Once in Every Life

A tiny sob escaped her. This time there was no force on earth or within her soul that could have kept Savannah back. With a hiccuping squeak, she snatched up her skirts and ran for him. His strong arms closed around her, squeezing so hard, she had to gasp for breath as he lifted her up.

She didn't care a bit. She drew in a shuddering, watery breath and buried her face against his shoulder. He held her tightly against his chest, and this time there was no holding back the tears. They burst from the small, dark box in her heart in which she'd buried them long ago, surging through her dry soul in streaks of life-giving moisture.

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Daddy smoothed the hair from her cheek and kissed her forehead. "Vannah," he murmured against her moist temple, "I'm so sorry. Can you forgive me?"

Savannah tilted her face to look up at him. Moonlight illuminated half his face, casting shadows through his lashes and across his high, sharp cheekbones. He gazed down at her through eyes that were overbright, as if he, too, were holding back tears.

"Oh, Daddy." The words slipped out in a watery blur. She wanted to say more, but her throat was thick with tears, so she simply nodded.

He gave her a smile so warm, it heated all the places in her heart that had long been cold and dark. "I love you, Vannah."

Savannah's breath caught. Happy tears rolled down her cheeks and plopped on his flannel shirt. "I ... I love you, too, Daddy."

After that, the night took on a magical quality. Savannah knew it was a time she'd remember all her life. They hugged for a long time, forever, and then, gently, he let her down.

"Come on," he said, cocking his head toward the center of the barn. "We've got dancing to do."

Savannah followed him to the middle of the barn. They stood there, arm's length apart, staring at each other. Neither seemed to know what to say, or how to begin. Beside them, on the workbench, the lamp sputtered, sending plumes of gold into the darkness and creating a magical circle of light. From the stalls came the quiet rumbling of hooves on hard-packed dirt. The barn-smell of fresh hay, old wood, and dust filled the air.

Daddy reached for her. "Take my hand." Savannah shuffled into the circle of light, and took his hand. His other hand moved to the curve of her back and drew her close. In his arms, she felt small and warm and

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infinitely safe?it was a feeling she'd never had before, and it filled her with a giddy sense of happiness. She grinned up at him.

He smiled. "We'll start with a waltz." Humming a quiet tune, he began to move. He went slowly, accommodating her clumsy, awkward movements. Her feet seemed suddenly to swell to elephant size and she stumbled grace-lessly in his arms.

Shameful heat crawled up her throat and fanned across her cheeks. "Daddy, I can't do?"

"Shhh," he murmured. "Just relax. One, two three. One, two, three."

Savannah closed her eyes and accidentally slipped into the timeless rhythm. The soft, lilting rain of his humming soared in her senses like a symphony, merging with the creaking floorboard and sputtering lamp to create a full, rich sound. Smiling, moving easily in his arms, Savannah joined her voice to his, and together they made the dusty old barn swell with music.

The night was more than half gone by the time Jack and Savannah finished dancing. They'd laughed and danced and talked for hours, forging the strong, solid bonds of a new relationship.

But finally Savannah's eyelids had begun to droop, and Jack had known this special night must come to an end. So, still talking and hand in hand, they walked back to the house. A lazy breeze chattered through the leaves overhead and whistled through the grass as they climbed the creaking steps.

The house was cold and dark inside. On the kitchen table lay a puddle of wax where a stubby candle had been.

"Uh-oh," Savannah said, smothering a giggle. "I guess we stayed a bit too long."

Jack gave her hand a squeeze. "I could' ve danced all

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night with you, pumpkin. It was like dancin' with air, you were so light on your feet."

She blinked up at him. "Really? You think Jeffie'll think I'm a good dancer?"

Jack's heart tugged hard at the thought of his Savannah, his baby girl, dancing with a boy. He gave her a bittersweet smile that was the best he could do. "Yeah," he choked out. "He'll think you're great."

She grinned. "Thanks, Daddy." She reached up on her toes and planted a kiss on his cheek. "Good night." He kissed her. "Night."

Before he could say anything else, she scampered down the hallway and disappeared in her room. The door squeaked shut behind her.

Jack stared at the door long after it had closed. A strange mixture of emotions was swirling through him: joy that he'd finally kissed his daughter, sadness that he'd waited so long, and regret for the thousands of moments he'd missed. He felt all these things and more, much more. For the first time in years, he felt good about himself, about the decision he'd made.