“Will you be coming by my place later?”
Grayson frowned as he jerked his head back. “What about your father?”
With a shrug of my shoulders, I winked and said, “Give me two hours with him and then bring a pint of Ben and Jerry’s and a movie.”
Grayson opened the door and motioned for me to take the lead. “If that’s what my girl wants, that’s what she’ll get.”
An hour later, my father and I were still sitting at the table at Ores. The conversation started off shaky as I finally told my father everything that happened at Baylor. I had let my parents know some things, but I never fully told them everything and how bad the bullying got.
Now we were on the subject I was most afraid to talk to him about.
“So . . . Grayson.”
His name caused me to smile and my father noticed it right away.
With a frown he slightly shook his head in disbelief. “Engaged? I’d say this is pretty serious.”
My stomach fluttered as I looked down at my ring. “He makes me happy, Dad. I can’t explain how I feel about him without smiling like a silly teenager.”
“Meg, why didn’t you tell us about him sooner? Why wait until you’re engaged or one of us was coming to visit you?”
Glancing down at my dessert plate, I shrugged as I moved the last piece of cheesecake around mindlessly. “I guess I was afraid you might try to push him away from me.”
My father reached across the table and squeezed my hand. “I’m so sorry I made you feel that way, Meagan. I really wish you had come to talk to me. My heart hurts knowing I was the one who pushed you away from us.”
I shook my head, “No, Dad. Please don’t feel that way. I never pictured myself moving back to Mason after college. I know everyone else wants that life and that’s great. I’m so happy for all of my friends and happy that most of our family is right there. For me though, I needed something different. I didn’t want to marry a cowboy and live on a ranch and play the rancher’s wife. I wanted the life I have right now.”
“And Gray? Being married to a cop who puts his life on the line every day, you’re okay with that?”
“Yes. Dad, I’m not going to live my life in fear of the unknown. I love him so much, and I know he loves me. I feel complete when I’m with him. I laugh, have fun, dream of kids with him.”
“Kids?” my father asked, nearly choking on his own spit.
With a shy smile, I nodded. “We um . . . we’re moving in together, by the way.”
My father released my hand and sat back in his chair as he exhaled a long breath. “I figured as much. You’re a grown woman and you don’t owe me any explanations but, Meg, you’ve hit me with a lot tonight.” Tears formed in my father’s eyes as he pinned me with his stare. “That doesn’t make it easier for me though. Letting go of you is hard, baby girl.”
I tilted my head and studied my father. “Why were you so hard on me?”
His eyes turned sad as he looked away for a moment before turning his attention back on me. “I don’t know, Meg. I wish I had a solid answer for you, but a part of me thinks it was my own failures that drove me to make sure you never failed. The moment I held you in my arms I promised myself I would push you to do great things, but never once thinking about how that would affect you. I’m so sorry, baby. I never meant to compare you to Taylor or make you think I thought any less of you. You’re my everything, Meagan. The very air I breathe is because of you. I never told you this, but you saved my life.”
My heart jumped to my throat as I felt a single tear drop from my eye. “What do you mean?”
“Your mother left me when she was pregnant with you. I missed a good portion of her pregnancy because of some serious stuff. But I had two things that kept me going and kept me fighting to get clean. Amanda, and my unborn child. The first time I ever felt you move in your mother’s stomach my life changed. The one little kick opened my eyes like never before. I’ll never forget the feeling that washed over my body. Everything I did from that point on was for the two of you. Then when we were blessed with your sister, it made the circle complete. The three of you are my world. I don’t ever want you to have to say the things you said to me earlier tonight. I want you happy, Meagan. And if living here in Colorado makes you happy, and Gray makes you happy, then I’m happy.”
“Daddy,” I whispered as we reached across the table for each other’s hands. “I love you so much.”
“I love you too, pumpkin. Now, how about we head home and watch a movie.”
My heart felt as if it were about to burst. The idea of being with the two men I loved left me breathless. “I’ll text Gray and tell him to bring a movie.”
Standing, my father flashed me a smile. It was the same smile I used to see when I would get off the bus and run toward him when he would surprise us by coming home early. The same smile that always made me feel like everything was going to be okay. “Tell him to bring popcorn if you don’t have any.”
With a chuckle, I nodded. “Sounds good.”
Taking my arm, we left the restaurant. “Meagan?”
“Yeah, Dad?”