Built To Last

She pulled into her driveway a few minutes later. The front windows were open and a gentle breeze blew the curtains hanging on the front windows. Upon closer inspection, the curtains appeared to have been cleaned, the bright white fabric gleaming in the afternoon sun. She’d been meaning to take them down and wash them for some time, but her days always seemed to get away from her… and her evenings had been spent with Jake.

Laughter rang out from the kitchen as she stepped into the house. It had been so long since she’d heard laughter in this house. The voice sounded like her father. But certainly, it wasn’t him, was it?

She dropped her purse and keys at the door and stepped into the kitchen.

Where she found her father.

Sitting at the table.

With a woman.

Dad leapt from his chair, his hand resting on the shoulder of the woman beside him. “Erin, honey, what are you doing home from work so early?”

Dad’s tone surprised her. Was he upset with her, or was there something else going on? Erin raised her eyebrows. “What, do I need permission to come home, now?”

She hadn’t meant the snark that laced her words but she couldn’t hide her shock at finding her father smiling and laughing. With a woman.

Dad rounded the table. “No, honey. Nothing like that. I’m sorry. That sounded harsh.” He motioned to the gray-haired woman. She stood and placed her hand on his arm. “I want to introduce you to Gladys. She lives in the cottage across the back fence.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Erin.” Erin extended her hand but her voice betrayed her skepticism. She didn’t know what Gladys was up to here with Dad. But considering how good he looked right now, and the adoring look he shared with the older woman, Erin was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt.

“Nice to meet you, Erin. Your father has told me so much about you.”

“I’m sorry I can’t say the same. Daddy’s obviously been keeping you a secret.” She smiled at the woman who clearly had been at least partly responsible for Dad’s transformation. She couldn’t help but notice how he filled out his shirt a little more than he had even a couple of weeks ago. How his skin looked brighter. And had he gotten a haircut? “Daddy?”

“I was going to tell you, honey.”

“Tell me what?”

Gladys stood from the table. “Listen, Robert, I’m going to go. Let you and Erin talk.”

“I’ll text you later.” Dad held Gladys’s hand for a bit longer before releasing her, then Gladys let herself out the back door, closing it quietly behind her.

Dad motioned to the chair. “Have a seat.”

Erin sat, folding her hands in her lap. She was more than willing to listen, if what she was thinking was going on was actually happening.

“Gladys and I are seeing each other.”

“I gathered. How long?”

He seemed genuinely confused by the question. “How long what?”

“How long have you been seeing her?”

Her father’s eyebrows furrowed and he wrenched his mouth. “Oh. A couple of months, I guess.”

Erin leapt from her chair. “A couple of months, Daddy. Why didn’t you tell me?” How had he kept this from her for all this time? And why didn’t he think it important enough to share with her. Did he think she would be upset? Wouldn’t approve?

“Sit down, honey.”

Erin plopped into the chair.

“I didn’t want to tell you until I knew where things were going. She moved in about six months ago. We started chatting over the fence when I’d do work in the back yard. Then one day, she invited me over for coffee.” Dad ran his hands through his hair, the trimmed strands falling easily over his fingers. A big change from the unkempt curls that he’d sported for most of the past ten years.

“And you’ve gone out? On dates?”

“A few. We mostly spend time together during the day.” While she was at work. Like he was trying to hide it from her.