hard for me to not refer to him as “Sir.” The military taught me to address everyone as “ma’am” or “sir,” and I had found it difficult to let that go.
“How serious are you about my daughter?” Tom asked bluntly.
I looked him in the eye, wanting to make sure my answer was clear. Just moments before, I realized how in love with Anna I really was. Now, I wanted to make sure Tom knew it too.
“I’m very serious about Anna,” I said.
“You know, Justin,” Tom began. I braced myself for a lecture. “When I first met Anna’s mother, I had that same look in my eye. The way you look at my daughter proves to me how serious you are about her. Now, I don’t want you to think I’m letting you off easy. This doesn’t mean I won’t kill you if you mess up and hurt her.” Tom laughed.
I had to admit it was intimidating talking with him about Anna, but I felt better when I realized there wasn’t going to be a lecture.
“Do you like football, Justin?”
I was surprised that he changed the subject so quickly. Still, I didn’t complain.
“Yes I do, sir. I mean, Tom.”
“What’s your favorite team, son?”
“The New England Patriots, of course.” Though it wouldn’t matter when it came down to it, I hoped he was going to say the same thing. It would make things easier if we had the same favorite football team. I also thought it might help keep me on his good side.
“I can already tell you’re a great fit for my daughter. We are also a Patriots family,” Tom said. “I can get box seats through my company if you’d ever like to go to a game.”
“That would be amazing. I would love that!”
“You could bring Margie. It would be a family event,” he said.
“Thank you. That would be so much fun. I know she’d have a blast at a game.”
I felt a sense of relief. We had some things in common after all. I knew that helped Tom feel more comfortable with me.