My Dad's Rival

I can tell that Lucy has struck him right in the heart, that she’s found his weakest spots. He takes a sharp breath in, unsure how to react.

He squeezes Lucy’s hand.

“You’re sure this is what will make you happy?”

She nods insistently. He finally looks up at me without daggers in his eyes this time. I know he wants to hate me instinctively, but he’s trying to see past the anger he’s built up over the years to keep him going. He glances at my hands on Lucy’s shoulders, the loving glances between us, saw the way I burst in here ready to protect her from his anger. I watch the moment he gives in. He sighs, shaking his head.

“I’m…I’m sorry. I thought I was doing what was best for you, sweetheart. And I’m sorry, Wyatt. I’ve been…I’ve taken this way too far. When Lucy’s mom left us I didn’t know how to keep going. I didn’t…I needed something to channel all my anger and it was easy to hate you. But I want to make peace, I can’t promise that it’ll happen overnight…but if you make my daughter happy, then I want to welcome you to the family. You…you have my blessing. Just don’t give me any reason to change my mind.”

“I won’t,” I say with all the conviction in the world. And it’s true. I’d never do anything to risk what we have. Not when I’m finally happy. Not when there might actually be a happy ending in sight.

We came here prepared for the worst, but it seems as though fate has granted us an out once again. Once again, we’ve overcome the worst and come out stronger.

I squeeze Lucy’s shoulders, knowing that everything is only going to get better from here on out. We’ll rebuild all these bridges the right way. Show her dad that this is real, and I’ll prove to him that I’m a better man than the image he created of me in his head.

We’re going to make this okay.

Our future is secured.

It might not be easy, but we’re going to make it happen.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Lucy

Driving away from my dad’s house, I look back one final time to watch him waving me off. It’s been a week since I told him about Wyatt and me. Five days since I admitted I’m pregnant and that I wanted to move in with Wyatt. And it’s been three days since my dad agreed.

And now, even though things are still a little rocky, I feel okay as I drive away, taking the last of my belongings with me to Wyatt’s house. Our home. I know my dad is having a rough time, but Wyatt has promised my dad can visit whenever he wants, extending an open invitation to my dad for dinner whenever he likes. But I think it will still be a while before he takes us up on that offer. He’s still got some way to go before he can see Wyatt for who he really is and not the Wyatt he built up in his mind.

But a lot has changed this week. For example, he announced that he’s stepping back from his company and taking himself traveling. He’s going out into the world to finally experience it instead of obsessing about his business every day. Plus, he’s pointed out, I don’t need him around so much these days. He’s told me that he’ll be back in time to meet his grandchild, and then he’ll settle into granddaddy duties.

This week has been a complicated one for me, too. My internship effectively ended when Wyatt and I decided to be together, and now I’ve been offered two choices. I can work for Wyatt, maybe even become his partner in the business…or I can take over my dad’s business.

I know my dad has been preparing me to take over his role, and now that he’s not working any longer, I guess he needs me more there. But working with Wyatt, spending every minute of every day with him, that seems like the dream now. I never really thought I’d want to do anything else other than be in business with my dad, but Wyatt has changed a lot. He’s changed everything, really.

And then there’s my pregnancy to consider. Once the baby inside me starts to grow, running a business is going to be the least of my concerns. I’m going to have a real human life to consider twenty-four hours a day. And even though that might seem like a sacrifice to some, stepping away from their career to look after a child…my child, it doesn’t feel that way to me. In fact, I can’t think of anything better.

All I ever really wanted from life was a loving family. Someone to share the view with when the world is looking so beautiful. I found that in Wyatt. His hand rests on my leg as we drive home and I feel safe. I feel like things are finally going to be okay. The details, we can work out later. Because whatever happens, whatever I decide to do, I’ll have him by my side, and that’s all that matters.