"Are you okay with me still designing under your line?"
"Yes. I'll start buying the designs I like off of you, and that can be a way to help support your spending habits, too. You might want to eventually get your own place, so we'll work out a deal between us, and I'll introduce you to a few of the other guys in our line of work. You might find yourself with more business than you can handle. But, it's a good place to be."
"One more thing." I smiled, already so insanely overwhelmed by how generous my dad had been.
"What?"
"I know you don't like Finn, but he's been wanting to build a lodge for families his whole life, too."
He smiled. "He gets that from his old man. It was our dream as boys."
"Can I split this with him? It will still be mine, but can we draw up papers to give him half of it?"
My father stiffened, and I realized I was asking a lot of him, but I loved Finn and knew that this would light his world on fire.
"You really believe this boy is going to become your husband? The father of your children?"
"I have no doubt at all." I picked up the deed. "Can you help me with it?"
"Well, it is yours to do with it what you want, and you're a grown-ass woman."
I laughed, and he joined me before we got up and finished getting breakfast together. After we shared one of our favorite meals that my mother use to make, Dad and Parker went to his room to work on a new robot that Dad got him and I packed a bag.
I stopped by Parker’s room and leaned against the door. "I'm going over to Mr. Warner's."
"Have fun, Sis. Merry Christmas." Parker looked up and then back toward his pile of screws and metal parts.
"Be safe. Take the old jeep until I can get chains around the tires of the new one." Dad stood, walking toward me and pulling me into a warm hug. "Tell them I said hi, and make sure Clark knows that I'll be coming over this week. Okay?"
"Thanks, Dad." I lifted on my toes and kissed the side of his face.
"No. Thank you, baby. For giving me parts of my life back."
I nodded and walked from the house, wishing that I would have expressed my heart like I should have. It was me who should be thanking him. His bossy, overbearing nature brought me to Colorado and because of it...my whole life was changed, and I couldn't be more thrilled to see where it was headed.
Chapter 32
Finn
We wrapped up opening gifts, and I hugged my father and Milly before piddling around the kitchen for something to eat. The doorbell rang and I grabbed my crutches as nervousness rose up the center of my chest. Chloe and I left things wide open the day before, me giving her the reigns in making a decision on whether we had a future and what it would look like in the near-term.
"Chloe. Good to see you, dear." My father's voice boomed with warmth as I rounded the corner.
Chloe was dressed in a pretty white sweater with red leggings and boots. Her hair was in a ponytail, and I swear she looked nineteen.
"Hey, baby. Merry Christmas." I hobbled toward her and had to steady myself from falling over as she hugged me hard.
"Merry Christmas. I missed you last night." She pressed her hands to the side of my face and kissed me several times.
"We were just about to make pancakes." Milly walked up and pulled Chloe into a hug. "You hungry?"
"No, ma'am. Dad found my mother's old casserole recipe. He and my brother had it ready for me this morning. Miracles do happen." I laughed.
"Jonathan Burke cooked something? That's not a miracle, hell's freezing over and the apocalypse must be coming." Clark laughed.
"Watch it, mister." Milly slapped his butt and pulled him in the kitchen with her.
Chloe's eyes went wide and she turned to me. "What's that all about? Are they dating?"